magniX selected as propulsion partner for Universal Hydrogen carbon-free aircraft

Electric aircraft motor manufacturer magniX (Redmond, Wash., U.S.), announced on Sept. 15 that it has entered a partnership with Universal Hydrogen (Los Angeles, Calif., U.S.), an end-to-end fuel logistics company on its carbon-free aircraft. To promote near-term adoption of hydrogen in commercial aviation, Universal Hydrogen is developing a retrofit conversion kit for the De Havilland Canada DHC8-Q300 (also known as Dash 8 , which will also be applicable to the ATR 42 family of aircraft) to a hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain. magniX says that, as part of the collaboration, it will be providing the electric propulsion system powering the converted 40-passenger regional aircraft.

Universal Hydrogen’s plan for the Dash 8 includes a two-megawatt (MW) class electric propulsion system on each wing. According to the company, magniX’s selection was in regards to its repeatedly demonstrated leadership in building practical, fully electric commercial aviation solutions, including the eBeaver that started flying with Harbour Air in December 2019, and the eCaravan that started flying in May 2020. Powering the Dash 8 with magniX’s electric propulsion will mark another step in scaling up magniX’s zero-emission commercial aviation propulsion solutions to regional commercial aircraft.

“There is a clear need for a step change in emissions reduction in commercial aviation, and hydrogen-based, carbon-free power is the future of the industry,” says Paul Eremenko, co-founder and CEO of Universal Hydrogen. “When looking for our propulsion partner, magniX stood out as a clear proven leader with a track-record of delivering the best in aerospace-grade electric propulsion. We look forward to watching the successful flights of our fully carbon-free Dash 8.”

“Universal Hydrogen, through its hydrogen transport and distribution infrastructure solution, is on a path to change the way regional flight is achieved and transform it from being powered by decades-old, expensive, polluting technology to low-cost clean solutions,” adds Roei Ganzarski, CEO of magniX. “The magniX team is inspired by the synergies between our mission and that of Universal Hydrogen. Together, we will bring scalable, proven technology to the next level of electric aviation.”

Learn more about magniX’s electric propulsion technology. Follow Universal Hydrogen’s project here.