ZeroAvia buys HyPoint to strengthen hydrogen fuel-cell technology offering

British/American hydrogen-electric aircraft developer, ZeroAvia has wholly purchased HyPoint, a hydrogen fuel cell system provider, to strengthen its hydrogen-electric product portfolio.

As per sources, ZeroAvia is developing powertrains for hydrogen-fueled engines and has been cooperating closely with HyPoint, especially in the U.K., over the last some years.

Apparently, this acquisition comes after an earlier collaboration with PowerCell Sweden, a Scandinavian energy company, for the development of fuel-cell stacks.

The terms of this agreement have not been revealed.

According to ZeroAvia, it offers access to HyPoint’s high-temperature fuel-cell technology, describing it as one of the potential avenues for increased power output and energy density.

Speaking on the latest move, ZeroAvia chief, Val Miftakhov, who was already on HyPoint’s advisory board, stated that the deal is a major strategic step to strengthen its place in hydrogen-electric powertrain development for the aviation sector.

Val stated that ZeroAvia is the only firm with wide expertise and offers world-leading intellectual property in hydrogen-electric aviation.

Meanwhile, the engineering team of HyPoint will be joining ZeroAvia’s hydrogen power-generation systems division, and all 40 of HyPoint’s employees will be merged with ZeroAvia across U.K. locations in Gloucestershire and Kent.

As per a statement issued by ZeroAvia, HyPoint chief Alex Ivanenko will serve as the general manager for VTOL and the new segment development, which will focus on rotorcraft and other activities apart from the fixed-wing propulsion sector.

Ivanenko also stated that this acquisition marks a significant next chapter for HyPoint, empowering it to leverage ZeroAvia’s resources.

Ivanenko added that it would further speed the product development, and as a result, the partners from different market segments will get matured products based on the new high-temperature-ranging hydrogen fuel cells.

According to ZeroAvia, HyPoint has gained recognition as a pioneer in producing technology with the potential to greatly accelerate the introduction of fuel cell power into larger aircraft.

For the unversed, ZeroAvia has been working to adapt hydrogen-electric engine technology to Dornier 228s.

Source credit - https://www.flightglobal.com/aerospace/zeroavia-reinforces-hydrogen-fuel-cell-technology-position-with-hypoint-acquisition/150452.article