DroneUp Is Testing Hydrogen Fuel Cells—Will Other Drone Firms Follow?

Most drones today are battery electric, but hydrogen power may be the future.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 05:04 PM ET

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A DroneUp drone hovers over a Walmart parking lot in Farmington, Arkansas. [Credit: Walmart]

Key Takeaways:

DroneUp, a Walmart partner in drone delivery, is pioneering the testing of hydrogen fuel cell technology from Doosan Mobility Innovation to significantly extend drone flight times and reduce carbon emissions.
Hydrogen fuel cells offer a substantial increase in operational range for drones, enabling flights of 2-5 hours compared to the typical 20 minutes for battery-powered models, due to higher energy density and quick refueling.
Despite challenges such as lower power density and higher operational costs, other major drone companies are also beginning to explore hydrogen fuel cells, indicating a potential future where this technology coexists with electric power as a zero-emission solution.

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Hydrogen fuel cells are steadily catching on in ground-based transportation, but could they soon be a fixture of our airspace?

That appears to be the goal for Virginia Beach-based drone delivery firm DroneUp. The Walmart partner, which powers the retailer’s largest-in-the-nation commercial drone delivery network, recently announced its plans to test hydrogen fuel cell technology from Doosan Mobility Innovation (DMI), one of the first firms to commercialize hydrogen-powered drones.