A hydrogen eVTOL coming out of Australia?
A world first, and some wicked insane range and speed
When I hear ‘World’s First’ it always gets my toes twinkling. So when I heard this Australian couple was working on the first hydrogen powered eVTOL, my ears perked up a little (or maybe a lot). Sydney based AMSL Aero, has landed a significant investment of $5.43 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). This funding is to be used for the development of an innovative hydrogen-powered eVTOL aircraft, which has the potential to jump start and innovate regional air transport within Australia.
Founded in 2017 by the dynamic duo of Andrew Moore and Siobhan Lyndon, AMSL Aero has already unveiled a lithium-electric version of their aircraft called Vertiia. This one is capable of flying up to 250 kilometers at speeds of 300 kilometers per hour. To enhance the aircraft's range and adaptability, the couple are now focused on integrating hydrogen fuel cell technology, which could extend its flight range to a whopping 1,000 kilometers (um hello, wow).
Vertiia has eight tilting wings and eight rotors, and does the takeoff/land vertically thing as you’d expect. They are proposing its use for various applications, including emergency services, air ambulance missions, and the transportation of both cargo and passengers. With a capacity to carry up to five individuals, Vertiia can operate on-demand, connecting regional locations. They’d like to introduce this aircraft for commercial use by the year 2026.
There’s a good amount of money ($10.86 million) being thrown at this project by ARENA, and other investors, and for good reason. With that kind of range, speed, and versatility, this could be a game changer.
So how does hydrogen work in the electric motors that take this vehicle into the air?
The motors are powered by compressed hydrogen gas that feeds into an onboard fuel cell stack that doesn't burn the gas, but instead transforms the fuel's chemical energy into electrical energy.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller had some things to say about this venture:
"AMSL Aero is a homegrown Australian startup addressing one of the many challenges in the transition to a net-zero future," Miller remarked. "Developing low-emission air transport will require various solutions, including hydrogen and battery electric. AMSL’s work on the Vertiia is truly pioneering in this space."
The project has also received additional support from the Australian Government through the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships program (so many acronyms), aimed at fostering innovation and collaboration within the aviation sector.
Here’s a link if you are interested: https://www.vertiia.com/