Structural Power Performance Targets for Future Electric Aircraft

The development of commercial aviation is being driven by the need to improve efficiency and thereby lower emissions. All-electric aircraft present a route eliminating direct fuel burning emissions, but their stifled limitations current battery energy power densities. Multifunctional structural composites, which combine load-bearing energy-storing functions, offer an alternative higher-energy-density batteries will potentially enable lighter safer electric aircraft. This study investigated feasibility integrating composites into future assessed impact on Using Airbus A320 as platform, three different configurations were designed conceptually, incorporating slender wings distributed propulsion. specific required for estimated determining mission performance requirements weight. Compared conventional A320, parallel hybrid-electric with >200 Wh/kg could increase 15% 1500 km mission. For all-electric >400 halve or mass needed 1000 flight.