Hydrogen-electric pioneer ZeroAvia yesterday announced it had entered an agreement to jointly develop an zero-emissions version of the C208B Grand Caravan.
ZeroAvia will obtain a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to retrofit the Grand Caravan SETP with the 600 kW (804 hp) ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain.
ZeroAvia said the Grand Caravan's high-wing design makes it a strong candidate for mounting hydrogen fuel tanks under the wings, meaning operators don't have to sacrifice cabin space.
"The famous Cessna Grand Caravan is on track to be one of the first airframes operating commercial services—both cargo and passenger—with hydrogen-electric, zero-emission engines," said ZeroAvia founder and CEO Val Miftakhov.
"We applaud the visionary leadership of Textron Aviation in joining us to help transform a much-loved mainstay of sub-regional aviation into a symbol of sustainable transformation in aviation."
ZeroAvia is already retrofitting system into a 19-seat Dornier 228 aircraft at its R&D facility at Cotswold Airport in the UK, with the first test flights expected in the next few weeks.
The company is actively developing the market for its ZA600 product with different 9-19 seat airframes, while also eveloping a ZA2000, 2-5 MW engine for 40-80 seat regional airliners.
ZeroAvia aims to have the ZA600 certified by 2025.