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Cited by 547Advanced Aircraft Design and TechnologiesAdvanced Battery Technologies ResearchAdvancements in Battery Materials

The challenges and opportunities of battery-powered flight

Viswanathan, Venkatasubramanian, Epstein, Alan H., Chiang, Yet-Ming, Takeuchi, Esther, Bradley, Marty, Langford, John, Winter, Michael·2022·Nature
DOI 10.1038/s41586-021-04139-1
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Abstract

Aircraft, and the aviation ecosystem in which they operate, are shaped by complex trades among technical requirements, economics and environmental concerns, all built on a foundation of safety. This Perspective explores the requirements of battery-powered aircraft and the chemistries that hold promise to enable them. The difference between flight and terrestrial needs and chemistries are highlighted. Safe, usable specific energy rather than cost is the major constraint for aviation. We conclude that battery packs suitable for flight with specific energy approaching 600 kilowatt hours per kilogram may be achievable in the next decade given sufficient investment targeted at aeronautical applications.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41586-021-04139-1

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1 of 1 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The main reason for the performance drop at low temperatures is the change in the properties of the liquid electrolyte and its low freezing point, which inhibits Li-ion conductivity between the cathode and anode, thereby reducing the electrochemical reaction rate.

    “The main reason for the performance drop at low temperatures is the change in the properties of the liquid electrolyte and its low freezing point, which inhibits Li-ion conductivity between the cathode and anode, thereby reducing the electrochemical reaction rate2,5.”

    From High-performance Na3V2(PO4)3/C cathode for efficient low-temperature lithium-ion batteries (2025) · cites this paper as [5]

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Authors
Viswanathan, V., Epstein, A. H., Chiang, Y.-M., Takeuchi, E., Bradley, M., Langford, J., & Winter, M.
Affiliations
  • Carnegie Mellon University (US)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
  • Brookhaven National Laboratory (US)
  • University of Southern California (US)
  • Pratt & Whitney (United States) (US)
Corresponding author
  • Viswanathan, Venkatasubramanian
  • Epstein, Alan H.
ORCID
Venue
Nature
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2022-01-26
Volume
601
Issue
7894
Pages
519-525
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/s41586-021-04139-1
OpenAlex
W4210452349
Cited by
547
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 124 · 2025: 161 · 2024: 129 · 2023: 90 · 2022: 43
FWCI
8.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
correction (2022-03-15)
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Advanced Aircraft Design and Technologies
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Advanced Battery Technologies Research
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Advancements in Battery Materials
Keywords
battery-powered aircraft, electric aviation, aircraft batteries, specific energy, battery chemistry, aviation safety, battery pack design, aviation economics, aviation climate impact, battery innovation

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