Universal Hydrogen is using this modified ATR 72-500 hydrogen fuel demonstrator to develop its hydrogen retrofit kit. (Courtesy: Universal Hydrogen)
Key Takeaways:
Universal Hydrogen has unveiled its modified ATR 72-500 demonstrator aircraft, converted to operate on hydrogen fuel cells, at its new engineering and design center in Toulouse, France.
The company specializes in developing hydrogen conversion kits for regional aircraft, featuring proprietary liquid hydrogen modular capsules for efficient fueling.
Universal Hydrogen has secured a significant commercial agreement with Connect Airlines to convert 75 ATR 72-600s to hydrogen powertrains, with deliveries anticipated from 2025.
This initiative targets regional and narrow-body aircraft for near-term decarbonization of aviation and includes plans to develop a global green hydrogen distribution network.
Leading hydrogen-electric aviation fuel developer Universal Hydrogen has unveiled its test demonstrator aircraft: a modified ATR 72-500.
Unveiled July 11 at Universal Hydrogen’s new engineering and design center in Toulouse, France, the airplane’s powertrain has been converted from a conventional turboprop configuration to electric motors powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Thom is a former senior editor for FLYING. Previously, his freelance reporting appeared in aviation industry magazines. Thom also spent three decades as a TV and digital journalist at CNN’s bureaus in Washington and Atlanta, eventually specializing in aviation. He has reported from air shows in Oshkosh, Farnborough and Paris. Follow Thom on Twitter @thompatterson.
