H55 is a Swiss company which produces electric propulsion systems for the aviation industry. The company is a spin-off of the Solar Impulse project with André Borschberg, a former pilot for the project, being a co-founder.

The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Sion, Switzerland.[1][2] It's founders are André Borschberg, Sébastien Demont, and Gregory Blatt.[3] H55 has locations in Toulouse, France, and Montreal, Canada.[3]

The battery system was approved by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in early 2024.[4][5]

Canadian presence

The company has been active in Canada since April 2021 when it partnered with Harbour Air, a Richmond, British Columbia based seaplane operator.[2][6][7] Harbour Air is converting de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beavers to run on electricity, the planes are unofficially known as eBeavers.[8][7] H55 is providing the battery for the next eBeavers.[9]

H55 is partnering with Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC).[6] It will supply the battery systems for the P&WC regional hybrid-electric flight demonstrator program.[10][11] The project intends to modify a De Havilland Canada Dash 8 to be hybrid-electric aiming for a 30% improvement in fuel efficiency.[12] Other partners include: Collins Aerospace; De Havilland Canada; the Canadian government’s National Research Council Canada (NRC); and the Quebec government’s Innovative Vehicle Institute (IVI).

CAE and Piper Aircraft have selected H55 to provide the battery for the electric conversion kit for the Piper Archer aircraft.[13][14] CAE expects to convert two-thirds of its Piper Archer fleet with H55.[15]

In 2023, H55 expanded into Canada as H55 Canada Inc.[2] The company received a $10,000,000 interest-free loan from the Canadian government as part of the Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative.[1][16] Investissement Québec, a provincial investment company, is also investing in equity in H55.[17] The company is opening a manufacturing facility in Greater Montréal with the funding received. The facility will provide batteries and other products to the North American market.

French presence

H55 has a registered company in Toulouse, France since December, 2023.[18] H55's CEO Martin Larose and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Stéphane Fallot run the french company.[18]

The companies first project in France is with BRM Aero, making a 100% electric two-seater aircraft.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b Regions, Canada Economic Development for Quebec (2023-03-08). "Government of Canada invests in aeronautics sector's green transition by supporting launch of H55 Canada Inc". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  2. ^ a b c "Swiss clean aviation firm H55 creates Canadian subsidiary". sustainablebiz.ca. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  3. ^ a b "The H55 Story". H55. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  4. ^ Oehrli, Pierre-Yves (2024-03-04). "H55's battery system receives approval from the EASA | GGBa". Greater Geneva Bern area. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  5. ^ "H55's Electric Propulsion System Approved by Authorities". www.halldale.com. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  6. ^ a b "Canadian government to help Swiss battery provider H55 build facility in Quebec to support electric aviation". Skies Mag. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  7. ^ a b Pawson, Chad (August 20, 2022). "Vancouver seaplane airline completes first point-to-point flight with prototype electric aircraft". CBC.
  8. ^ "Harbour Air signs first eBeaver sales agreement". Skies Mag. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  9. ^ "Harbour Air Leads The Way With All Electric Aircraft". www.airlineratings.com. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  10. ^ "Pratt & Whitney Canada Selects H55 as Battery Technology Collaborator for Regional Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator Program". www.prattwhitney.com. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  11. ^ Cuenca, Oliver. "Pratt & Whitney recruit H55 to hybrid propulsion project". www.airmedandrescue.com. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  12. ^ "Pratt & Whitney Canada selects H55 as battery technology collaborator for regional hybrid-electric flight demonstrator program". Military Aerospace. 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  13. ^ a b "Aéronautique : H55 s'implante à Toulouse pour faire décoller l'aviation électrique". La Tribune (in French). 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  14. ^ "CAE launches Electric Aircraft Modification Program with Piper Aircraft Inc. – Canadian Aviation News". 2022-07-19. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
  15. ^ "Piper Aircraft Partners with CAE on Electric Aircraft Program | Piper Aircraft". www.piper.com. 2022-07-25. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
  16. ^ Arsenault, Julien (2023-03-08). "Électrification de l'industrie aéronautique: L'entreprise suisse H55 se pose au Québec". La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  17. ^ "H55 Announces Investment From The Government Of Que. - Canadian Manufacturing". www.canadianmanufacturing.com. 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  18. ^ a b "H55 FRANCE (H55) (H55)". annuaire-entreprises.data.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft:H55
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