ZeroAvia this week announced that it has acquired leading high-temperature polymeric electrolyte membrane (HTPEM) fuel cell innovator HyPoint. This transaction will help boost the power output and energy density of fuel cell powertrains to make way for hydrogen-electric commercial flight.
The right backing
HyPoint had been making waves in the hydrogen aviation space. In 2021, it announced the first operable prototype of its turbo air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell system, a project that involved NASA award-winning fuel cell technology. Following this, Simple Flying was on the scene when the company opened a new R&D and production site in Kent, United Kingdom, early this year.
Alex Ivanenko, the former CEO of HyPoint, gave us a tour of the facility and shared details of the opportunities to be had with his company’s innovations. Now appointed GM for VTOL and New Segments at ZeroAvia, his expertise and passion for creativity will be valuable in the development of hydrogen tech for a sustainable aviation ecosystem. After all, he has a PhD in electrochemistry and has collaborated with numerous influential stakeholders to assist in the development of groundbreaking solutions in this sector.
He explained that the move is the natural next step in Hypoint’s journey, enabling it to tap into the advantages of the larger and more strategic resources that ZeroAvia can provide. In summary, the purchase will catalyze product development and provide partners from different segments with mature products based on new turbo-air cooled HTPEM hydrogen fuel cells.
With the likes of United Airlines and British Airways backing ZeroAvia, the acquisition is a significant step for HyPoint. Photo: ZeroAvia
Coming together
ZeroAvia and HyPoint were already in close communication in their bid to advance hydrogen prospects. Val Miftakhov, CEO and Founder, ZeroAvia, was present when HyPoint revealed its new Kent facility. With ZeroAvia managing sites on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and having its sights on having the first hydrogen passenger flight conducted in 2024, it’s not a surprise that the firm decided to fully take over the management of HyPoint’s fuel cell stack program.
Miftakhov concludes the reasoning for the acquisition with the following:
“We see this as a significant forward step for ZeroAvia, and a hugely important strategic step to strengthen our leadership position in hydrogen-electric powertrain development for aviation. There are no other organizations with the breadth of expertise and world-leading IP in hydrogen-electric aviation that we now have within the company. This acquisition, together with our long-standing partnership with the leading LTPEM (low-temperature PEM) fuel cell maker PowerCell, puts us in the top position for delivering the most environmentally and economically attractive solution to aviation’s growing climate impact.”
ZeroAvia is making great progress across the board. It shows no signs of slowing down and is set to meet its ambitious targets.
A promising market
Ivanenko previously highlighted the necessity for hydrogen in the race for a sustainable aviation industry. He explained that there are density and charging limitations with lithium-ion batteries as they need approximately six hours to charge, a factor that could be detrimental to a carrier’s business model. Meanwhile, hydrogen fuel cell systems are much quicker to charge.
So, with the hydrogen innovation startup scene becoming more consolidated, the route to hydrogen flight could be more streamlined. Yet, there are other powerhouses in the UK that are gaining ground in the hydrogen space. Notably, Rolls-Royce is edging closer to hydrogen engine ground tests, with the hydrogen involved in the program arriving from Scotland.
Altogether, hydrogen has no operational carbon emissions, and it can be far cheaper to source than existing methods. With several brains behind the drive to implement the element into the commercial aviation ecosystem, we can expect a fruitful outcome before the decade is over.
What are your thoughts about ZeroAvia purchasing fuel stack innovator Hypoint? What do you make of the overall decision by the company? Let us know what you think of the move and its prospects in the comment section.