Liebherr-Aerospace and General Motors (GM) are developing a HYDTROTEC hydrogen fuel cell technology-based electrical power generation system for aircraft applications.
Both the companies have recently signed a joint development agreement covering the development of the system to demonstrate how hydrogen fuel cell-based power systems could be used in aircraft application.
According to Liebherr, the two companies will explore possibilities to leverage their strong position as a leading on-board aircraft system supplier and GM’s expertise in hydrogen fuel cell technology to develop an integrated system customised to the economic performance requirements of commercial aircraft.
Based on GM’s HYDROTEC hydrogen fuel cell technology, the construction and testing of this demonstrator will take place in a specialised multi-system integration testing laboratory at Liebherr-Aerospace in Toulouse, France. The demonstrator will incorporate the carmaker’s fuel cell system, along with its controls and models.
With promising lower emissions and lower noise than conventional aircraft operation, both companies see a great opportunity to deploy this technology in aviation. Through its relationship with Honda, GM is one of the world’s most advanced fuel cell developers in many industrial fields, now entering into aeronautics.
Charlie Freese, Executive Director – Global HYDROTEC, GM, said aircraft are a great litmus test for the strength and versatility of its new technology, which can address customer needs in a wide range of uses - on land, sea, air or rail. The collaboration with Liebherr could open up new possibilities for aircraft, transitioning to alternative energy power sources, he added.
Francis Carla, Managing Director & Chief Technology Officer, Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS, said the change from the conventional to a hydrogen technology-based electrical power generation system means major systems modifications on board the aircraft that could result in better, more efficient performance of the plane. The company wants to prove and test thoroughly. “The advantage of GM’s HYDROTEC fuel cell technology is that it has shown promise in extensive automotive and military programmes, where it has shown to be reliable from the engineering and manufacturing perspectives. We are developing low emissions aerospace solutions,” he added.