BMW collaboration unveils hydrogen plane with 1,800km range

The aircraft will be capable of vertical take-off and landing will have a useful range.

In a collaboration including BMW and a top Formula 1 engineering firm, start-up Sirius Aviation from Switzerland has unveiled a hydrogen plane design with a range of as much as 1,800 kilometers on one fueling.

The aircraft would be powered by liquid H2 and would be able to fly without carbon emissions.

The Sirius hydrogen plane has two different version designs, each of which can take off and land vertically. The first is a “Business Jet” that seats three, and the second is the “Millennium Jet” which seats five. The Business Jet would have a range of 1,850 kilometers while the Millennium Jet would have a range of 1,046 kilometers on a single fueling.

The aircraft will be built and ready for the first flights in 2025, according to Sirius. Other aviation companies have also announced that they would start flying H2-powered aircraft next year, though in those cases, the commercial flights are focused on planes that could carry around 15 to 20 passengers. Other start-ups have announced their plans to have commercial flights in the European Union and/or the Americas starting in 2030.

The companies taking part in the hydrogen plane collaboration have ample experience in H2.

BMW Designworks, the design house at BMW has already created a number of vertical take-off and landing designs. It also worked with Sauber Group, a top Formula One engineering firm, on the Sirius Jet.

None of the companies had released any details regarding the fuel cell itself as of the writing of this article. This includes a lack of information regarding its size. That said, the hydrogen propulsion system details were slated to be released imminently in Switzerland.

Liquid instead of compressed gas.

It is unsurprising that the design includes the use of liquid H2 instead of compressed gas, as it does not require as much space to store while still providing the same amount of energy.

Liquefaction boosts the H2’s volumetric energy density to over 2.3kWh/liter, whereas compressed H2 at 350 or 750 bar have a volumetric energy density of only 0.8kWh or 1.1kWh respectively.

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Page 1 of 7

Who discovered the hydrogen element in 1766?

Henry Cavendish Robert Boyle Christian Friedrich Schonbein

Page 2 of 7

What country uses the most hydrogen energy?

united states hydrogen use United States China hydrogen use China Germany hydrogen use Germany

Page 3 of 7

What's the Guinnes World Record for a hydrogen fuel car's mileage range on a single tank of hydrogen?

629 miles 489 miles 845 miles

Page 4 of 7

How many miles of hydrogen pipelines are currently operating in the United States?

300 miles 1600 miles 2800 miles Zero Hydrogen Pipelines

Page 5 of 7

Is a fuel cell car considered to be an electric vehicle?

Yes No

Page 6 of 7

What are the many ways to store hydrogen?

Liquified Salt Caverns Compressed Material based like ammonia All of the above

Page 7 of 7

Which of the following statements best describes why hydrogen is considered non-toxic and dissipates quickly?

Hydrogen is heavier than air, causing it to spread slowly and remain concentrated. Hydrogen is lighter than air, allowing it to rise and disperse rapidly in the atmosphere. Hydrogen is chemically inert, preventing it from reacting with other substances in the air. Hydrogen is soluble in water, making it easy to dissolve and remove from the environment.