This is not your grand-daddy’s dirigible! The H2 Clipper uses the latest hydrogen fuel cells and powerful electric engines to travel globe-straddling distances of 6,000+ miles (9,656+ km) at speeds of 200+ mph when desired, or slow to a cruising speed of 150 mph to reduce costs, travel even greater distances, or carry more payload.
Besides being clean, hydrogen is also the world’s lightest element. The H2 Clipper uses the lifting power of hydrogen to carry 408,000 pounds (185 metric tons) of payload 6,000 miles at 200 mph. Slowing to 150 mph for the same distance enables net payload to increase to more than 440,000 pounds (200 metric tons).
For transport companies, cargo volume is frequently a greater constraint than weight. With a cargo area of over 265,000 cubic feet, the H2 Clipper has 8 to 10 times more cargo space than any other air freighter. At less than one-quarter the cost per ton-mile of conventional air freight, it’s ideal for all sorts of bulky and over-size cargo service.
Total Cost ($0.13 to $0.21/ton-mile)
By using liquid hydrogen and fuel cell technology for propulsion, the H2 Clipper can operate efficiently at service ranges from under 500 to well over 6,000 miles. At 200 mph, and using vertical take-off and landing, the H2 Clipper can deliver goods directly from a factory in China to a distribution center in the U.S. in 30 hours.
Assuming a 6,000-mile trip, the H2 Clipper operates at a cost of between $0.13 per ton-mile at an average cruising speed of 150 mph, and $0.21 per ton-mile at 200 mph ($0.09 to $0.13 per tonne-kilometer at 240 and 320 km/hour, respectively). The combination of range, speed, payload and cost is highly disruptive.
The H2 Clipper utilizes 100% green hydrogen both as a lifting gas and as fuel. By using modern fuel cell technology, fresh water is the H2 Clipper's only operating by-product. It is not only 7X to 10X faster than a ship and 4X less costly than an air freighter, but also the only climate pledge friendly alternative for long-haul transport.
The H2 Clipper is a highly disruptive transportation technology designed to operate in the presently unaddressed market space between cargo shipping and air freight. It is the product of applying 21st Century advances in materials, engineering practices and computers to provide freight delivery in two days or less anywhere on the planet at an operating cost that is 70% lower than conventional air freighters and with delivery speed that is 7X to 10X faster than by ship.
The H2 Clipper utilizes the latest in hydrogen fuel cell electric propulsion and modern safety technologies, in conjunction with 100% renewable hydrogen to maintain neutral buoyancy for delivering payloads of over 200 tons (185 metric tonnes) with vertical take-off and landing. This comprehensively patented technology is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the rapidly emerging green hydrogen economy and to assist a broad range of industries, governments and humanitarian causes that require long-haul transport of goods and material to fulfill their respective climate pledge to rapid de-carbonization.
The H2 Clipper is also ideal for rapid, cost-efficient delivery of green hydrogen. Developing a vibrant hydrogen economy requires cost efficient ways to transport large quantities of hydrogen and to dynamically scale as emerging production capacity and market demand for hydrogen respectively grow over the next 30 years. The H2 Clipper is uniquely suited to addressing these needs. It can transport massive quantities of liquified or gaseous hydrogen at a cost per kg that is far lower than traditional truck transport; and is able to scale up through making additional daily trips until the recurring volume of hydrogen being transported justifies investing in the fixed cost of a pipeline or establishing a dedicated supertanker route, at which time the H2 Clipper can simply shift its services to another emerging production site and/or destination.
Using the Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE® Platform, and assisted by our design services partner, XD Innovation (XDI), H2 Clipper has now completed the research and concept design phases. This work has been performed with entirely private funding. Technical details respecting the innovative design, engineering and operating characteristics, detailed financial forecasts and other non-public information concerning the Company are available to qualified investors and prospective strategic allies under a written non-disclosure agreement.
