An Introduction to Hybrid-Electric Aircraft (Part 3) (Download)
As we’ve seen in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, hybrid-electric propulsion systems promise to give the electrification of the world's air transportation networks a flying head-start (pun intended). They make it possible to use the relatively low power densities of today's batteries to produce practical aircraft that enjoy significantly lower carbon emissions and operating costs. But when Part 1 was originally posted nearly a year ago, there was still some question about whether the technologies could mature quickly enough to become commercially viable.
During that unplanned delay, those questions were put to rest as the technology matured rapidly and several more companies entered the hybrid-electric market space. We now have a surprising number of viable aircraft designs whose prototypes are undergoing flight tests in preparation for certification and commercial production within the next two to five years.