Sustainable mobility, which we like to talk about so much, is not just for the roads. In Japan, they are already developing the first green ammonia ships, but in America, we have gone even further (literally). This airline has just announced that it will run 100% on hydrogen and is going to put it “in the air” (also literally). The project has just started, and the first engines have been presented, with something that has left the experts in shock: they are colossal.This American airline is switching to hydrogen: The project has begun, and it will change everything
The following announcement describes that American Airlines is making a massive leap toward a greener future of aviation by signing an agreement to acquire 100 hydrogen-electric motors conditionally from ZeroAvia, a prominent clean aviation firm. This significant partnership, together with the increasedinvestment in ZeroAvia activity, proves the company’s readiness to switch to new fuels.
Hydrogen-electric engines adopted by ZeroAvia work in such a way that hydrogen is adopted in fuel cells to produce electricity, and the identified electricity is used to turn the electric propulsive motors of the airplane. This innovative approach results in only one emission during flight: The external stream is low-temperature water vapor.Hydrogen engines to run from the skies: Why this American project is so ambitious
Compared to traditional jet engines, these hydrogen-electric systems offer several key advantages:
Zero In-Flight Emissions
Lack of carbon emissions during the flight is the key plus for the aviation industry, which has been under pressure for its negative impact on the environment. This technology is quite encouraging and is on par with American Airlines’ ambitious plan to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.Scalability for Larger Aircraft
However, initially, ZeroAvia plans to produce engines for 20-seat aircraft; however, the company designs engines for the larger regional jets, like the Bombardier CRJ700 used by American Airlines on specific routes. Such scalability is instrumental in the commercial actualization of hydrogen-electric technology in the commercial aviation industry
ZeroAvia and American Airlines, to put on the skies the first 100 % hydrogen-powered aircraftThere are actionable targets for ZeroAvia regarding the hydrogen-electric systems’ deployment as well as development. It wants to achieve by the end of 2025 certification of its technology for 20-seat aircraft and up to 40 to 80-seat aircraft with a range of up to 700 miles by 2027.
As for the complete switch to hydrogen-electric engines in American Airlines’ fleet, which the company currently does not possess, it will take several years. Nevertheless, the feasibility and safety of these systems have been affirmed by the airlines. Some of the aircraft models that American has in its fleet include the Bombardier CRJ700 that the company operates on regional routes;ZeroAvia is interested in converting these aircraft models to its larger engine. The latest investment by American Airlines in ZeroAvia after initially investing in the company back in 2022, once again shows the desire of this firm to ensure the creation of this revolutionary technology.
As you can see, these American Airlines hydrogen engines are the most revolutionary project we have presented to the world since the offshore wind farms in New York. In fact, few brands had innovated with this fuel, with Rolls-Royce and Airbus as the only cases. However, we are not talking about airlines, which in the rest of the world are still very shy about zero-emission mobility; indeed, they have not even dared to use electric engines.