Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are one of the hottest segments of the aerospace industry, with legacy manufacturers and startups scrambling to develop a variety of urban air taxis and delivery drones. The new breed of vehicles are designed to rise into the air like a helicopter and fly using wing-borne lift like an airplane.

Compared with helicopters, eVTOLs generally use more rotors spinning at a lower speed, making them both safer and quieter. However, developing lightweight, yet powerful batteries is a big challenge.

Electric-vehicle battery supplier Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) expects electric commercial airplanes to be ready by 2027 or 2028, its top executive said.

“We have been working with our partners on this… I think by 2027 or 2028,” Robin Zeng, Founder and Chief Executive of CATL, said during a fireside chat at the opening ceremony of BEYOND Expo 2024 in Macao on Wednesday evening.

He was responding to a question on when would he expect to see electric airplanes materialize. Zeng was referring to commercial airplane with total takeoff weight of 8.8 tonnes which he said could probably have 14 seaters.

“When it comes to airplanes, everyone thinks about the big ones. We had started a small one. We have tried the airplanes which is four tonnes to take off,” he said. “But for commercial ones, it needs to be 8.8 tonnes. It’s still work in progress,” he explained.

CATL is the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer, according to earlier reports. The company has grown over the past decade to supply 37 per cent of the world’s EV batteries last year. CATL makes 40 per cent of the batteries used for energy storage, according to battery and energy research firm SNE Research.

The French startup Limatech is poised to launch its lithium aircraft starter battery aimed at decarbonizing aviation. This next-generation battery offers several advantages: it’s lighter, less toxic, and less polluting than traditional nickel batteries. DirectIndustry had the opportunity to interview Florence Robin, the co-founder of Limatech.

Founded in 2016 in Toulouse and stemming from CEA (the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission), the deep-tech industrial startup Limatech is introducing its lithium battery to decarbonize aviation. The company is awaiting certification before commercializing and supplying its first customers. It is also in the process of raising €20 million in funding. But what exactly is this battery, and what is its potential in the aerospace sector?

Amprius Technologies, Inc., a maker of next-generation lithium-ion batteries with its Silicon Anode Platform, has established a strategic partnership with Stafl Systems, a pioneer in advanced battery pack manufacturing, to offer high-performance battery solutions.

This collaboration, the companies say, marks a significant step forward in driving innovation and accelerating the adoption of high-performance battery solutions for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and urban air mobility (UAM) applications.

Amprius and Stafl Systems expect this collaboration to increase sales, expand market reach, and gain greater market share in the high-performance battery market segment. Under this alliance, Amprius will serve as Stafl Systems’ preferred battery cell supplier by providing its high-performance SiCore battery cells. Amprius will work closely with Stafl Systems to facilitate timely battery evaluation and testing to ensure optimal performance for its targeted applications.

“We are confident that this partnership with Stafl Systems will help us continue innovating in the high-performance battery market,” says Ronnie Tao, Vice President of Business Development at Amprius Technologies. “By combining our cutting-edge SiCore battery cell technology with Stafl Systems’ advanced pack manufacturing capabilities, we are poised to offer custom battery pack products at an increased volume with unparalleled performance, safety and reliability. We look forward to advancing our unmatched battery solutions to meet the evolving needs of electric mobility applications through this partnership.”

“This longer flight time signals an inflection point for the pilot training,” the company said.

EP Systems, a provider of innovative energy solutions, has announced its latest innovation: the trailblazing EPiC 2.0 aircraft energy storage system.

Compared to today’s battery technology, it provides up to 30 additional minutes of usable flight time. This opens up a host of new applications for electric aircraft.

“This really unlocks electrification for so many different customers in so many different segments,” affirmed Nathan Millecam, chief executive officer and co-founder of Electric Power Systems. “This is the first time where we’ve seen the convergence of all the technologies that we’ve been developing for over a decade now.”

EP Systems encourages industry leaders to get onboard with EPiC 1.0 now for a seamless transition later. EPiC 2.0 is a drop-in replacement for the EPiC 1.0 TSO system so it’s easy to upgrade.

Currently, one of the challenges with energy density is that it’s targeted toward short-range missions. The EPiC 2.0 module provides a significant increase in the energy density at the pack level. Additionally, it can fast charge in 30 minutes to deliver 80 percent battery capacity. This makes electric aviation a more viable prospect for commercial applications moving forward.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is teaming up with San Antonio International Airport in Texas to advance sustainable aviation technologies such as batteries for electric aircraft, energy storage solutions, and power management systems.

The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), the DOE’s innovation unit, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the city’s aviation department and public service board (CPS Energy), as well as the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), in which the partners pledged to collaborate on developing and promoting technologies that will help to decarbonize the aviation sector.

San Antonio mayor Ron Nirenberg joined representatives from ARPA-E, UTSA, and CPS Energy for a signing ceremony held at Stinson Municipal Airport in San Antonio. “This is an important agreement with the potential to shape the aviation industry of the future,” Nirenberg said. “Researching the decarbonization of aviation and finding new sustainable energy models is important work, and I am proud San Antonio will be playing a leading role in this cutting-edge research.”

Learn how Archer successfully completed rigorous battery pack drop tests as part of the FAA’s certification program.

Archer Aviation Inc., a leader in the development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft, today announced the successful completion of rigorous battery pack drop testing conducted at a National Institute for Aviation Research lab. This marks a significant milestone in the development of the company’s proprietary electric propulsion system for its Midnight aircraft in what is seen as one of the most difficult tests to pass for an eVTOL aircraft, putting Archer in a strong position to successfully…

Read more on UASWeekly.com.

The new Gen5 TB50 is a same-size replacement for standard 44 amp-hour batteries.

True Blue Power, the manufacturer of lithium-ion aircraft batteries, introduced the company’s newest main ship battery during the New Product Introduction session at the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) International Convention and Trade Show.

The new Gen5 TB50 Lithium-ion Aircraft Battery is a 50 amp-hour, engine-start battery. Its dimensions are equivalent to the industry standard 44 amp-hour battery, while offering more power, less weight and zero maintenance. The TB50 provides aircraft owners and operators a direct path to a lithium battery upgrade, with all the benefits the advanced technology offers.

More power and less weight

The TB50 weighs 50 percent less and delivers more amp-hours per pound than lead-acid and NiCad alternatives. It provides more power for engine starts, more energy for emergency and back-up power, and ultra-fast recharge.

Maintenance-free /on-condition

The TB50 eliminates expensive battery maintenance and frequent, costly capacity checks.

Eight Years Useful Battery Life

The TB50 offers up to four times longer battery life than lead-acid and three years longer than NiCad batteries.

Real-time monitoring and customization…

Lithium-ion batteries, essential to modern technology, are now benefiting from a significant improvement thanks to a recent discovery.

A research group, led by Professor Noriyoshi Matsumi from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), has developed a new binder made of poly(vinylphosphonic) acid (PVPA) for silicon oxide (SiO) electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. This innovative binder promises to enhance the electrochemical efficiency and longevity of batteries, paving the way for wider applications, including in electric vehicles…

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory are taking cleaner transportation to the skies by creating and evaluating new batteries for airborne electric vehicles that take off and land vertically.

These aircraft, commonly called eVTOLs,range from delivery drones to urban air taxis. They are designed to rise into the air like a helicopter and fly using wing-borne lift like an airplane. Compared with helicopters, eVTOLs generally use more rotors spinning at a lower speed, making them both safer and quieter.

The airborne EV’s aren’t just flying cars, and ORNL researchers conclude that eVTOL batteries can’t just be adapted from electric car…