Pioneering the Future of Aviation with Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft
Key Ideas
- H2Fly, founded by Josef Kallo, achieved the world's first piloted flight of an electric aircraft powered by liquid hydrogen in September 2023.
- The company is focusing on advancing technology development and ground testing of their proprietary H2F-175 powertrain, with plans to upscale the powertrain to 340 kW.
- Major challenges remain for the widespread adoption of zero-emission aircraft, including the need for certification of new powertrains and the development of dedicated airport infrastructure.
- Liquid hydrogen is seen as the ideal fuel for aviation due to its exceptional energy density, which can extend range and payload capacity, provided there is a shift towards renewable energies for green hydrogen production.
Josef Kallo founded H2FLY in 2015 with a background in electrical engineering. The company aims to develop the world's first commercial hydrogen storage and fuel cell power system for aircraft. In 2021, H2Fly was acquired by Joby Aviation. In September 2023, H2Fly achieved the world's first piloted flight of an electric aircraft powered by liquid hydrogen. The company's focus is on advancing technology development and ground testing of their H2F-175 powertrain, with plans to double its output to 340 kW in the BALIS 2.0 project. Challenges remain in certification and airport infrastructure for liquid hydrogen fuel cell propulsion. The exceptional energy density of liquid hydrogen is highlighted as ideal for aviation, but there is a need for a shift towards renewable energies to produce sufficient green hydrogen. Overcoming barriers to zero-emission aircraft adoption includes increasing investment in R&D and infrastructure globally.