Jetcruzer International has ordered a 600-kilowatt electric propulsion system (EPS) from ZeroAvia to support development of its six-seat hydrogen-electric 500E airplane. The U.S. company today announced that it will take delivery of the ZA600 powertrain in the second quarter as it works towards service entry in 2028 for the reworked 1990s-era Jetcruzer 500 pusher turboprop single.

According to ZeroAvia, this is the first firm order for the ZA600, which the company has developed to convert aircraft carrying up to 20 passengers to hydrogen power. It has previously reported preorders for 2,000 units and is also developing the two-megawatt (2,682-hp) ZA2000 unit for larger airliners with 40 to 80 seats.

Earlier this month, the FAA issued ZeroAvia with a G-1 issue paper, marking stage two of the certification process for the EPS. Featured in the equipment are four 200-kilowatt continuous power bidirectional inverters to convert DC to AC power for ZeroAvia’s direct-drive motors, which are capable of 2,200 rpm. The EPS can be configured for various aircraft powertrain architectures, including battery-electric, fuel cell-based electric, and hybrid-electric.

Reborn Jetcruzers

Jetcruzer International announced plans for the 500E aircraft, as well as for a version powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop, at NBAA-BACE 2023. The original design was acquired in 2017 by Victor Tao, owner of Farrar Aerospace, after AASI shelved the program in 2004.

California-based Jetcruzer also plans to develop a 12-passenger model called the 1250E, with a target certification date in 2030. When the first ZA600 is delivered, it will be integrated with a rebuilt Jetcruzer 500 airframe that will be used as a flying testbed.

“Sustainable aviation is the future, and we are thrilled to take a leadership role in advancing this vision,” said Tao, who is CEO of Jetcruzer International. “The electrification of the Jetcruzer 500E represents a bold step forward in reducing carbon emissions while maintaining the high performance and efficiency our customers expect.”

ZeroAvia has opened a 136,000-sq-ft Propulsion Center of Excellence in Everett, Washington, to produce the propulsion systems. “It is exciting that our first sale of the 600-kW EPS as a standalone unit will support a project with simultaneously a rich history and a bright future,” said ZeroAvia chief business officer Sergey Kiselev. “Our commitment to deep vertical integration in development of our full powertrain technology is paying off as we have amassed a range of intellectual property and a portfolio of valuable fuel cell and electric propulsion components that have a strong market in their own right.”