ZeroAvia acquires HyPoint

ZeroAvia has acquired fuel cell stack innovator HyPoint adding HyPoint’s advanced high-temperature fuel cell technology to ZeroAvia’s expertise in developing hydrogen-electric flights.

All 40 HyPoint team members will be integrated into ZeroAvia, working across the R&D locations in Kemble, Gloucestershire and HyPoint’s location in Sandwich, Kent.

The two companies have worked closely together on co-developing and testing HTPEM fuel cell technology as part of ZeroAvia’s powertrain development over the last couple of years, with HyPoint relocating the bulk of its R&D into the UK in February 2022 to support the partnership.

HyPoint has garnered recognition as an innovator developing technology with the potential to significantly expedite the introduction of fuel cell propulsion into larger aircraft. This early partnership was part of ZeroAvia’s work within the HyFlyer II programme, supported by the UK’s ATI Programme.

Val Miftakhov, CEO and Founder, ZeroAvia, said, “This acquisition, together with our long-standing partnership with the leading LTPEM (low-temperature PEM) fuel cell maker PowerCell, puts us in the top position for delivering the most environmentally and economically attractive solution to aviation’s growing climate impact.”

Alex Ivanenko, the former CEO of HyPoint and newly appointed GM for VTOL at ZeroAvia, said,  “It will accelerate our product development and, as a result, partners from different market segments will get mature products based on novel turbo-air cooled HTPEM hydrogen fuel cells.”