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 prominent drone delivery firm, is pioneering the use of hydrogen fuel cell technology from Doosan Mobility Innovation (DMI) to significantly extend drone flight times from approximately 20 minutes to 2-5 hours for its Walmart delivery network.
This hydrogen technology offers benefits like increased energy density and reduced carbon emissions compared to traditional batteries, though it comes with considerations such as lower power density for heavier aircraft and potentially higher operational costs.
While hydrogen fuel cell adoption is still limited among most drone delivery rivals, a few other companies like Wingcopter and Heven Drones are beginning to explore it, suggesting a potential future where hydrogen and electric power coexist as zero-emission solutions for uncrewed aerial systems.

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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.