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 scaled back its ambitious ZeroE hydrogen-powered aircraft program, having already spent over $1.7 billion and consolidating four concepts into a single design.
The original target of fielding a zero-emission hydrogen aircraft by 2035 is no longer feasible, as the global "hydrogen economy" and necessary fuel cell technology development are 5-10 years behind initial projections.
Despite these significant delays and budget cuts, Airbus remains committed to developing a hydrogen-powered aircraft, but with a revised, smaller scope and a significantly extended timeline beyond 2035.
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.
