Assessment of maximum range of battery-electric aircraft

What is it about?

Thus far, academics and the industry have dismissed battery-electric aircraft as a pathway for climate-neutral aviation. This paper shows that this dismissal is based on wrong assumptions. With correct assumptions and several design principles laid out in this paper, we prove that battery-electric aircraft with 40-120 passengers could reach a maximum theoretical cruise range of more than 1000 km, assuming a usable battery energy density on pack level of 300 Wh per kg.

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Why is it important?

Battery-electric aircraft can play a much larger role in decarbonizing aviation than previously considered. A second paper presents a conceptual design of a 90+ seat aircraft with still-air range of 800 km and compares the energy efficiency and climate impact of this deign with e.g. hydrogen or eSAF propelled aircraft, showing the simple truth that 'if you can fly battery-electric, you should'.