World's First Hydrogen-Powered Joined-Wing VTOL UAV Successfully Completes Maiden Flight | Equipped with Yihydrogen Power Hydrogen System

On December 5, a hydrogen-powered connected-wing vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone, equipped with the world's first 2kW closed-type air-cooled fuel cell system developed by E-Hydrogen Power, successfully completed its maiden flight test through the collaboration between the E-Hydrogen Power team and the "Wing Connection Blue Sky" drone technology research team from Hohhot Modern Information Technology School. This achievement marks a crucial step forward in the application of hydrogen energy technology in low-altitude drone scenarios.​

The closed-type air-cooled fuel cell system used in this maiden flight, developed by E-Hydrogen Power, features lightweight compactness, low noise, and zero emissions, with stability and reliability reaching internationally leading levels, providing sustained power support for drone flight. The system integrates multiple cutting-edge technologies: it adopts a closed cathode configuration and ultra-lightweight accessories, paired with wide-temperature-range intelligent control, multi-level fault diagnosis, and energy management systems, achieving a rated power generation efficiency of over 42%. It also supports modular expansion, making it adaptable to various types of industrial drones, portable power supplies, and other fields.​

As an enterprise focused on the commercial application of hydrogen-powered aviation propulsion systems, E-Hydrogen Power leverages the technological and industry chain advantages of the Tsinghua team to focus on the development of aviation hydrogen fuel cell propulsion systems in the low-altitude economy sector. The success of this maiden flight fully validates the feasibility of hydrogen fuel cell systems as aviation propulsion, laying the foundation for the large-scale commercial application of hydrogen energy technology in the low-altitude sector.​

Recently, E-Hydrogen Power showcased its new product, the YQ-C25 hydrogen-powered connected-wing VTOL drone in Ordos, Inner Mongolia at the 2025 Low-Altitude Equipment Industry Innovation and Development Conference with the theme of "Intelligence Leading Low-Altitude, Equipping for the Future", drawing widespread attention from governments, research institutions, and industry chain enterprises due to its advantages such as high energy density, zero emissions, rapid refueling, and strong low-temperature adaptability. This drone adopts a unique connected-wing configuration design, achieving lower flight resistance and greater payload capacity. After being equipped with a high-energy-density hydrogen propulsion system, its flight endurance exceeds 5 hours, reaching a domestically leading technical level. The product is compatible with multiple types of mission payloads and can be widely applied in low-altitude economic scenarios such as emergency rescue, geographical mapping, and forest fire prevention, providing an integrated solution with long endurance and high performance.​

A representative from E-Hydrogen Power stated that the company will continue to leverage its technological advantages to advance the iterative upgrading of hydrogen-powered aviation propulsion systems, expand more low-altitude application scenarios, and contribute to the green and intelligent development of the low-altitude economy.​