Hydrogen - electric flying taxi traveled 841 km only emitting water

This flying taxi takes off and lands vertically and is equipped with a fuel tank containing 40 kg of liquid hydrogen to provide energy for emission-free flight. After completing the flight, it still had more than 10% hydrogen fuel left in the engine.

The flight took place on June 24 in Marina, California, showing the potential of hydrogen in realizing zero-emission, runway-free flights.

Joby Aviaiton converted one of the old battery-electric flying taxis, then equipped it with a liquid hydrogen fuel tank and fuel cell system to conduct a test flight.

Powering the propellers and flight control system are six electric thrusters, while the battery focuses on providing additional power for takeoff and landing.

For most of the flight, the flying taxi runs only on liquid hydrogen, a fuel with an energy density more than three times higher than gasoline.

Joby Aviation said that the hydrogen they used was stored at a temperature of nearly -253 degrees Celsius, and the temperature of the outer shell of the insulated tank was still normal. During flight, this amount of hydrogen is used by the fuel cell system to generate electricity.

The fuel cell system used is manufactured by H2FLY, a subsidiary of Joby Aviation. This system generates electricity, water and heat by combining hydrogen with oxygen from the air. Electricity is then used to operate the six electric motors on the flying taxi and recharge the batteries during the test flight.

Joby Aviation plans to start commercial battery-electric flying taxi operations as early as 2025 first, then deploy hydrogen-electric power.

Kareem Winters

Update 17 July 2024