Hydrogen-electric program builds on technology developed by Joby subsidiary H2FLY, acquired in 2021, and forms part of Joby's future technology roadmap. Joby's hydrogen-electric, vertical take-off and landing demonstrator aircraft completed a landmark 523-mile flight on June 24, 2024, above Marina, California, with water as the only by-product.
Joby Aviation Inc. announced it has successfully flown a first-of-its-kind hydrogen-electric air taxi demonstrator 523 miles, with water as the only by-product. The aircraft, which takes off and lands vertically, builds on Joby's successful battery-electric air taxi development program, and demonstrates the potential for hydrogen to unlock emissions-free, regional journeys that don't require a runway.
JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO, Joby, said: "Traveling by air is central to human progress, but we need to find ways to make it cleaner. With our battery-electric air taxi set to fundamentally change the way we move around cities, we're excited to now be building a technology stack that could redefine regional travel using hydrogen-electric aircraft."
"Imagine being 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. That world is closer than ever, and the progress we've made towards certifying the battery-electric version of our aircraft gives us a great head start as we look ahead to making hydrogen-electric flight a reality."
The landmark test flight, believed to be the first forward flight of a vertical take off and landing aircraft powered by liquid hydrogen, was completed using a converted Joby pre-production prototype battery-electric aircraft fitted with a liquid hydrogen fuel tank and fuel cell system. It landed with 10% of its hydrogen fuel load remaining.
Jacob Wilson, (Acting) Branch Chief, AFWERX Agility Prime, said: "Agility Prime has been very supportive of hydrogen-powered aircraft development and testing as it aligns with the program's goals to advance transformative vertical lift technologies and broader Department of Defense operational energy goals."
"Clean hydrogen has the potential to help decarbonize our aviation system for decades to come," said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Jeff Marootian.
"Joby is a stellar example of why California continues to lead the world in clean technology and high-tech manufacturing," said Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Joby's hydrogen-electric demonstrator is the result of several years of collaboration between a small team at Joby and H2FLY, Joby's wholly-owned subsidiary based in Stuttgart, Germany. The converted aircraft previously completed more than 25,000 miles of testing as a battery-electric aircraft.
The demonstrator features a liquid hydrogen fuel tank storing up to 40 kilograms of liquid hydrogen, alongside a reduced mass of batteries. Hydrogen is fed into a fuel cell system designed and built by H2FLY to produce electricity, water, and heat. The electricity powers the six electric motors on the Joby aircraft, with batteries providing additional power primarily during take-off and landing.
Joby plans to start commercial operations using its battery-electric air taxi and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, having raised more than $2 billion of funding including investments from Toyota, Delta Air Lines, SK Telecom, Uber, and Baillie Gifford.
Source: www.jobyaviation.com
