by AirbusNLFR
Develop a hydrogen-powered airliner that emits no carbon dioxide. Aviation is among the hardest sectors to clean up, and hydrogen is one of the few paths for larger planes.
Service entry pushed from 2035 to the 2040s; A380 fuel-cell flight test cancelled; fuel-cell R&D goes on.
Updated Jul 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week
Hydrogen stored as liquid at -253°C. Insulated tanks prevent heat leakage and boil-off.
Hydrogen and oxygen recombine to produce electricity, heat, and water vapor as the only emission.
Four 2.4-megawatt electric motors convert fuel-cell power to mechanical thrust, like battery-electric aircraft.
Fuel cell stack increases output as engines throttle up, reduces during cruise, matching production to load.
| Spec | ZEROe |
|---|---|
| Passenger capacity | 100 seatsR (reported) |
| Range | 1,000 nautical milesR (reported) |
| Electric motor power per unit | 2.4 MWR (reported) |
R reported by the company
Airbus
Aircraft, helicopters, space systems
Airbus designs commercial aircraft, helicopters, and space systems. It operates three divisions: commercial airplanes, defense/space, and helicopters.
