ZeroAvia to Retrofit CRJ Series Regional Jets with Hydrogen-Electric Powertrains

U.K.-based ZeroAvia on Wednesday announced an expanded agreement with Mitsubishi’s Canada-based MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ) aimed at retrofitting CRJ Series aircraft with zero-emission, hydrogen-electric powertrains.

Thom Patterson

Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 12:06 PM ET

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ZeroAvia says all flights by CRJ Series aircraft “should be zero-emission well before the end of this decade.” [Courtesy: ZeroAvia]

Key Takeaways:

ZeroAvia has expanded its partnership with Mitsubishi's MHIRJ to develop hydrogen-electric powertrains for retrofitting CRJ Series regional jets, aiming for zero-emission flights.
MHIRJ will provide engineering and certification support for optimizing ZeroAvia's powertrain on the CRJ700, positioning the widely used CRJ Series as a frontrunner for early zero-emission operations.
This collaboration builds on ZeroAvia's existing partnerships with airlines like United Airlines and Alaska Air Group to develop hydrogen-electric propulsion systems for various regional aircraft.
ZeroAvia's approach focuses on hydrogen fuel cells for emission-free electricity, differentiating it from other industry efforts exploring direct hydrogen combustion engines.

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In a move described as a “giant step forward” toward developing hydrogen-electric regional jets, U.K.-based ZeroAvia on Wednesday announced an expanded agreement with Mitsubishi’s (OTC US: MHVYF) Canada-based MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ) aimed at retrofitting CRJ Series aircraft with zero-emissions powertrains.

As part of the collaboration, MHIRJ will provide engineering services, data, and certification support relevant to the CRJ700, enabling ZeroAvia to optimize its hydrogen-electric powertrain to retrofit the airframe.