A hydrogen fuel cell-powered commercial drone, developed by Huzhou-based Zhejiang Bilord New Energy, has taken off at a low-altitude flight base in Wuxing district, Huzhou, Zhejiang province, marking a breakthrough in drone endurance technology.

The hydrogen-powered, liquid-cooled drone achieved a flight duration of 70 minutes in tests, tripling the average endurance of current lithium-battery drones.

"We are pioneering low-pressure liquid cooling technology in the domestic hydrogen-powered drone sector," said Wu Zebin, Bilord's chief designer. He explained that hydrogen is injected into the fuel cell during takeoff, generating electricity to power the drone. The only emission is water, achieving zero carbon throughout the flight.

A commercial drone powered by a hydrogen fuel cell system takes off in Wuxing district. [Photo/Tide News]

Founded in 2017, Bilord first applied hydrogen fuel cells to buses in 2021, achieving a single hydrogen refueling range of 500 kilometers. Since 2023, the company has focused on developing hydrogen fuel cell systems specifically for drones.

"The challenge lies in reducing the drone's weight," Wu said. The team overcame key technical hurdles, such as packaging processes, sensor integration, and battery management systems, reducing the size and weight of the latest system by nearly half compared to the first generation.

Despite the latest products being in the test flight phase, market interest is growing, with Yao Rongen, chairman of the company, revealing intentions to collaborate across various sectors.

"We are developing a model with an 80-kilogram payload capacity to meet broader low-altitude application needs," Yao said.