Applications – Transportation | Battery-powered electric aviation

The electrification of aviation marks a critical shift toward sustainable transportion, with significant implications for reducing carbon emissions and operational costs. This chapter outlines the essential energy and power requirements for battery electric aircraft and highlights the urgent need for battery technology advancements to extend range and performance. By tracing the evolution of electric flight and comparing current battery capabilities with traditional aviation fuel energies, it reveals the substantial developments needed for electric aviation to become mainstream. It also explores electric vertical takeoff and landing (EVTOL) aircraft designs, emphasizing the balance between energy efficiency, payload capacity, and battery performance metrics. The chapter assesses various battery chemistries and their theoretical energy densities, identifying key challenges and opportunities in meeting electric aviation's rigorous demands. Introducing the "Bat1k" battery concept, with a target of 1000 Wh/kg, it underlines the transformative impact such innovation could have on electric aircraft range and utility. The chapter provides a concise overview of the current landscape of battery-powered electric aviation and its future directions, calling for interdisciplinary efforts to overcome technological barriers and achieve sustainable air travel.