Battery-powered Wingcopter 198 drones will be refitted to run on hydrogen with the plan to make them fly emission-free and make them more powerful.
Hydrogen propulsion could result in longer flight times meaning deliveries can be made over longer distances.
The hydrogen propulsion system will be produced by Wingcopter and installed in its delivery drones.
Tom Plümmer, Co-Founder and CEO of Wingcopter, says, “We have always wanted the Wingcopter to be able to fly even further. However, we categorically ruled out the installation of a conventional combustion engine right from the start with a view to the environment and climate change. We are happy to now explore technical possibilities in the field of hydrogen propulsion together with the ZAL experts and then put the best concept into practice.”
Roland Gerhards, CEO of ZAL, adds, “Our mission is to bring hydrogen into the air and create innovative solutions for sustainable aviation. With Wingcopter as our partner, we're not only impressed by their drones' flight performance, but also by their clear vision of how urban air mobility and especially drone delivery can help improve people's lives.”
The modification of the Wingcopter will take place at ZAL’s Fuel Cell Lab in Hamburg with a solution being developed that will fit into the Wingcopter’s design while preserving its flight capabilities.
ZAL engineers have already achieved a flight duration with its own ZALbatros hydrogen drone using compressed gaseous hydrogen in combination with a fuel cell.