Piaggio Aerospace is developing designs for a hydrogen-powered business jet with a completely new airframe.
The business has studied various battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell propulsion solutions for its current P.180 Avanti Evo turboprop twin, according to Chief Technology Officer Antonio Sollo, who spoke at Climate Transformed’s green aviation webinar just before EBACE 2022. However, the business has determined that, at least in the short term, converting this plane to such propulsion systems would not be financially feasible.
Piaggio’s engineering team looked at different medium-term alternatives for hybrid and full-electric versions of the Avanti while drafting a technological development plan from 2023 to 2027. It found that, in order for the so-called eP.180 to be able to transport four passengers and two pilots on sorties of roughly 300 nm, the aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight would have to grow significantly—from 12,100 pounds to 16,200 pounds—based on predicted advancements in battery technology.
Piaggio (Static AD 8) also considered how it may convert the P.180 to a hydrogen-electric powertrain by replacing the regular engine nacelles with liquid hydrogen fuel tanks on the front edge of the wing. This fuel would power a pair of electric motors in the model’s normal pusher configuration, which would be powered by air-cooled fuel cells. The tanks would need to carry roughly 56 kg (123 pounds) of fuel for the same 300-nm range.
Sollo acknowledged that Piaggio has assessed that, all things considered, it would be more productive to create a fully new airframe in order to maximize the possibilities of any new propulsion system. Any choice to proceed with such a program would be reliant on the firm’s new owner’s backing, as the company is now under administration and up for sale as part of that process.
