A hydrogen fuel cell drone is an unmanned aircraft that replaces lithium batteries with a PEM fuel cell and pressurized hydrogen storage, extending multi-rotor flight times from the typical 20–40 minutes to hours. The beneuav HPD series is specified at 200 minutes of endurance with a 150 km control radius (manufacturer specification)† — roughly 5× a comparable battery multi-rotor, consistent with industry research on fuel-cell UAVs.
200 min endurance† ｜ 150 km control radius (ground-station link)† ｜ ≤10 kg payload† ｜ 25 kg MTOW† ｜ 4,500 m service ceiling†
The HPD Series — One Platform, Three Configurations
| Model | Class | Endurance | Control Radius | Payload | MTOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPD-P3000 | Light | 200 min† | Via communication network† | ≤10 kg† | 25 kg† |
| HPD-P3500A | Heavy | 200 min† | 150 km via ground station† | ≤10 kg† | 25 kg† |
| HPD-P3500B | Heavy | 200 min† | 150 km via ground station† | ≤10 kg† | 25 kg† |
Common platform: 1,850 mm wheelbase, 60 km/h cruise, 4,500 m ceiling, level-5 wind resistance, light-rain protected. Evidence: manufacturer specification — full datasheet on request.
Why Hydrogen Beats Batteries for Long Missions
- Fly 5× longer. 200 minutes per flight versus 20–40 minutes for battery multi-rotors — fewer swaps, fewer ground crew, one launch covers the corridor.
- Zero emission, low noise. The fuel cell emits only water vapor and runs far quieter than a combustion engine of similar output — suited to urban and noise-sensitive operations.
- Fast turn-around. Refuel with standard gas cylinders in minutes; no battery charging logistics in the field.
Hydrogen vs Battery Multi-Rotors
| Factor | Hydrogen (HPD) | Typical battery multi-rotor |
|---|---|---|
| Endurance | 200 min (mfr spec) | 20–40 min |
| Mission radius | up to 150 km w/ ground station† | typically ≤10 km per pack |
| Field turn-around | cylinder swap, minutes | charge cycle, hours |
| Emission | water vapor only | none (but grid charging) |
Applications
Pipeline & power-line corridor inspection ｜ Border and perimeter patrol ｜ Emergency assessment ｜ Coastal surveillance ｜ Communication relay
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a hydrogen drone fly? The beneuav HPD series is specified at 200 minutes of endurance — about 5× a typical battery multi-rotor’s 20–40 minutes (manufacturer specification).
How is the drone refueled? With standard industrial hydrogen cylinders; a swap takes minutes. Our engineers size the cylinder logistics for your site as part of the RFQ.
What payload can it carry? Up to 10 kg — electro-optical gimbals, mapping payloads or custom integrations (manufacturer specification).
What about hydrogen safety? The system uses standard-certified cylinders with regulators and leak-check procedures; a safety and handling briefing ships with every system, and training is available.
Do I need special certification to operate it? Operations follow your national UAS rules; the airframe is offered with a compliance roadmap covering CE-type processes, available on request.
[Request a Quote] ｜ [Download HPD Datasheet] ｜ Related: Hydrogen Drone Guide · Hydrogen vs Battery · Silent field power for your base
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