ZeroAvia and Textron Aviation to develop hydrogen powertrain

ZeroAvia has entered into a non-exclusive Joint Development Agreement with Textron Aviation Inc. to support the development of hydrogen-electric, zero-emission powertrains for the Cessna Grand Caravan (208B) aircraft.

ZeroAvia will obtain a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to retrofit the Grand Caravan single-engine utility turboprop with the ZA600 zero-emission powertrain, targeting commercial passenger and cargo operators.

The Cessna Grand Caravan is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation. Its high-wing design makes it a strong candidate for mounting hydrogen fuel tanks under the wings, ensuring operators can maintain seat capacity or cargo space while transitioning to true zero-emission propulsion systems.

ZeroAvia will develop its ZA600 powertrain system for the Grand Caravan with data, engineering and certification support provided by Textron Aviation. ZeroAvia aims to obtain certification for the 600kW powertrain as early as 2025, enabling customers to operate zero-emission flights.

The Cessna Grand Caravan platform has seen more than 2,400 aircraft delivered worldwide since the aircraft was introduced, representing the enormous potential for a shift to clean propulsion. ZeroAvia has already announced several agreements with operators and lessors about conversions of the Grand Caravan.

This agreement with Textron Aviation adds significant prior commitments from other aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and operators to ZeroAvia’s powertrain technology throughout the last few months. ZeroAvia is already well advanced in retrofitting its system into a 19-seat Dornier 228 aircraft at its R&D location at Cotswold Airport in the UK, with first test flights anticipated over the next few weeks.

The company is actively developing the market for its ZA600 product with different 9-19 seat airframes while concurrently developing its ZA2000, 2-5MW engine class for 40-80 seat aircraft with an entry-into-service target of 2027.

Val Miftakhov, CEO, ZeroAvia, said, “The famous Cessna Grand Caravan is on track to be one of the first airframes operating commercial services – both cargo and passenger – with hydrogen-electric, zero-emission engines.”