Feasibility Study of Current and Emerging Battery Chemistries for Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft (eVTOL) Applications
The feasibility of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) relies on high-performance batteries with elevated energy and power densities for long-distance flight. However, systemic evaluation of battery chemistries for eVTOLs remains limited. This paper fills this research gap throug...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | World Electric Vehicle Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2032-6653/16/3/137 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | The feasibility of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) relies on high-performance batteries with elevated energy and power densities for long-distance flight. However, systemic evaluation of battery chemistries for eVTOLs remains limited. This paper fills this research gap through a comprehensive investigation of current and emerging battery technologies. First, the properties of current battery chemistries are benchmarked against eVTOL requirements, identifying nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries (LIB), such as NMC and NCA, as the best suited for this application. Through comparison of 300 commercial battery cells, the Molicel INR21700-P45B cell is identified as the best candidate. Among next-generation batteries, SiSu solid-state batteries (SSBs) emerge as the most promising alternative. The performance of these cells is evaluated using a custom eVTOL battery simulation model for two eVTOL aircraft: the Volocopter VoloCity and the Archer Midnight. Results indicate that the Molicel INR21700-P45B underperforms in high-load scenarios, with a state of charge (SoC) at the end of the flight below the 30% safety margin. Simulated SoC values for the SiSu cell remain above this threshold, reaching 64.9% for the VoloCity and 64.8% for the Midnight. These results highlight next-generation battery technologies for eVTOLs and demonstrate the potential of SSBs to enhance flight performance. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2032-6653 |