PEFCs to Transform UAVs

Advancements in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells have resulted in longer-endurance missions for smaller UAVs, as well as an enabler for electric aircraft that require vertical takeoff and landing capability.

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts chemical energy directly into electricity and heat. The energy conversion process is much more efficient than a heat engine and produces little noise and no regulated emissions.

Although the first successful fuel cells predate modern heat engines, fuel cells have been limited in aviation applications due to their historically low power-to-weight and low power-to-volume ratios. Over the past 20 years, renewed interest in fuel cells for automotive and stationary applications has resulted in drastic increases in performance. As a result, fuel cells are viable solutions for increasing the endurance of electric aircraft.