Engines
HyPoint Advances Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Electric Aircraft
HyPoint says it will have a 150 kW hydrogen fuel system ready to deliver for an eVTOL or electric fixed-wing aircraft by early 2022.
HyPoint is making progress with the development of hydrogen fuel cells suitable for powering both eVTOL and electric fixed-wing aircraft.
HyPoint is making progress with the development of hydrogen fuel cells suitable for powering both eVTOL and electric fixed-wing aircraft.

Hydrogen fuel cell developer HyPoint expects to have a full-scale 150-kW system ready to deliver to an undisclosed electric aircraft manufacturer during the first quarter of 2022. The California-based startup aims to announce the identity of this partner in September and hopes to have a 1-kW unit ready for testing by early 2021, followed by a 15-kW unit, as part of its strategy to advance hydrogen propulsion systems as an alternative to both battery-dependent motors and hybrid systems using jet-A-powered engines. 

HyPoint small drone fuel cells
HyPoint is already providing hydrogen fuel cells for small drones.

In June, Urban Aeronautics signed a memorandum of understanding under which HyPoint will provide zero-carbon hydrogen fuel cell technology for its planned CityHawk eVTOL aircraft. The Israeli company aims to have a hydrogen-powered version of this six-seat design ready to enter service between 2028 and 2030, after a planned first flight with an earlier hybrid-electric version by early 2023.