Universal Hydrogen
Industry | Aerospace |
---|---|
Founded | 2020 ![]() |
Headquarters | Hawthorne, California, U.S. |
Website | hydrogen |
Universal Hydrogen was a company co-founded by Jason Chua, John-Paul Clarke, Paul Eremenko and Jon Gordon, who had previously worked together at Airbus and Raytheon Technologies, with the ambition of making hydrogen-powered flight a reality within a decade.[1][2] A maiden flight of a Dash 8 aircraft modified on one side with a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain (including Plug Power fuel cells and a motor from magniX), took place on March 2, 2023; the flight demonstration represented the largest aircraft ever to cruise mainly on hydrogen power.[3][4][5][6]
The company was wound up in June 2024 after failing to secure further funding.[7]
Product
[edit]The company's main product was intended to be a conversion kit to be retrofitted to existing aircraft to allow them to run on hydrogen fuel. The kits were to consist of hydrogen storage tank modules made by the company, combined with an electric motor made by magniX and fuel cells made by Plug Power.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "The 11th Breakthrough Technology of 2023 takes flight". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ Goldstein, Michael. "Hydrogen-Powered Regional Airliner Readies For Takeoff". Forbes. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ Korosec, Kirsten (2 March 2023). "Universal Hydrogen takes to the air with the largest hydrogen fuel cell ever to fly". Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Pioneering Moses Lake flight uses hydrogen to power regional airplane". The Seattle Times. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ Boyle, Alan (2 March 2023). "Hydrogen-powered airplane aces its first experimental flight in central Washington". GeekWire. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Universal Hydrogen Successfully Completes First Flight of Hydrogen Regional Airliner". www.businesswire.com. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ Boyle, Alan (30 June 2024). "Universal Hydrogen runs out of runway and shuts down, one year after first flight".
- ^ Kwon, Karen (August 2022). "Hydrogen: coming to an aircraft near you". Aerospace America. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Retrieved 4 May 2023.