Research on optimal power source for passenger transport eVTOL

eVTOL is anticipated to be a new mode of passenger transportation, with battery-powered systems frequently being considered due to their simple architecture, ease of maintenance, and zero in-flight emissions. However, technical limitations of batteries impose constraints on mission profiles, making...

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Main Authors: Shigetoshi TOKUOKA, Yoshiki YAMAGATA, Yoshiaki OHKAMI
Format: Article
Language:Japanese
Published: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers 2025-02-01
Series:Nihon Kikai Gakkai ronbunshu
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Online Access:https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/transjsme/91/942/91_24-00256/_pdf/-char/en
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author Shigetoshi TOKUOKA
Yoshiki YAMAGATA
Yoshiaki OHKAMI
author_facet Shigetoshi TOKUOKA
Yoshiki YAMAGATA
Yoshiaki OHKAMI
author_sort Shigetoshi TOKUOKA
collection DOAJ
description eVTOL is anticipated to be a new mode of passenger transportation, with battery-powered systems frequently being considered due to their simple architecture, ease of maintenance, and zero in-flight emissions. However, technical limitations of batteries impose constraints on mission profiles, making the selection of the most suitable power source crucial for each application. This study focuses on passenger transport use cases for eVTOL and proposes an approach to identify the optimal power source between two candidates: battery system and series hybrid system. The proposed procedure offers significant value in the early stages of eVTOL development by enabling the identification of optimal power source specifications and the early detection of gaps between planned and required specifications. This proactive approach facilitates discussions among stakeholders regarding project assumptions, requirements, and priorities, creating opportunities for alignment. Consequently, the method is expected to save development time and reduce rework, contributing to a more efficient development process. The analysis considered various scenarios involving different annual number of passengers, route distances, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mixing ratios, using this procedure. Our findings suggest that without the use of SAF, the battery system covered 43% of the 23 scenarios as an optimal power source. Meanwhile, when the SAF mixing ratio reached 50%, the series hybrid system was identified as the optimal and more versatile power source in 70% of scenarios.
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publisher The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
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series Nihon Kikai Gakkai ronbunshu
spelling doaj-art-2a4eb12ee4cd4ab4b7aed4f0bee7c4052025-08-20T02:01:10ZjpnThe Japan Society of Mechanical EngineersNihon Kikai Gakkai ronbunshu2187-97612025-02-019194224-0025624-0025610.1299/transjsme.24-00256transjsmeResearch on optimal power source for passenger transport eVTOLShigetoshi TOKUOKA0Yoshiki YAMAGATA1Yoshiaki OHKAMI2Graduate School of System Design and Management, Keio UniversityGraduate School of System Design and Management, Keio UniversityGraduate School of System Design and Management, Keio UniversityeVTOL is anticipated to be a new mode of passenger transportation, with battery-powered systems frequently being considered due to their simple architecture, ease of maintenance, and zero in-flight emissions. However, technical limitations of batteries impose constraints on mission profiles, making the selection of the most suitable power source crucial for each application. This study focuses on passenger transport use cases for eVTOL and proposes an approach to identify the optimal power source between two candidates: battery system and series hybrid system. The proposed procedure offers significant value in the early stages of eVTOL development by enabling the identification of optimal power source specifications and the early detection of gaps between planned and required specifications. This proactive approach facilitates discussions among stakeholders regarding project assumptions, requirements, and priorities, creating opportunities for alignment. Consequently, the method is expected to save development time and reduce rework, contributing to a more efficient development process. The analysis considered various scenarios involving different annual number of passengers, route distances, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mixing ratios, using this procedure. Our findings suggest that without the use of SAF, the battery system covered 43% of the 23 scenarios as an optimal power source. Meanwhile, when the SAF mixing ratio reached 50%, the series hybrid system was identified as the optimal and more versatile power source in 70% of scenarios.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/transjsme/91/942/91_24-00256/_pdf/-char/enevtoloptimal power sourcepassenger transportsaf mixing ratiobattery systemseries hybrid system
spellingShingle Shigetoshi TOKUOKA
Yoshiki YAMAGATA
Yoshiaki OHKAMI
Research on optimal power source for passenger transport eVTOL
Nihon Kikai Gakkai ronbunshu
evtol
optimal power source
passenger transport
saf mixing ratio
battery system
series hybrid system
title Research on optimal power source for passenger transport eVTOL
title_full Research on optimal power source for passenger transport eVTOL
title_fullStr Research on optimal power source for passenger transport eVTOL
title_full_unstemmed Research on optimal power source for passenger transport eVTOL
title_short Research on optimal power source for passenger transport eVTOL
title_sort research on optimal power source for passenger transport evtol
topic evtol
optimal power source
passenger transport
saf mixing ratio
battery system
series hybrid system
url https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/transjsme/91/942/91_24-00256/_pdf/-char/en
work_keys_str_mv AT shigetoshitokuoka researchonoptimalpowersourceforpassengertransportevtol
AT yoshikiyamagata researchonoptimalpowersourceforpassengertransportevtol
AT yoshiakiohkami researchonoptimalpowersourceforpassengertransportevtol