Val Miftakhov, the Founder and CEO of ZeroAvia, is at the forefront of addressing the significant carbon emissions stemming from long-haul flights, a primary contributor to the aviation industry’s environmental impact. Miftakhov’s approach involves the development of aircraft featuring hydrogen-electric engines, predominantly powered by fuel cells, with an additional lithium-battery assist for enhanced efficiency.
In a historic achievement this January, ZeroAvia, under Miftakhov’s leadership, successfully conducted a test flight of a 19-seat plane, marking a crucial milestone in the company’s journey. Looking ahead, ZeroAvia aims to scale its technology to power 80-seat aircraft, enabling flights covering up to 700 nautical miles by 2027. The immediate objective, however, is to obtain certification for its hydrogen-electric engine, making it ready for commercial flights by 2025.
Miftakhov emphasizes the significance of the recent test flight as the first step in a series of trials propelling the company forward. His leadership has already attracted substantial interest, with over 1,500 provisional orders received. Noteworthy industry players, such as American Airlines, United Airlines, and IAG, have expressed interest in ZeroAvia’s groundbreaking technology, reflecting a broader acknowledgment within the aviation sector of the pressing need for sustainable alternatives.
Val Miftakhov, a serial cleantech entrepreneur, brings a wealth of experience to ZeroAvia, having previously led eMotorWerks, a company that developed smart vehicle-grid integration hardware and software. Under his guidance, eMotorWerks achieved significant success, with its JuiceBox Smart EV charging station becoming the best-selling product in its category in the United States for the past five years. Miftakhov’s diverse background, including executive positions at Google, McKinsey & Company, and Nielsen, as well as his experience as a high-energy physics researcher, positions him as a key figure in driving ZeroAvia’s mission towards a future of sustainable and guilt-free flight.
