UAV HES unveils plans for regional electric passenger aircraft

Element One will become the world´s first regional hydrogen-electric passenger aircraft. After 12 years of development, HES Energy Systems has now unveiled concrete plans for its aircraft.

The Element One was designed as a zero-emissions aircraft. It is being powered through hydrogen fuel cell technologies with an electric aircraft propulsion design. Four passengers can be transported in the vehicle. Depending on whether hydrogen is stored in gaseous or liquid form, it can fly for 500km and up to 5000km.

With Element One, HES hopes that future operators will use the aircraft in combination with the already existing network of smaller airports and aerodromes. Especially on new routes between smaller towns and rural areas, the vehicle could develop sustainability.

According to HES, refuelling of the Element One will take not more than 10 minutes.

HES´ vision is to create a new form of aerial mobility. The company, which has been in the commercial aviation segment for over 10 years now, named essential attributes for its future vision. Aerial mobility should be quiet with zero carbon, personalized, on-demand, decentralized and economically inclusive of rural communities.

Taras Wankewycz, founder of HES commented: “It’s now possible to break past the endurance limits of battery-electric flight using HES’ ultra-light hydrogen energy storage in a distributed propulsion arrangement [...] Element One’s design paves the way for renewable hydrogen as a long-range fuel for electric aviation.”

HES has been working with French start-ups over the past year and explored various locations to execute its Element One vision. The company eyes to work in the Aerospace Valley near Toulouse. The area is well-known for its aviation connection, not least because Airbus and ATR have established Final Assembly Lines (FAL) in the French city.

Last week, HES announced plans to connect an on-site hydrogen generation with fuel-cell powered UAVs across a network of hydrogen-ready airports. This is expected to be a crucial preparation to ensure smooth operations for larger-scale electric aircraft such as Element One.