
Intelligent Energy (IE), a leading developer and manufacturer of fuel cell systems for UAV, has launched the IE-FLIGHT™ family of aviation fuel cell products at Farnborough International Airshow.
Designed for sub-regional and regional aircraft, this new line represents a significant step towards sustainable aviation.
The flagship product, the IE-FLIGHT F300 Fuel Cell System, is versatile enough for use in eVTOL, sub-regional, and regional aircraft applications, and can be installed in new Part-23 aircraft designs or retrofitted onto existing ones.
Key features of the IE-FLIGHT fuel cell system™ products include:
- Market-leading power densities
- Unique high-temperature heat rejection architecture
- Class-leading transient response times
- True zero-emissions flight capability
The system’s patented evaporative cooling technology allows for operation at high temperatures, enabling the use of a smaller heat exchanger. This innovation reduces weight and drag, enhancing overall aircraft performance, particularly at higher speeds.
Jonathan Douglas-Smith, Head of Sales for Aerospace at Intelligent Energy, stated, “We are thrilled to showcase the future of clean air travel at the Farnborough International Airshow by unveiling our brand-new IE-FLIGHT family of products and the IE-FLIGHT F300 Fuel Cell System as our first product launch within this line-up.”
The IE-FLIGHT system boasts fewer mechanical moving parts compared to traditional aircraft engines, and features a simplified Balance of Plant with fewer components. This design choice increases power density and reliability while potentially reducing costs at volume production.
Importantly, the system was developed specifically for aviation applications, rather than being adapted from automotive fuel cell systems. This approach ensures that IE-FLIGHT fuel cell products are fit for purpose within future aircraft certification programmes.
“Building on our 23 years of developing fuel cell systems, we have been able to develop a bespoke solution for the aerospace industry during the last four years which features a patented high-temperature operation architecture that doesn’t exist in any other fuel cell product. Although our IE-FLIGHT F300 launch product is suitable for Part-23 aircraft, our IE-FLIGHT technology can be scaled up to accommodate aircraft within the Part-25 sector as well.” added Jonathan Douglas-Smith.
“Our collaboration with industry leaders highlights our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aerospace technology and we’re delighted to have developed a fuel cell product that can help the industry to significantly reduce its global emissions count.”
The aviation industry’s shift towards zero-emission solutions is driven by the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with the sector currently contributing 2-3% of global emissions. This figure is projected to rise to 8-15% by 2050 based on air transport passenger traffic growth forecasts.