Joby Demo VTOL Craft Completes 500+ Mile Flight Emitting Only Water

Joby Aviation, Inc., the commercial eVTOL aircraft maker headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, announced that its hydrogen-electric VTOL demo aircraft successfully conducted a flight of 523 miles in a first-of-its-kind trip with its only emission being water. The aircraft used was a pre-production battery-electric prototype modified with a liquid hydrogen (H2) tank and fuel cell system. 

The flight consumed all but 10% of the H2 in the tank.

Joby’s plans for its hydrogen-electric flight program leverages the technology developed by its wholly-owned H2FLY subsidiary in Stuttgart, Germany. The demo aircraft is an integral part of its tech program and was developed by a collaborative team of people from both companies. Prior to the H2 modification at Joby’s base in Marina, California, the aircraft had conducted over 25,000 miles of flight test.

JoeBen Bevirt, Joby’s Founder and CEO said: “Traveling by air is central to human progress, but we need to find ways to make it cleaner. With our battery-electric air taxi set to fundamentally change the way we move around cities, we’re excited to now be building a technology stack that could redefine regional travel using hydrogen-electric aircraft. Imagine being able to fly from San Francisco to San Diego, Boston to Baltimore, or Nashville to New Orleans without the need to go to an airport and with no emissions except water.”

Jacob Wilson, (Acting) Branch Chief, AFWERX Agility Prime, said: "Agility Prime has been very supportive of hydrogen-powered aircraft development and testing as it aligns with the program’s goals to advance transformative vertical lift technologies and broader Department of Defense operational energy goals of energy substitution and diversification, and energy demand reduction."

Jeff Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy said, “Clean hydrogen has the potential to help decarbonize our aviation system for decades to come. Regional air mobility innovation provides a clear opportunity to incorporate clean hydrogen into the future of transportation.” 

FMI:  www.jobyaviation.com/news/