Life cycle sustainability assessment of potential battery systems for electric aircraft

Abstract

The Flightpath 2050 strategy sets ambitious goals for aviation to reduce its environmental impacts. Therefore, new propulsion concepts that avoid in-flight emissions are being developed. Particular attention is given to (hybrid) electric propulsion systems based on batteries, fuel cells, and synthetic fuels that replace the conventional jet engines. This paper assesses the environmental, economic, and social impacts of eight potential battery systems for short-range aircraft from a life cycle perspective and conducts a pre-selection of suitable technologies. The results indicate that lithium-sulfur batteries are advantageous compared to lithium-ion batteries in terms of environmental as well as social and economic impacts.