Flying-vehicle startup funded for hydrogen-powered air ambulance

An eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) company has received funding from the Australian government to develop a hydrogen-powered vehicle.

AMSL Aero plans to use the $3.6 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to develop a fuel cell system to power its Vertiia electric aerial vehicle (EAV).

The EAV is designed to aid first responders and emergency personnel in reaching Australians living in regional and remote areas.

“AMSL’s aircraft could become an important tool for emergency services personnel, particularly as we face more frequent natural disasters,” said Chris Bower, minister for climate change and energy. “Green hydrogen and other sustainable aviation fuels are vital to help decarbonize the hard-to-abate aviation sector, now accounting for around 2.5% of global emissions.”

This is not the only EAV targeted at first responders, expected to be among the earliest use cases for the new electric flying vehicles.

For example, Jump Aero recently received $3.6 million in contracts from the U.S. Air Force to accelerate the company’s technology development. Part of the funding is targeted to fund the first full-scale prototype.

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