Report: Airbus Has Spent $1.7B on Stalled Hydrogen Ambitions
Manufacturer in February scaled back development of a hydrogen-powered aircraft, which it said may arrive a decade later than its original 2035 target.
Airbus in March revealed this concept image for a hydrogen fuel cell-powered ‘ZeroE’ aircraft. [Courtesy: Airbus]
Key Takeaways:
Airbus has significantly slowed the development of its hydrogen-powered "ZeroE" aircraft concepts, attributing the delay to a hydrogen economy and ecosystem that are 5-10 years behind initial 2020 assumptions.
Despite having spent over $1.7 billion on the project, Airbus has scaled back its original ambitious designs and pushed its 2035 zero-emission aircraft timeline back by possibly a decade, now focusing on a smaller fuel cell-powered model.
The company remains committed to hydrogen aviation, needing more time to mature fuel cell propulsion technologies and foster a global hydrogen energy ecosystem, a commitment partly influenced by government funding and industry decarbonization goals.
Updated Thursday, April 24 at 4:40 p.m. EDT with comment from an Airbus spokesperson.
Airbus has pumped the brakes on its development of a hydrogen-powered aircraft concept. On Sunday, new details emerged about just how much the manufacturer has spent on the stalled project.
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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.
