Hydrogen-electric engine developer ZeroAvia has raised an
additional $35 million, with United Airlines and Alaska Air Group as new
investors, the company announced Monday. The new funds bring the company's
total investment to date to $115 million.
As part of its investment, United has a conditional purchase
agreement for 50 of ZeroAvia's new zero-emission hydrogen-electric engines with
an option for 50 more, according to the Chicago-based carrier. The engines
could be retrofitted to existing United Express aircraft as early as 2028. One
potential use is on United's CRJ-550, a 50-seat aircraft that offers
first-class seating.
Hydrogen-electric engines use electricity created by a
chemical reaction in a fuel cell to power an electric motor instead of burning
fossil fuel, according to a United statement.
ZeroAvia successfully completed a test flight using a six-seat aircraft in September 2020 and has since said it hopes its engines will be used for commercial flights between Rotterdam and London as early as 2024. The company's project was one of 15 selected to receive funding from the UK government as part of the Green Fuel, Green Skies competition earlier this year.
United and Alaska join existing investors British Airways, Amazon's Climate
Pledge Fund, AP Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Horizons Ventures,
Summa Equity and Shell Ventures. Specific company investments were not disclosed.