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ZA600
Courtesy of ZeroAvia · Press kit, editorial use (opens zeroavia.com)

ZA600

by ZeroAviaGBUS

ProtoStage 2 of 5

Aims to certify the fuel-cell system in 2027 and the full ZA600 later; service 2030 at the earliest.

Updated 3 Sep 2025Checked 25 Sep0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Fuel-cell system certification
  1. Hydrogen-electric Dornier 228 first flight19 Jan 2023Complete.
  2. FAA special rules for its 600 kW electric engine2025Complete.
  3. Fuel-cell system certificationTarget 2027Not yet reached.
  4. ZA600 certificationTarget 2030+60 mooriginally 2025Not yet reached.

Most important updates

  • 3 Sep 2025
  • 20 Aug 2025
  • 14 May 2025
  • 14 Aug 2024
  • 19 Jan 2023

Upcoming

  1. 2027Fuel-cell system certification (next)
  2. 2030ZA600 certification+60 mooriginally 2025

Current obstacles

  • Storing and supplying hydrogenHydrogen takes lots of space even compressed, and airports can't make or refuel it yet.

Physics limits

  • Hydrogen gas takes over ten times the space of jet fuelCompressed to 350 bar, hydrogen holds under 1 kWh per litre versus nearly 10 for kerosene, and the strong tanks weigh many times the fuel they hold. Tanks crowd out cabin or cargo space.
  • Fuel cells waste half their energy as low-grade heatAviation fuel cells run around 50% efficient at about 80°C. That warm, not hot, waste heat is hard to dump, so they need large radiators that add weight and drag.

How it works

3 parts
Engineers at the open nacelle of ZeroAvia's Dornier 228 testbed: the electric motor that fuel-cell power drives, turning the propeller
Engineers at the open nacelle of ZeroAvia's Dornier 228 testbed: the electric motor that fuel-cell power drives, turning the propellerCourtesy of ZeroAvia · Press kit, editorial use (opens zeroavia.com)
Store

Hydrogen gas in high-pressure tanks

Hydrogen is carried as a compressed gas in strong tanks, since it is far too light to store compactly any other simple way.

Convert

Fuel cells turn hydrogen into electricity

In the fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen from the air combine through a membrane, making electricity, heat and water, with no burning.

Drive

An electric motor turns the propeller

The electricity feeds a 600 kW motor on the propeller; a small battery helps with peak power at take-off.

Update log

6 updates

Wed 3 Sep 2025

  • Minor: BlogTest

Wed 20 Aug 2025

  • Minor: BlogRegulatory

Wed 14 May 2025

  • Minor: BlogCommercial

Wed 14 Aug 2024

  • Minor: BlogTest

Wed 19 Jul 2023

  • Minor: BlogTest

Thu 19 Jan 2023

  • Major: PressTest

About ZeroAvia

The team behind ZA600

ZeroAvia

Hydrogen-electric engines for small airliners

ZeroAvia builds hydrogen-electric engines: fuel cells turn hydrogen into electricity for electric motors. First for 9–19 seat planes, later 40–80 seats. It cut back in 2026 after funding trouble and its founder-CEO leaving.

  • Flew a 19-seat Dornier 228 test plane with one engine swapped for a hydrogen-electric one in 2023.
  • Founder-CEO Val Miftakhov left in May 2026 after layoffs; timelines slipped to 2028–2030.
  • The FAA published special rules for its 600 kW electric engine.

zeroavia.com (opens zeroavia.com)Company profile →

Founded
20179 yrs
Headquarters
United KingdomUnited States
Status
Private
Valuation
private
Works in
AviationElectric & hydrogen planesEnergy
Coverage
1 program · 7 updateslatest 26 May 2026checked 25 Sep
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