China's first tonne-level liquid-hydrogen-powered eVTOL aircraft completes test flight

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On January 9, Dream Fly Technology Co., Ltd. (Dream Fly), in collaboration with Shaanxi Tongchen Heguang Cryogenic Technology Co., Ltd. (Tongchen Heguang Cryogenic Technology) and Beijing JiaQing New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. ("JiaQing" is Chinese Pinyin, dubbed "JiaQing New Energy" for short), successfully conducted the test flight of China's first tonne-level hybrid tiltrotor electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft powered by liquid hydrogen.

Liquid-hydrogen-powered eVTOL aircraft; photo credit:  Dream Fly

In this test flight, Tongchen Heguang Cryogenic Technology provided hydrogen liquefaction, liquid hydrogen refueling, and liquid hydrogen storage & supply systems for the aircraft; JiaQing New Energy supplied the fuel cell system; Dream Fly delivered the DF600 aircraft and offered flight test support. The aircraft's power system features a 120 kW lithium battery, a 37 kW air-cooled fuel cell stack, and a 30L liquid hydrogen storage and supply system.

This flight marks a significant breakthrough in validating liquid hydrogen as a viable energy solution for aircraft.

The aircraft's liquid hydrogen storage and supply system incorporates a 30L titanium alloy liquid hydrogen tank, utilizing advanced high-vacuum multi-layer insulation technology to achieve zero evaporation loss over 24 hours. The system features a safe and reliable electric heating design, delivering a maximum hydrogen flow rate of 667 L/min. The auxiliary system includes a tubular ambient air heat exchanger with a simple construction, lightweight design, and flexible installation. The pressure control system provides a range of 0.1 MPa to 0.6 MPa. As for safety, the system undergoes a rigorous flight-state load simulation analysis to ensure compliance with standards and operational safety.

Thanks to the advanced liquid hydrogen storage and supply system and cutting-edge fuel cell technology, the aircraft can operate stably in temperatures ranging from -10°C to 57°C. It achieves high speeds, improved efficiency, and extended range, making it suitable for diverse applications such as logistics transportation and emergency rescue operations.

In June 2024, Joby Aviation, a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, completed the maiden flight of its 2.5-tonne and water-cooled liquid-hydrogen-powered tiltrotor eVTOL aircraft, the S4. With a flight range of 523 miles (approximately 841 kilometers), it was the first to demonstrate the feasibility of liquid hydrogen power in the eVTOL aircraft sector.

Founded in 2022, Dream Fly focuses on the R&D of eVTOL aircraft. Its core team members hail from prestigious universities such as Tsinghua University, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Beihang University, with an average of over 15-year experience in large-scale aircraft and automotive projects.

Established in 2023, Tongchen Heguang Cryogenic Technology specializes in R&D and the application of hydrogen energy across the entire industrial chain. Led by professors from Xi'an Jiaotong University, its core team boasts extensive expertise in cryogenic liquid hydrogen technologies.

Building on this successful test flight, Tongchen Heguang Cryogenic Technology will continue to develop a 35-kilogram liquid-hydrogen-powered unmanned drone with a flight endurance of over 10 hours and conduct an R&D test on a 2.8-tonne liquid-hydrogen-powered eVTOL aircraft capable of an 800-kilometer range.