H55 Completes Groundbreaking Certification Tests for Electric Aviation Battery Systems

H55 Completes Certification Tests for Electric Aviation

In a groundbreaking achievement for the aviation industry, H55 has successfully completed all necessary regulatory certification tests for its propulsion battery modules. This significant milestone marks the first time such stringent requirements have been met in the electric aviation sector, positioning H55 as a leader in establishing certified, flight-worthy battery systems.

The successful conclusion of these tests, which took place under the oversight of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), removes a key barrier that has hindered the commercialization and funding of electric aircraft programs. As electric aviation faces the unique challenge of ensuring high-performance propulsion batteries are safe even under worst-case scenarios, H55's accomplishment represents a major step forward.

Background on Certification Challenges

Electric aviation has been grappling with the imperative to demonstrate battery safety to regulatory authorities. H55’s campaign, which culminated on December 19, 2025, verified that commercial lithium battery cells can be seamlessly integrated into advanced aviation propulsion systems. This integration ensures safety even in critical situations, particularly regarding the spread of fires—a concern that has long loomed over electric aviation advancements.

H55 developed a comprehensive testing campaign within a certified production facility, utilizing serial production hardware rather than prototypes. This thorough approach underscored the company's capability to design and manufacture propulsion battery systems that adhere to high certification standards on approved production lines. The innovative energy storage system's design is founded on principles of monitoring, redundancy, and hazard mitigation at the cell level, ensuring safety under extreme failure conditions mandated by aviation safety standards.

Implications for Electric Aviation

By establishing a repeatable certification path for battery technology instead of promoting a single airplane program, H55 decreases the risks associated with adoption for aircraft manufacturers, operators, insurers, and investors. The certifiable framework now enables a quantitative risk assessment based on validated failure data, greatly enhancing the manageability of potential risks.

H55's pioneering propulsion battery system lays the groundwork for accelerated development and regulatory progress within both fully electric and hybrid-electric aircraft. Data and certification standards derived from the testing campaign support ongoing customer programs such as the BRM B23 Energic and initiatives to transition towards fully electric pilot training platforms.