New megawatt motor that could double electric aircraft range gets funding boost

H3X, a Colorado-based startup focused on the manufacturing of high-power density electric (HPDM) motors, has received further funding to take its new integrated motor drives to the market.

In the last two years, H3X has successfully validated its core technology and launched the HPDM-30, HPDM-140, and HPDM-250 integrated motor drives.

These units have been delivered to leading aerospace and defense customers. Additionally, H3X has successfully completed multiple contracts with NASA and the Air Force.

The firm claims that its new $20 million oversubscribed Series A raise will play a “key role to play in enabling sustainable aviation, decarbonizing the marine and industrial sectors, and unlocking next-generation electrified defense technology,” said a statement .

Compact power solution

Lithium-ion battery energy densities are still below those required for long-distance flight. Founded in 2020 , H3X investigated strategies to increase the electric motor’s power capability.

Starting from the beginning, the group examined each of the electric motor’s component parts. Made up of the main motor, power delivery system, and gearbox, these parts are often housed separately to provide enough cooling space. If not, this could lead to engine failure.

However, thanks to developments in electronics and material science and the capacity to 3D print materials like copper, the team was able to assemble all the parts into a single housing that weighs only 33 pounds (15 kg) without compromising its cooling requirements.

According to the firm, compared to its peers, its motor, the HPDM-250, is substantially smaller and lighter.

The corporation asserts that a commercial aircraft’s propulsion system, like the Boeing 737, must continuously supply a power density of 12 kW/kg in accordance with the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) criteria.

On the other hand, the greatest power that standard electric motors can produce is 4kW/kg. Because of its lighter weight, the HPDM-250 achieves an amazing 13kW/kg of power density.

Megawatt motor innovation”

The firm’s advanced integrated motor drives range in power from 30kW to 30MW. They address a significant market need for high-power density motors and generators made in the USA.

H3X anticipates hybrid systems will play a growing role in the electrification transition of various industries, as they can reduce fuel consumption without compromising mission range or endurance.

The team claims that the technology can result in lower operating costs and reduced emissions. In hybrid applications, its products can function as either motors or generators without requiring any hardware modifications.

With the help of the Series A funding, H3X now intends to increase manufacturing and launch its next-generation, multi-sector class of integrated motor drives (HPDM-350, HPDM-1500, and HPDM-2300).

The HPDM-1500 and HPDM-2300 are megawatt-class devices whose high power density and fault tolerance will greatly improve the performance of electric airplanes.

The HPDM-30 and HPDM-250 are ideal for drones, hypersonics, undersea ROVs, eVTOL, rockets, space actuators and pumps, small aircraft, and specialized ground vehicles. The HPDM-1500 suits regional aircraft, ferries, tugs, submarines, industrial equipment, mining, construction, and electric locomotives.

According to the film, using its motors instead of conventional ones can sometimes quadruple an aircraft’s range by freeing up weight for more energy storage aboard. It also believes that these megawatt-class devices will additionally open up new marine and heavy industry market niches for H3X.