HyPoint Unveils Breakthrough Hydrogen Fuel Cell Prototype for Aviation and Urban Air Mobility

HyPoint, the company developing zero-carbon emission hydrogen fuel cell systems for aviation and urban air mobility, today unveiled the first operable prototype of its breakthrough turbo air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell system. The NASA award-winning fuel cell technology, developed by an international team of engineers, delivers an unprecedented combination of specific power and energy density and has passed key validation testing to prove its technical viability. Full-scale versions, which are expected to begin shipping in 2022, will drive the commercial development of zero-emission e-aircraft, eVTOL, and urban air mobility vehicles, and serve an important role in the global effort to curb carbon emissions.

The arrival of zero-emission aviation has been hindered by the energy density limitations of lithium-ion batteries and the specific power limitations of hydrogen fuel cells. Testing has shown that HyPoint's turbo air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell system will be able to achieve up to 2,000 watts per kilogram of specific power, which is more than triple the power-to-weight ratio of traditional hydrogen fuel cells systems. It will also boast up to 1,500 watt-hours per kilogram of energy density, enabling longer-distance journeys. By addressing these core technological barriers, HyPoint will cut years off commercial delivery timelines for hydrogen aircraft and unlock the emerging hydrogen aviation market, which is expected to be valued at more than $27 billion in 2030 and at least $174 billion by 2040, according to Allied Market Research.