LYTE Aviation has selected Toulouse-based H3 Dynamics to equip its new 40-seater VTOL aircraft with aviation-grade hydrogen-electric fuel cell propulsion systems.

And in order to secure competitive hydrogen fuel for its new hydrogen aircraft line-up, LYTE is also supporting the installation of H3 Dynamics’ self- contained electrolyzer systems at its airport destinations.

LYTE Aviation is pioneering the industry’s first 40-seat eVTOL, a heavy-weight passenger mass transit vertical take-off and landing aircraft branded the SkyBus LA-44. Currently, LYTE is working on 19 different projects in Europe, US, Asia and Africa, and has secured 23 pre-orders worth €920m within the last 12 months.

LYTE is also designing a cargo variant, SkyTruck LA-44C, with a payload of 4.5 tons, as well a 19- seater version business jet, the X-Prime version. Furthermore, it has expanded its range to up to 2.000km for humanitarian aid and natural disasters use cases.

“The SkyBus and SkyTruck are ideal solutions to extend today’s regional aviation to places with no runway,” comments Freshta Farzam, LYTE Aviation’s Founder and CEO. “Unlike most eVTOLs carrying a maximum of two to four passengers, we want to move more people and more goods, with higher speed, lower-cost, frequency and flexibility.”

eVTOLs have long-suffered from limited flight times since they rely on heavy battery-packs. But new hydrogen-electric VTOLs with much longer range are on the way. US-based Joby Aviation just recently flew its five-seater eVTOL aircraft for 523 miles on hydrogen. This is almost 6 times the range of its 150 mile battery-version, a game-changer for the eVTOL sector.

LYTE Aviation chose H3 Dynamics to equip its systems with the most proven and durable systems, backed by solid industry references such as its recent work on an Airbus A330 APU fuel cell. With more than 15 years development of hydrogen technologies in the aerospace and defense sector, H3 Dynamics team can offer a unique safety and performance-driven expertise. It will help guide LYTE’s hydrogen eVTOL design and accelerate its time to market. LYTE Aviation will be integrating H3 Dynamics’ aero-compliant fuel cell power systems, in a design capable of working alongside tilt-wing and tilt-engine movements.

H3 Dynamics will also work with LYTE Aviation to ensure hydrogen is available for its aircraft regardless of the location. The company now supplies a range of self-contained hydrogen electrolyzer systems capable of producing green hydrogen on demand. “As we are already in close collaboration with airports in Europe and the US, and we need to make sure that our customers can benefit from efficient and easily available hydrogen infrastructure solutions.” adds Ms Farzam.

“Given the progress achieved by H3 Dynamics and by the broader ecosystem, we believe now is the time to begin transitioning eVTOLs from batteries to hydrogen. We are proud to be partnering with LYTE Aviation to move the world another step forward”, says Taras Wankewycz, Founder and CEO of H3 Dynamics Group.