ZeroAvia buys high-temperature PEM fuel cell firm HyPoint

Hydrogen-electric aircraft developer ZeroAvia last week said it has acquired California-headquartered fuel cell stack specialist HyPoint in a deal with undisclosed financial terms.

Through the acquisition, ZeroAvia is adding HyPoint’s high-temperature fuel cell technology to its expertise in hydrogen-electric powertrain development. This technology is seen as a promising route for increasing the power output and energy density of aviation fuel cell powertrains.

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“This acquisition, together with our long-standing partnership with the leading LTPEM (low-temperature PEM) fuel cell maker PowerCell, puts us in the top position for delivering the most environmentally and economically attractive solution to aviation’s growing climate impact,” said ZeroAvia founder and chief executive Val Miftakhov.

ZeroAvia and HyPoint have partnered over the past couple of years on co-developing and testing high-temperature polymeric electrolyte membrane (HTPEM) fuel cell technology. Because of the partnership, HyPoint has moved most of its research and development (R&D) to the UK.

The deal will see all 40 HyPoint employees join ZeroAvia across the R&D sites in Kemble, Gloucestershire and HyPoint’s location in Sandwich, Kent.

​ZeroAvia aims to produce hydrogen-electric powertrains at first for 9–19 seat aircraft, targeting commercial operations in 2025.