Founder of Joby Aviation-backed H2Fly Shares Vision for Hydrogen Fuel Cells In Aircrafts
Stuttgart-based H2Fly and Stuttgart Airport in Germany recently announced the launch of a joint project to construct a Hydrogen Aviation Center, scheduled to open in late 2024. H2Fly Image
For eVTOL companies, hydrogen technology could offer an alternative energy source to its current battery technology, opening up new markets for regional air mobility or other applications.
California-based Joby Aviation sees potential in the technology, reportedly acquiring the German startup in April 2021. While the eVTOL developer is currently working on getting its S4 eVTOL aircraft certified for urban air mobility mission, the acquisition shows that Joby has one foot in the door on hydrogen development.
Vertical reached out to Josef Kallo, founder and CEO of H2Fly, to discuss the status of the company’s progress and how it can contribute to advanced air mobility (AAM).
Alex Scerri: Josef, what is your background and what was the vision for H2Fly?
Josef Kallo: I am an electrical engineer by training and a passionate recreational pilot. I want to be able to fly 30 years from now and to do that, we need a new fuel. From the moment I started flying, I was conscious of the impact of burning fossil fuel and there was also the issue of aircraft noise. This opportunity with hydrogen fuel produced from renewable energy sources is like living a dream, where we have the possibility to develop a clean technology for aircraft propulsion that also helps reduce the acoustic impact.
In 2015, we founded H2Fly after my time at Ulm University and at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). I always had an entrepreneurial spirit, starting my first companies when I was 18 and concurrently holding multiple positions. H2Fly was started with my own funds and we made rapid progress in hydrogen fuel cell technology.
We developed a couple of generations of powertrains together with DLR and Ulm University, also driven by us. Crucially, we have all the required technology bricks from liquid hydrogen storage, the hydrogen fuel cells themselves, fuel cell cooling technology, the inverter, and the electric motor. This is very important as we have a complete powertrain solution, which differentiates us from some of our competitors. Today, our target is a 40-seater aircraft with hydrogen fuel cell propulsion, using liquid hydrogen.