Hydrogen-fueled AUV breaks range expectations with 2,000-kilometer subsea run

An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) developed by Canada’s Cellula Robotics has traveled over 2,000 kilometers submerged, powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, exceeding its published performance specification.

During the mission, the Envoy AUV made over 4,000 turns and manoeuvres, which used more energy compared to steady, linear travel, better showing how the vehicle would perform in real-world underwater conditions, Cellula Robotics said.

According to the company, the hydrogen fuel cell system generated water as a by-product.

“The significance of this result is not just the distance travelled, but that it was achieved fully submerged in a mission profile that better reflects real subsea operations,” said Neil Manning, CEO of Cellula Robotics. “That is what makes the endurance meaningful for operators, with the potential for fewer recoveries, more continuous operations, and greater efficiency offshore.”

Using hydrogen fuel cell technology developed with Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc., the vehicle remained on mission for 385 hours and covered 2,023 kilometers submerged.

“We are proud to support a milestone that shows what hydrogen fuel cells can enable in real subsea operations,” said William Smith, President & CEO of Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc. “This result highlights the role fuel cell technology can play in extending endurance, reducing intervention requirements, and supporting more capable long-range autonomous missions.”