FutureFlight
ZeroAvia Raises $37.7 million to Advance Hydrogen Propulsion Technology
The company aims to be able to power a 20-seat aircraft on flights as long as 575 miles by 2023 and is preparing for a 250-mile demonstration flight in a smaller aircraft by March 2021.
ZeroAvia Cranfield
In September, ZeroAvia flew a Piper M class light aircraft converted to use its hyrdogen-electric powertrain, but it is now working on plans to convert larger passenger aircrarft. (Photo: ZeroAvia)

Propulsion systems developer ZeroAvia has raised an additional $37.7 million to support its plans to bring converted hydrogen-electric aircraft into commercial service in 2023. In a December 16 announcement, the California-based start-up said it raised $21.4 million through a Series A round backed by a group of venture capitalists and secured a further $16.3 million from the UK government-backed Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI).

The Series A round was led by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures and the Ecosystem Integrity Fund, as well as existing backers Amazon Climate Pledge Fund, Horizons Ventures, Shell Ventures, and Summa Equity. The additional ATI grant is to support ZeroAvia’s contribution to the HyFlyer II project, which is seeking to develop a 19-seat aircraft capable of flying 350 miles by early 2023.