Potential and Limitations of Battery-Powered All-Electric Regional Flights–A Norwegian Case Study
Journal article, Peer reviewed
Accepted version
Permanent lenke
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3042836Utgivelsesdato
2022Metadata
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Originalversjon
10.1109/TTE.2022.3200089Sammendrag
The purpose of this study is to look at both the potential and the limitations of first-generation electric aviation technology while emphasizing Norway’s geographical opportunities and unique regional network. Electric flight distances up to 400km would cover around 77% of all flights within Norway. Currently, there is limited research into the suitability of battery-powered all-electric aviation in such scenarios, where Norway is an ideal case study location. In this work, the key factors, including battery technologies, propulsion systems, aircraft designs, and important aspects of the flight profile, are investigated to determine the suitability of specific routes in terms of the required power, energy, and battery size. A case study of five different flight distances in Norway (77-392km) and two different aircraft bodies (one retrofitted with an electric powertrain and one completely designed around the electric drivetrain) are presented. While the completely redesigned aircraft is observed to fulfill the power requirements of the routes, the results suggest that modest energy density improvements in batteries would facilitate retrofitting pre-existing aircraft. Finally, the study shows that it will be feasible to operate small (9-39 passenger) electric aircraft on short-haul flights in Norway through either new aircraft designs or retrofitting shortly. Potential and Limitations of Battery-Powered All-Electric Regional Flights–A Norwegian Case Study