The introduction of “flying automobiles” promises significant advancements, but the limitations imposed by their restricted battery power hinder their ability to traverse longer distances. A potentially game-changing hydrogen-powered variant from Joby Aviation could soon revolutionize the industry.
Significant breakthroughs in battery technology and electric motor development have paved the way for a novel category of aircraft known as eVTOLs, an abbreviation that denotes their unique ability to achieve vertical takeoff and landing using solely electricity. The companies manufacturing these aircraft market them as a quieter, more environmentally friendly alternative to helicopters.
Despite advancements in battery technology, electric vehicles are currently limited to ranges of approximately 150 miles. These vehicles have primarily been conceptualized as a novel form of urban mobility, enabling quick traversals across densely populated cities plagued by heavy traffic.
Joby is currently developing a battery-powered eVTOL, with plans to commence industrial operations by next year. Recently, the corporation unveiled its latest innovation: a hydrogen-powered aircraft that recently completed a successful 523-mile test flight. The corporation suggests that this could enable eVTOLs to seamlessly integrate into regional travel operations as well.
“Joby’s innovative battery-electric air taxi is poised to revolutionize urban transportation; now, with the construction of its hydrogen-electric aircraft technology stack, the company is poised to transform regional travel.”
Imagine effortlessly soaring from San Francisco to San Diego, Boston to Baltimore, or Nashville to New Orleans without the need for airports and leaving behind only water vapor as your trail.
The Joby demonstrator is a converted battery-electric aircraft that has completed over 25,000 miles of rigorous test flights to date. The VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft features an identical airframe, paired with six innovative electric motor-powered tilting propellers that enable it to lift off vertically, akin to a helicopter, while still offering the efficiency of a lightweight airplane during cruising phases. If the corporation chooses to monetize the technology, Joby believes that it would significantly accelerate the certification process.
Joby has introduced an innovative hydrogen fuel cell system, developed by German startup H2FLY, which it acquired in 2021. The system features a liquid hydrogen fuel tank capable of storing approximately 40 kilograms of fuel. The fuel cell combines liquid hydrogen with atmospheric oxygen to produce electrical energy, powering the plane’s motors. The H2FLY workforce leveraged its existing expertise to develop a series of conventional aircraft designs last year.
The newly introduced Joby plane will still store some batteries on board to provide supplementary power during takeoffs and landings. However, hydrogen boasts a significantly greater power density – or specific power – than batteries, allowing it to power the plane for substantially longer periods.
“Hydrogen boasts a staggering 100-fold increase in energy density compared to contemporary batteries and threefold that of jet fuel,” Bevirt noted in his statement. “The outcome is an electric aircraft capable of traveling significantly farther and carrying a heavier payload than would be possible even with the same mass of jet fuel currently in development.”
Despite the potential benefits of transitioning to hydrogen fuel, several hurdles need to be overcome. The widespread adoption of hydrogen as an energy source necessitates significant investments in cutting-edge cooling technology, thereby prompting airports and landing facilities to consider substantial outlays for the installation of novel fueling infrastructure.
The electric aviation industry is grappling with the challenge of developing charging infrastructure at airports, notes Cyrus Sigari, co-founder and managing partner of VC firm UpCompanions. Including hydrogen fueling stations in the calculation would undoubtedly pose even greater hurdles.
Hydrogen’s fledgling credentials are significantly outshone by those of batteries. While it’s theoretically possible to produce hydrogen from water using exclusively renewable power, most of it is currently derived from fossil fuels.
Notwithstanding this, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021 allocated $9.5 billion to support furthering these initiatives. As the aviation industry continues to advance in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology, it presents a significant opportunity for air taxis to make a substantial dent in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in one of the world’s most pollution-prone sectors?
