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Data Insights Hydrogen in defence: Hybrid hydrogen-electric powertrain

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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 206,000 patents to analyze innovation intensity for the aerospace and defense industry, there are 110 innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Hybrid hydrogen-electric powertrain is a key innovation area in hydrogen

A hybrid hydrogen-electric powertrain is a propulsion system that combines the benefits of both hydrogen fuel cells and electric batteries to power a vehicle. Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen while emitting only water vapor as exhaust, and electric batteries store electrical energy for later use. This combination allows for a more efficient and environmentally friendly means of transportation.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 100+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established aerospace and defense companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of hybrid hydrogen-electric powertrain.

Key players in hybrid hydrogen-electric powertrain – a disruptive innovation in the aerospace and defense industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.   

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.  

Patent volumes related to hybrid hydrogen-electric powertrain

Airbus is one of the leading patent filers in electric-hydrogen powertrain. The company is at the forefront of innovation in alternative propulsion systems and hybrid powered aircraft. It unveiled a fuel cell-powered aircraft engine called ZEROe in November 2022. Expected to enter commercial service by 2035, the low-carbon engine will use hydrogen as a power source for aircraft propulsion. The engine design incorporates a hydrogen gas turbine, which can be paired with fuel cells instead of batteries in a hybrid-electric architecture, with fuel cells converting hydrogen into electricity to propel the engine.  

Some other key patent filers in the hybrid electric aircraft space include Raytheon Technologies, Safran, and Boeing.  

In terms of application diversity Zodiac Seats France, Solar Ship, and Rolls-Royce are some of the leading innovators. By means of geographic reach, the leading patent filers include Thales, Solar Ship, and Safran.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the aerospace and defense industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Aerospace & Defense.

GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.