H2Fly Prepares to Scale Up Hydrogen-Electric Flight Technology

H2Fly is gearing up to restart flight demonstrations of its hybrid-electric propulsion technology in 2026 or 2027, as the company moves from research and testing into forming technology partnerships that could bring hydrogen-powered aviation closer to reality.

According to CEO Ralph Müller, the German-based team is currently developing new proof-of-concept systems for several key components as it works to scale up the technology first demonstrated in September 2023.

Pushing Beyond Battery-Electric Limits

At the same time, H2Fly is supporting its parent company’s vision to go beyond the constraints of today’s battery-electric technology. In July, Joby Aviation reportedly flew a hydrogen-powered uncrewed aerial system (UAS) in Oregon—just a year after completing a record 523-mile flight with a hydrogen-powered demonstrator version of its four-seat eVTOL aircraft.

Even as the advanced air mobility market faces challenges and shakeups, H2Fly’s leadership remains focused on turning its innovative research into competitive, real-world products.

Exploring Early Use Cases

H2Fly is now in discussions with potential airframe partners across a variety of sectors—not just eVTOLs and drones, but also electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) aircraft for both passenger and cargo use, potentially scaling up to regional airliner size. The company is working to understand how its hydrogen-electric propulsion systems perform at different altitudes and under a range of flight conditions.

Some of the main engineering hurdles ahead include increasing power density and balancing power-to-weight ratio with propulsion efficiency. Experience from past demonstrators has highlighted the importance of having the right critical components, and when these aren’t available from suppliers, H2Fly is taking matters into its own hands. The company is developing parts such as fuel cells, heat exchangers, valves, and hydrogen tanks in-house to ensure performance and reliability.

Building Partnerships and Expanding the Team

Now one year into his role, Müller says H2Fly expects to announce several major technology partnerships by mid-2026. The company is also growing its team, with plans to expand its workforce by around 20% over the next few months to support the next phase of development.

Looking ahead, H2Fly still believes its first commercial use cases could be ready to launch by 2030, though much will depend on how markets evolve and which aircraft programs regulators choose to prioritize for certification.