Hybradise battery powered EVTOL to improve cruising range

Background

A 2800 kg battery powered eVTOL has a maximum 1 hour and 40 minutes flight duration. The manufacturer would like to optimize the size of the powertrain by hybridizing existing solution.

Project Objective

Optimize the powertrain that will lead to lowering the mass of the powertrain and potentially increase the operational range of the aircraft. Explore potential hybrid solution.

ePOP Approach

Split the flight profile between VTOL and cruise power cycles and explore power delivery options for both flight types. Explore different hybrid (plug-in and non-plug-in) and compare them with the hybrid option. Explore available turbine technologies capable of producing sufficient power.

ePOP Outcome Delivered

Including a hybrid powertrain with a jet turbine generator allows to minimize the total mass of the vehicle by lowering the mass of the batteries required on board by significant amount. The study indicates that improvement of 50% of powertrain mass could be achieved by using a hybrid powertrain for cruising flight mode. 

ePOP Process & Insights

Step 1

Mission profile representing take off, cruise and landing has been prepared.

Step 2

BEV and a variety of hybrid powertrain architectures have been explored and a proposed hybrid powertrain has been chosen.

Step 3

KPI breakdown shows significant reduction of powertrain mass by reducing the mass of batteries required while maintaining similar volume.