Words By: Drone Major

Intelligent Energy is to launch a market leading 2.4kW fuel cell power product for the commercial UAV market at the largest industry show, AUVSI Xponential 2019, Chicago (30 April – 2 May).

In just 18 months, Intelligent Energy has launched four products specifically designed for commercial UAVs. These products provide a solution to the constraints of battery power and offer minimum downtime and fast refuel, making them a compelling option for the commercial UAV market.

Recently, Intelligent Energy’s 800W Fuel Cell Power Module – launched just eight months ago - was used to achieve a new Guinness World Record for the longest multi rotor flight time, conducted by South Korean company MetaVista. The multi-rotor UAV flew for 12 hours, 7 minutes and 5 seconds using liquid hydrogen to fuel the module. This record greatly exceeds the previous one held for 2 hours, 6 minutes 7 seconds, demonstrating just what can be achieved.

Lee Juby, Chief Sales Officer at Intelligent Energy, said: “We have the lightest and most power dense fuel cells available on the market and we continue to design new and innovative products to ensure we are leading the way in fuel cell power for commercial UAVs.

“Initially, we will be offering the 2.4kW to select customers with first deliveries planned for October 2019. The modules will then be made widely available to customers from early 2020. This latest product can achieve much longer flight times, for example on a DJI M600 frame with a 11 litre 350Bar hydrogen cylinder, a retrospectively fitted 2.4kW FCPM could achieve a flight time of over 2 hours compared to just 25 minutes with its battery power pack.”

Two 2.4kW modules can also be linked in parallel to provide up to 4.8kW of power without the need for additional hardware. The module provides the continuous power to the UAV and is hybridised with a small battery to manage the peak loads. The module can be fitted onto a number of off the shelf frames, however, efficiencies and flight time can be optimised further still on a customised frame.

Visitors to AUVSI Xponential will be able to see the full range of Intelligent Energy’s Fuel Cell Power Modules on stand number 3413 and speak to the team of experts. Intelligent Energy’s Andy Kelly, Head of UAV Product Development, will be speaking on Tuesday 30 April at 11am with a talk entitled Beyond Batteries: How Fuel Cells Offer a Viable Solution to Current Flight Time Constraints of Traditional Power Sources.

ENDS

About Intelligent Energy

About Intelligent Energy: Intelligent Energy is a world-leading fuel cell engineering company focused on the development, manufacture and commercialisation of its Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell products, for customers in the automotive, stationary power and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) sectors. Fuel cells are used in multiple applications, where clean, lightweight, high efficiency and cost-effective power is required.  The company is headquartered and manufactures in Loughborough in the UK, with additional offices and representation in the US, Japan, India and China.