Electrification In Aviation: The Future Of Air Travel

One of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions is the aviation industry, accounting for approximately 2% of global emissions. In recent years, there has been a flourishing interest in finding ways to reduce the environmental impact of air transport. Electrification in aerospace is one of the most encouraging solutions to address this issue.

Electrification in aviation involves the use of electric power to replace traditional fossil fuels in aircraft propulsion systems. Electric propulsion offers several advantages over traditional combustion engines, including lower emissions, reduced noise levels, and improved efficiency. This can be achieved through the use of batteries, fuel cells, or hybrid systems that combine both electric and traditional combustion engines.

The primary benefit of electrification in aeronautics is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Electric aircraft produce zero emissions during flight, making them a much more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional combustion engines. This is particularly important in light of the growing concerns about climate change and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions.

Another benefit of electric propulsion is the potential to reduce noise pollution. Electric motors are much quieter than traditional engines, making them ideal for use in urban areas and reducing noise pollution around airports. This could have a significant impact on the quality of life for people living near airports and could potentially open up new opportunities for air travel in densely populated areas.

However, there are still several challenges that must be overcome before electric propulsion becomes a viable option for commercial aviation. One of the main challenges is the limited energy density of current battery technology. Batteries are heavy and take up a lot of space, which makes it difficult to design an electric aircraft with a sufficient range and payload capacity. This limits the use of electric aircraft to short-haul flights. Hybrid solutions could be envisioned as a first step where electrical batteries would come in support of more conventional architecture to compensate for peak demands and as a result, reduce the overall size of the propulsion system.

Increasing onboard electrical power also needs to be balanced with cable weight. Increasing current would require larger conductors leading to heavier cables. As a result, the industry is heading toward increasing voltage. While high voltage power systems are nothing new, applying them at high altitudes and low pressure are new challenges.

Up until about ten years ago, onboard systems were operated at 115V AC at 400Hz, after which it was ramped up to 230V for specific applications on the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787. These solutions have now reached full maturity and are ready for implementation in other systems of the aircraft. The next step is likely to be systems operating at 540V and above.

“Electric aircraft produce zero emissions during flight, making them a much more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional combustion engines.”

Another challenge is the lack of infrastructure for electric aircraft. There are currently few charging stations or maintenance facilities for electric aircraft, and the existing infrastructure is not capable of handling large numbers of electric aircraft. This will require significant investment in infrastructure to support the growth of electric aviation.

Despite these challenges, the aviation industry is making significant progress towards electrification. Many companies are investing in research and development of electric aircraft, and several prototypes have already been developed. In 2020, the world’s first fully electric commercial aircraft took flight from Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada, marking a major milestone in the development of electric aviation. Although the flight was only 15 minutes, it is a first step to demonstrate that commercial aviation in all-electric form can work.

In conclusion, electrification in aviation offers a promising solution to reduce the environmental impact of air travel. Electric propulsion offers several advantages over traditional combustion engines, including lower emissions, reduced noise levels, and improved efficiency. While there are still several challenges that must be overcome, the aviation industry is making significant progress towards electrification. With continued investment and innovation, electric aviation could revolutionize the way we travel and help to create a more sustainable future for air travel.