ZeroAvia and PowerCell sign deal for serial delivery of LTPEM hydrogen fuel cell stacks

The deal follows the Memorandum of Understanding which was announced 18 July 2022. ZeroAvia focuses on hydrogen-electric aviation solutions and aims to launch a 19-seat aircraft with 300-mile range by 2025. ZeroAvia has already passed significant flight test milestones and has a number of key partnerships with major aircraft OEMs and major global airlines such as British Airways, United Airlines and American Airlines.

PowerCell will, upon completed aviation certifications, deliver a total of 0.5 GW fuel cells comprising of 300 kW superstack modules based on the industrialized 100 kW fuel cell stack. The fuel stacks will be used by ZeroAvia to manufacture a 600 kW, low-temperature, hydrogen-electric powertrain for the certified 19-seat, fuel cell-powered commercial aircraft.

As part of the agreement, PowerCell will establish a unit in the UK for final assembly and the adaptation of the stacks to ZeroAvia's fuel cell system and application. The new unit will give PowerCell both proximity to the customer and the significant aviation market.

After conducting demonstration of 6-seat R&D prototypes, ZeroAvia is preparing for the inaugural test flight of its 600kW hydrogen-electric engine in the coming days, including the use of PowerCell fuel cell stacks as part of these systems. The company is also retrofitting a second Dornier-228 testbed in Hollister, California, to conduct further flight tests and demonstrations in the important North American market.

Richard Berkling, CEO, PowerCell Sweden AB, said:

“We are proud of this serial delivery deal which shows that the demanding aviation industry, which is leading the development of hydrogen electric applications, recognizes our positioning and offering 'Industrialized Innovation' as truly value-creating. We look forward to continue the close cooperation with clean aviation leader ZeroAvia, and the joint contribution to an aircraft fleet with zero emissions.”

Val Miftakhov, ZeroAvia, Founder & CEO, said:

“We aim to power a revolution in green flight and hydrogen-electric powertrains are the only viable, scalable solution for zero-emission aviation. We are addressing a multi-billion dollar market for converting aircraft to zero-emission engines, and we need the surety of high quality LTPEM fuel cell stacks in our supply chain to meet that opportunity. This deal gives us that certainty from a provider that has formed a big part of our early designs and testing towards a certifiable system.”