Batteries on Aircrafts: Challenges & Expectations

Abstract

Growing inconsistency of fossil fuels have generated increased push for new energy researches. Electrifications of transportations are undergoing for ground vehicles and aircrafts. Current developments of electric aircrafts are facing significant challenges that prevents it from becoming a replacement to traditional aircrafts. This paper examines the challenges faced by electric aircrafts and the current progresses made to counter those challenges. Current small electric passenger jets are catching up with fuel jets of similar sizes in terms of their payloads, but still lacking the range and passenger capacity compared to similar fuel jets. Existing batteries are having significantly lower energy density compared to fossil fuels, which limits other performances on an electric aircraft. Developments of new genres of lithium-type batteries with higher energy density is underway. Thermal management of batteries is critical as the high altitude of aircrafts brings low operating temperatures that can be devastating especially for lithium-type batteries. Progresses are being made to seek materials and protections for low temperature applications. With electric motors being the source of propulsions, there is limited improvement on the thrust necessary to power aircrafts. Researches are focusing on improving the aerodynamics of the plane and using turbo-electric propulsion to increase the thrust on the aircrafts. This paper addresses the critical challenges faced by electric aircrafts and offers potential directions, based on existing progresses, for researches on these matters.