Feasibility study of current and emerging battery chemistries for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) applications

The feasibility of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) relies on high-performance batteries with elevated energy and power densities for long-distance flight. However, systemic evaluation of battery chemistries for eVTOLs remains limited. This paper fills this research gap through a comprehensive investigation of current and emerging battery technologies. First, the properties of current battery chemistries are benchmarked against eVTOL requirements, identifying nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries (LIB), such as NMC and NCA, as the best suited for this application. Through comparison of 300 commercial battery cells, the Molicel INR21700-P45B cell is identified as the best candidate. Among next-generation batteries, SiSu solid-state batteries (SSBs) emerge as the most promising alternative. The performance of these cells is evaluated using a custom eVTOL battery simulation model for two eVTOL aircraft: the Volocopter VoloCity and the Archer Midnight. Results indicate that the Molicel INR21700-P45B underperforms in high-load scenarios, with a state of charge (SoC) at the end of the flight below the 30% safety margin. Simulated SoC values for the SiSu cell remain above this threshold, reaching 64.9% for the VoloCity and 64.8% for the Midnight. These results highlight next-generation battery technologies for eVTOLs and demonstrate the potential of SSBs to enhance flight performance.