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Joby Eyes Regional Service With Liquid Hydrogen-Powered Air Taxi

The company has previously discussed its plans for intracity air taxi routes using its flagship, battery-electric model.

Joby hydrogen electric eVTOL air taxi
Joby flew a hydrogen-electric air taxi, built using components from subsidiary H2FLY, on a debut, 532-mile flight on June 24. [Courtesy: Joby Aviation]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Joby Aviation is expanding its focus beyond urban battery-electric eVTOLs to develop hydrogen-electric aircraft for longer, city-to-city (regional) travel.
  • The company successfully completed a 532-mile flight with its hydrogen-electric vertical takeoff and landing (hVTOL) demonstrator, landing with over 10% fuel remaining and producing only water as a byproduct.
  • This strategic shift is driven by the limitations of battery weight for extended range, with hydrogen enabling greater distances and payload for regional air mobility.
  • Joby plans to commercialize hydrogen-electric models, leveraging technology from its H2FLY subsidiary and military partnerships, alongside its scheduled 2025 launch of battery-electric urban air taxis.
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Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft company Joby Aviation, which is developing a four-passenger air taxi for intracity trips, will look to fly city-to-city using a hydrogen-powered version of its flagship design.

On June 24, the firm’s “first-of-its-kind” hydrogen-electric, vertical takeoff and landing (hVTOL) demonstrator completed a 532 sm (462 nm) flight—about the distance between San Francisco and San Diego—above Marina, California, home to the Joby’s test facility and pilot production line. The aircraft landed with more than 10 percent of its hydrogen fuel remaining, with water the only byproduct of the flight.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.

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