ZeroAvia announced on September 18, 2023 that Airbus, Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital and NEOM co-led the company’s latest financing round. The investment will support ZeroAvia’s continued growth and technological development, including advancing its first product – the ZA600 – to certification. ZeroAvia is targeting entry into service in 2025 to support aircraft with up to 20 seats. For their part, the fuel cell systems developed by the company are of interest to Airbus and its ZEROe aircraft concept program.
An investment to accelerate certification…
ZeroAvia announced on September 18, 2023 that Airbus, Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital and NEOM co-led the company’s latest financing round. Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Horizons Ventures, Alaska Airlines, Ecosystem Integrity Fund, Summa Equity, AP Ventures and Amazon Climate Pledge Fund also participated in the investment. This investment will enable ZeroAvia to accelerate progress toward certification of its first engine and realize the company’s mission of a hydrogen electric engine in every aircraft.
…From the first electric motor, the ZA600…
Alongside this investment, Airbus and ZeroAvia have agreed to collaborate on certification approaches for hydrogen power systems. The companies also intend to work together on a number of critical technical areas, including liquid hydrogen storage, flight and ground testing of fuel cell propulsion systems, as well as the development of hydrogen refueling infrastructure and operations.
…With entry into service planned for 2025 on switches…
Airbus is a world leader in promoting alternative propulsion using hydrogen. Fuel cell systems are an important part of its ZEROe aircraft concept program, designed to deliver low-carbon airframes of varying sizes. The industry giant recently ground tested a hydrogen engine concept with a power of 1.2 MW. The investment will support ZeroAvia’s continued growth and technological development, including advancing its first product – ZA600 – through certification. ZeroAvia recently completed the first stage of flight testing of the ZA600 prototype and is set to complete design work ahead of certification, targeting entry into service in 2025 to support aircraft with up to 20 seats.
…Before the ZA2000 which targets 5.4 MW
The funding will also allow ZeroAvia to continue to advance its larger engine program: the ZA2000, a modular powerplant from 2 to 5.4 MW intended for commercial aircraft larger than commuters. The company is working to upgrade a 76-seat Dash 8,400 test bed provided by Alaska Airlines, in preparation for the first flight tests with a full-size engine in 2024. This investment will help ZeroAvia extend its leadership has established itself in its main business sectors. in-house technologies for multi-MW class hydrogen electric motors, including high temperature PEM (HTPEM) fuel cells, advanced electric motors and power electronics, and on-board liquid hydrogen fuel storage.
