YiQing Power Funds Hydrogen Aircraft Fuel Cell Development

A new wave of innovation is set to redefine aircraft propulsion as YiQing Power, a developer of hydrogen-based energy systems for aviation, has successfully closed an Angel+ funding round. The company announced it secured tens of millions of yuan, with lead investments from Red Bird Aviation Ventures and Guizhou Sci-Tech Angel Fund. Additional backing came from Shuimu Tsinghua Alumni Seed Fund, TusStar Venture Capital, Yinghui Venture Capital, Jinyuanhe, and Angel Club. This capital infusion is earmarked for advancing the development and validation of its liquid-cooled, aviation-grade fuel cell products, alongside the commercial rollout of its air-cooled fuel cell solutions across various applications.

While the automotive sector has seen significant strides in hydrogen fuel cell technology over the past decade, establishing cost reduction pathways and industry standards, the aviation industry in China has lagged. However, the inherent advantages of hydrogen fuel cells—high energy density, superior environmental adaptability, and faster refueling compared to traditional batteries—make them particularly attractive for emerging aviation segments like eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft, promising over three times the range and better performance in cold conditions. This aligns with the growing global interest in sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and alternative power sources.

The strategic vision behind YiQing Power, founded by Zhang Kexun, a Tsinghua University alumnus with deep expertise in new energy systems since 2002, is rooted in leveraging over two decades of fuel cell research from Tsinghua University. The company's journey began with rigorous technical validation for hydrogen in aviation applications in 2018, culminating in the development of its first 30kW liquid-cooled fuel cell for aviation in collaboration with Northwestern Polytechnical University in 2020. This initial phase was marked by the significant challenge of custom-developing all components and materials to meet stringent aviation-grade specifications, a process that demanded substantial investment and time.

YiQing Power is pursuing a dual-pronged product strategy. Its primary focus remains on high-power, long-endurance liquid-cooled fuel cells, designed to operate in extreme altitudes and temperatures with a target lifespan exceeding 10,000 hours. The company has progressed from its initial 30kW prototype to current 90-110kW systems, with plans to scale up to 300kW. This technology is crucial for larger aircraft and is currently in the productization phase, working closely with airframe manufacturers on airworthiness certification. Complementing this, YiQing Power introduced air-cooled fuel cells in 2024, targeting the burgeoning low-altitude economy, particularly drones. These systems are lower power but offer faster development cycles and quicker market entry.

The air-cooled systems are already demonstrating commercial viability. YiQing Power reported that its air-cooled solutions achieved millions in revenue in the first half of this year from drone inspection applications, with a target of tens of millions in 2026. These systems provide 3-4 times the endurance of lithium batteries, extending operational radii from kilometers to hundreds of kilometers, at a comparable cost to fully electric solutions. Notably, high-altitude drones utilizing YiQing Power's systems have achieved flight durations of 30 hours and 24 hours in 2025 and 2026, respectively, using hydrogen as fuel. The company is also developing air-cooled solutions for low-altitude logistics, with validation planned for later this year.

Looking ahead, YiQing Power anticipates significant revenue generation from its liquid-cooled systems to begin in the next two to three years. The company's progress is underscored by its role as a collaborative supplier for COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) in hydrogen power systems and its partnerships with multiple eVTOL manufacturers. The accelerating development of green hydrogen production in China, driving down fuel costs, is expected to further enhance the economic competitiveness of hydrogen aviation. Zhang Kexun believes China is well-positioned to achieve rapid market iteration and potentially "overtake" global competitors in this sector, much like it did with electric vehicles.