ZeroAvia Ready to Power Airbus' ZEROe Initiative with Hydrogen-electric Engines
Key Ideas
- ZeroAvia is prepared to supply Airbus with engines for the development of a zero-emission hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft under the ZEROe initiative.
- Airbus is studying hydrogen-electric and hydrogen-combustion concepts for aircraft with different passenger capacities and ranges, with a propulsion down select expected in 2026-27.
- ZeroAvia's ZA2000 family of engines, which use high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel-cell technology, is being considered for Airbus aircraft, with certification for the ZA600 engine in progress.
- The ZA2000 engine is planned to be flight tested on a De Havilland Dash 8-400 after successful ground testing, aiming to bring hydrogen-electric propulsion to regional turboprops and jets by the end of 2025.
At the Farnborough Airshow, ZeroAvia's founder and CEO Val Miftakhov expressed readiness to supply Airbus with engines for their ZEROe initiative focused on developing a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft. Airbus, an investor in ZeroAvia, is exploring hydrogen-electric and hydrogen-combustion concepts for potential aircraft models with different passenger capacities and ranges, with a propulsion decision expected in the late 2020s. ZeroAvia's ZA2000 engine family, leveraging high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel-cell technology, is under consideration for Airbus aircraft, while the ZA600 engine is undergoing certification processes for market introduction by the end of 2025. The ZA2000 engine is set to undergo flight testing on a modified De Havilland Dash 8-400 after successful ground tests, aiming to provide hydrogen-electric propulsion solutions for regional turboprops and jets in the near future.