Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS) has selected Evolito will provide the electric motor and inverters for its Project Fresson hydrogen-powered aircraft. Under the terms of an agreement announced on April 14. Evolito will contribute to efforts to retrofit twin-engined Britten-Norman Islander aircraft to carry nine passengers on short-haul routes, with the goal of having the first converted models approved in 2025.
UK-based Evolito is joining existing Project Fresson partners including propulsion innovator Reaction Engines, which will provide fuel cell cooling technology to work with the hydrogen fuel cell system being supplied by Ricardo UK and fuel tanks from Innovatus Technologies to contain the gaseous hydrogen. CAeS has longer term plans to scale up the propulsion technology to convert a still-unidentified 19-seat aircraft and eventually airliners carrying as many as 100 passengers.
