Experimental Characterization of Electric Aircraft Battery Degradation Using Accelerated and Evolving Load Profiles

The electrification of aviation represents a key step toward decarbonizing the transportation sector. Battery degradation testing is a critical aspect of understanding the performance and longevity of electric vehicles. This work aims to explore two innovative approaches for characterizing electric aircraft battery degradation: accelerated aging and evolving load profiles. Accelerated aging testing subjects batteries to intensified conditions, allowing for expedited performance evaluation. The evolving load profile modifies an electric aircraft's load profile to account for battery degradation over time, reflecting real-world usage more accurately. Experiments were conducted by applying the load profile of an electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft and an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to an array of lithium-ion battery cells. Comparisons between base profiles and those incorporating accelerated aging and/or evolving load profiles have been performed through incremental capacity analysis and state-of-health measurements. In contrast to the baseline profile, heightened degradation is seen alongside a reduction in total testing time for the modified profiles. Results and considerations from this study may be applicable to electric automobile battery degradation testing.