Joby Aviation has successfully completed a test flight of its hydrogen-powered electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, covering a distance of 523 miles with only water vapor emitted as a byproduct. This prototype, which features a liquid hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen-electric propulsion system, could potentially pave the way for emissions-free regional aviation.
The test flight utilized the same shell and internal components as Joby’s battery-electric air taxi, with the exception of a reduced battery load and a liquid hydrogen tank capable of storing up to 40 kilograms of fuel. The liquid hydrogen is fed into a fuel cell system, producing electricity, water, and heat. The electricity is used to power the air taxi’s six electric motors, while the batteries provide additional power during takeoff and landing.
Joby aims to begin commercial operations of its air taxi service by 2025, with the ability to fly up to 100 miles without the need for recharging. This makes it an ideal option for short-haul flights, such as from one’s home to the airport. If the hydrogen-powered model is brought to market, it could enable emission-free inter-city flights that are faster than traditional road or air travel. Refueling a hydrogen-powered air taxi would also be faster than recharging an eVTOL.
“Ideally, we’d be able to fly from San Francisco to San Diego, Boston to Baltimore, or Nashville to New Orleans without the need to go to an airport and with no emissions except water,” said Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt. “That world is closer than ever, and our progress towards certifying our battery-electric aircraft gives us a solid foundation as we work towards making hydrogen-electric flight a reality.”
However, one significant hurdle in realizing this vision is securing sustainably sourced liquid hydrogen. This was a major factor in the failure of Universal Hydrogen, a now-defunct startup. ZeroAvia and Universal Hydrogen have completed test flights of hydrogen-powered aircraft over the past couple of years.
Despite this challenge, Bevirt is confident that governments will provide sufficient support for hydrogen and green hydrogen supply and distribution. The US has allocated $7 billion to establish green hydrogen hubs across the country under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “The world is shifting towards a hydrogen economy, and aviation is one of the most crucial use cases for green hydrogen supply,” Bevirt said.
