Bosch Aviation Unveils Groundbreaking Hydrogen Engine Concept at AERO Hydrogen & Battery Summit

1:31 pm UTC April 3, 2025 Apr 3, 2025 | by: Bosch | Transport

(Photo by: Bosch)

Innovation projects pave the way for climate-friendly propulsion of light aircraft.

As the aviation industry seeks greener alternatives, Bosch Aviation Technology has unveiled a promising hydrogen-powered aircraft engine concept. In response to growing environmental concerns and initiatives like the European Green Deal, Bosch is leveraging its expertise in system and hydrogen technology to convert an existing aircraft engine to hydrogen operation.

For this innovation, Bosch started with a four-cylinder gasoline engine from BRP-Rotax, a renowned Austrian manufacturer known for its powertrain systems in the leisure and powersports sector. Bosch opted to modify this established engine design rather than develop a completely new one, anticipating strong demand for this approach due to its time, cost, and approval advantages.

Christian Grim, General Manager of Bosch General Aviation Technology GmbH, emphasized: “In implementing the feasibility study, we were able to draw upon the proven performance of the Rotax 916 aircraft engine and combine this with our many years of experience in the hydrogen sector. Instead of developing an entirely new engine, we opted to modify an established engine design as we anticipate strong demand for this pioneering approach in future customer projects due to the time, cost, and approval advantages.”

The team completed the necessary modifications in just four months, achieving impressive results on the test bench. The modified engine now delivers 115 kilowatts of power, nearly matching the performance of the original gasoline engine. Bosch’s hydrogen engine is designed to run on hydrogen sourced from renewable energy, ensuring it remains climate-friendly with virtually no particulate emissions.

Bosch plans to continue developing the engine prototype, with expectations for even higher power outputs in the future. This project aligns with Bosch’s broader strategy to develop propulsion systems that maximize environmental sustainability while minimizing emissions across various modes of transport, contributing to the decarbonization of general aviation.

By converting conventional aircraft engines into hydrogen-powered alternatives, Bosch is not only making strides in clean aviation technology but also setting the stage for widespread adoption of hydrogen propulsion in the aviation sector.