ZA2000 hydrogen fuel-cell power system

The ZA2000 is a modular hydrogen-electric powertrain from ZeroAvia, built on hydrogen fuel cells and electric motors, with a stated power of 2 to 5 MW. It converts hydrogen into electricity on board, which drives electric motors and propulsors, and it is intended for regional turboprop aircraft of up to 80 seats.

The system replaces a combustion engine in a fixed-wing airframe. The maker names the DHC Dash 8 Series and the ATR 42 and 72 as typical host aircraft, in the class of 40 to 80 seats. Electricity generated by the fuel cells powers the motors, which turn the propulsors to produce thrust, and the only emission from the powertrain is water. The maker quotes a range of up to 1000 NM.

Hydrogen storage is liquid. Liquid hydrogen is carried in lightweight tanks installed on the aircraft and feeds the fuel cell systems. For an integrator this means the powertrain comes with cryogenic storage, fuel lines and thermal management, and these elements govern the layout of the fuselage and the mass distribution. The maker presents the powertrain as a zero-emission alternative whose electric drive removes the noise and exhaust of combustion engines near airports, and whose fuel cell systems are fed directly from the tank.

Integration requires work at airframe level: installing the tanks, the fuel cell stacks and balance-of-plant equipment, routing power to the motors, and matching propulsors to the aircraft. Because the system is modular, the power rating can be matched to the size of the aircraft within the 2 to 5 MW range.

The maker also states that removing combustion lowers noise and exhaust near airports, and promises longer flight-hour intervals between major servicing events. Typical applications are regional passenger flights on short sectors, operated with turboprop airframes of the Dash 8 and ATR class.