Hydrogen-electric air taxi prototype completes 840km test flight above California

Joby Aviation's new hydrogen-electric "air taxi" has successfully flown 523 miles (842 km) in California. This aircraft uses fuel cells and batteries powered by 40 kg of liquid hydrogen. The aircraft, known as an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, shows that hydrogen can enable long, emissions-free regional flights without needing a runway.

Joby Aviation, the parent company of H2FLY, a German hydrogen aviation pioneer, believes this technology can allow people to fly between cities like San Francisco and San Diego without going to an airport and producing only water as emissions.

The test flight, which is the first of its kind using a hydrogen-powered eVTOL, used a modified prototype that had already flown over 25,000 miles. This prototype was equipped with a 40 kg liquid hydrogen fuel tank and a fuel cell system. It can carry four passengers and a pilot, and it is as quiet as a conversation.

The hydrogen is stored in a fuel tank designed by Joby and fed into a fuel cell system made by H2FLY. This system produces electricity, water, and heat. The electricity powers the six electric motors on the aircraft, with batteries providing extra power during take-off and landing.

Joby plans to start using its battery-electric air taxis, which have a range of 150 miles, for commercial flights by 2025. The company has raised over $2 billion from investors like Toyota, Delta Air Lines, and Uber. Joby also has a $131 million contract with the US Air Force.