Multifunctional design, feasibility and requirements for structural power composites in future electric air taxis
Abstract
This study investigates the viability of implementing multifunctional structural power composites in a four-seater air taxi, the CityAirbus. For a given specific energy of the power source, the cruise endurance can be approximately doubled by using structural power composites as opposed to conventional batteries. Replacing all the eligible composite mass and batteries with structural power composites can reduce the CityAirbus weight by 25%. To achieve the current design performance, the minimum required elastic modulus, strength, specific energy and power for the structural power composite are 54 GPa, 203 MPa, 74 Wh/kg and 376 W/kg, respectively: current state-of-the-art structural power composites are now approaching this level of performance. Hence, structural power composites are considered feasible for adoption in the urban air mobility sector and have the potential to improve endurance and facilitate commercialization. This paper also discusses several key challenges that must be addressed to realize the adoption of structural power composites in future electric air taxis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Oct 08, 2022
- Source ID
- 10.1177/00219983221132621
Entities
People
- Aneesa Ishfaq
- Anthony Rj Kucernak
- Dan Zenkert
- Emile S Greenhalgh
- Leif E. Asp
- Milo Sp Shaffer
- Peter Linde
- Sang N Nguyen
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Chalmers University of Technology
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- German Aerospace Center
- Imperial College London
- Royal Academy of Engineering
- Royal Institute of Technology
- Swedish Energy Agency
- Swedish Research Council