BMW and Airbus rely on the power of quantum computing

Cooperation partner Quantinuum simulates the processes in an industrial workflow to improve the understanding of critical chemical reactions. In the technical paper, "Applicability of Quantum Computing to Oxygen Reduction Reaction Simulations", the three partners report, among other things, on the modeling of the oxygen reduction reaction ("ORR") on the surface of a platinum-based catalyst. The ORR is the chemical reaction in a fuel cell that converts hydrogen and oxygen into water and electricity. It limits the efficiency of the process.

"Circularity and sustainable mobility drive us to search for new materials to create more efficient products," explains Dr. Peter Lehnert, Vice President of Research Technologies at the BMW Group. "The ability to simulate material properties with relevant chemical accuracy while leveraging the advantages of accelerated quantum computer hardware gives us exactly the right tools for more innovation speed in this crucial area."

Simulation to Accelerate Development

BMW sees itself as a pioneer in the global automotive market and emphasizes the importance of researching new materials. According to Lehnert, the approximation and precise simulation of the most fundamental electrochemical processes using a quantum computer is an important step on the path to a sustainable energy transition, from which metal-air batteries and other products with improved efficiency will benefit.

“We can see the benefits of the study for our pursuit of sustainable and hydrogen-powered alternatives like the ZEROe aircraft, which can be powered by fuel cells,” highlights Isabell Gradert, Vice-President, Central Research & Technology at Airbus. “The study confirms that quantum computing is mature at the scale we need for aviation.”

Airbus relies on hydrogen technology

Airbus has identified hydrogen as a promising candidate for powering low-carbon aircraft because it emits no CO₂ during flight when produced from renewable energy sources. The company has already announced plans to test a hydrogen-powered fuel cell propulsion system on board its ZEROe demonstrator aircraft in the coming years. The company's goal is to develop the world's first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft and bring it to market as early as 2035.