The Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed a high-specific-power air-cooled fuel cell stack for industrial UAVs, achieving a power density of 1970 W/kg. A hydrogen-powered drone equipped with this stack successfully completed test flights, demonstrating more than double the endurance of traditional lithium batteries.
This breakthrough solves the fundamental contradiction between water retention and oxygen transport in air-cooled fuel cells, a long-standing technical barrier. For B2B buyers in sectors such as power line inspection and emergency rescue, this means hydrogen propulsion can now serve as a viable complementary alternative for long-endurance missions where lithium batteries fall short.
Reference: People's Daily Online, May 10, 2026.
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