[Hollister, CA & Kemble, UK – March 22, 2024] – ZeroAvia, the leader in zero-emission aviation technology, has appointed ITOCHU Corporation to act as its primary sales representative in Japan for its hydrogen-electric engines for aircraft. ITOCHU will leverage its extensive industry network and seek opportunities with Japanese airline operators and local infrastructure providers.
ZeroAvia is currently working through certification of its first engine ZA600 – a 600kW powertrain targeting the sub 20 seat regional turboprop market. A prototype engine has been flight tested aboard a Dornier 228 testbed in the UK over the last year. The company is also developing ZA2000, a larger 2-5 MW modular engine designed for 40-80 seat aircraft such as the ATR and Dash 8 families.
ZeroAvia’s engines use clean hydrogen in fuel cells in a chemical reaction to create electricity, which then powers electric motors to drive propellers. With no combustion of fuel, there is no emission other than low temperature water vapor, meaning that aircraft retrofit with the engines can become true zero-emission, electric aircraft, while maintaining commercially viable range and payload. Hydrogen-electric propulsion also promises economic advantages through reduced fuel and maintenance costs.
ITOCHU Corporation has a substantial aircraft leasing business, offering a wide variety of aircraft and engine financing. The company is also the largest shareholder in aircraft interior and component manufacturer and MRO service provider Jamco, as well as acting as a sales agent for many international aerospace organisations.
The Japanese government has set a goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has pledged to invest more than $200 million into hydrogen-powered aviation.
“With ITOCHU’s extensive and successful networks in the region, this partnership will bring us closer to achieving widespread adoption of our hydrogen-electric engines and multiple business developments, including MRO and infrastructure in Asian countries.”
“Through this partnership with ZeroAvia, ITOCHU shows its firm commitment to decarbonising the aviation industry in Asia, thereby contributing towards the creation of decarbonised and sustainable society and reducing the burden on the global environment, while also promoting economic growth. We are very excited to work with ZeroAvia on the development of innovative technological solutions to pioneer the journey into the future of air travel.”
About ZeroAvia
ZeroAvia is a leader in zero-emission aviation with the mission of delivering a hydrogen-electric engine in every aircraft as the most environmentally and economically friendly solution for addressing the industry’s climate impact. The company is starting with engines to support a 300-mile range in 9–19 seat aircraft by the end of 2025, and up to 700-mile range in 40–80 seat aircraft by 2027. Founded in California and now with thriving teams also in Everett, WA and the United Kingdom, ZeroAvia has secured experimental certificates to test its engines in three separate testbed aircraft with the FAA and CAA and passed significant flight test milestones. The company has signed a number of key engineering partnerships with major aircraft OEMs and has nearly 2,000 pre-orders for engines from a number of the major global airlines, with future revenue potential over $10bn. For more, please visit ZeroAvia.com, follow @ZeroAvia on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
ZeroAvia Press Team
About ITOCHU
The history of ITOCHU Corporation dates back to 1858 when the Company’s founder Chubei Itoh commenced linen trading operations. Since then, ITOCHU has evolved and grown over 160 years.
With approximately 90 bases in 61 countries, ITOCHU, one of the leading leading trading and investment companies, is engaging in domestic trading, import/export, and overseas trading of various products such as textile, machinery, metals, minerals, energy, chemicals, food, general products, realty, information and communications technology, and finance, as well as business investment in Japan and overseas. ITOCHU has declared “enhancing our contribution to and engagement with the SDGs” as one of the basic policies of its Medium-term Management Plan, and aims to achieve a global low-carbon society. For more, please visit ITOCHU Corporation.
