H4e-motion develops an 8‑seat regional aircraft powered by a hybrid battery‑fuel cell system with liquid hydrogen propulsion, delivering up to 500 nautical miles of range. The company retrofits existing twin‑engine airframes with new H₂ powertrains and integrated battery packs, enabling airlines to adopt clean, efficient flight without extensive redesign.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Regional air transport relies on conventional turbofan engines that emit significant CO₂, while fully electric aircraft lack sufficient range for typical 500‑nautical‑mile routes. Operators of short‑haul services therefore face a trade‑off between sustainability and operational practicality.
Solution
H4e-motion offers a retrofit kit that converts existing twin‑engine, 8‑seat regional aircraft into hybrid battery‑fuel‑cell platforms powered by liquid hydrogen. The integrated system combines high‑energy‑density liquid‑hydrogen fuel cells with supplemental batteries to achieve up to 500 nautical miles of range without extensive airframe redesign. Retrofit kits include modified nacelles for fuel‑cell cooling, cabin adaptations for hydrogen tanks and battery packs, and a control architecture that manages power flow between the two sources. To support operations, H4e-motion partners with mobile hydrogen‑refueling stations that deliver liquid hydrogen on‑site and enable turn‑around times comparable to conventional fueling. The end‑to‑end solution spans infrastructure, aircraft conversion, and airline integration, allowing operators to adopt clean propulsion with minimal disruption to existing maintenance and scheduling processes.
Target Audience
Primary customers are regional airlines and charter operators that run short‑haul routes with 8‑seat aircraft and seek a low‑emission alternative to conventional turbofan propulsion.
Features
- Hybrid powertrain that merges liquid‑hydrogen fuel cells with high‑capacity batteries for extended range and redundancy
- Retrofit‑ready design that fits within existing twin‑engine airframe nacelles, avoiding full aircraft redesign
- Integrated cooling system and safety‑certified hydrogen storage modules tailored for 8‑seat regional aircraft
- Mobile liquid‑hydrogen refueling stations providing rapid, airport‑compatible turn‑around fueling
- Cabin redesign to accommodate hydrogen tanks and battery packs while preserving passenger space
- End‑to‑end service model covering propulsion conversion, infrastructure deployment, and airline operational support