Emissions and Operating Costs of Fully Electric and Hybrid-Electric for eVTOL Aircraft and the Impact of Alternative Fuels

As electric aviation technologies continue to advance, the importance of understanding the benefits and drawbacks associated with power sources for electric aircraft increases. The research presented herein analyzes the emissions and operating costs of a “lift + cruise” type urban air mobility aircraft with different power sources including fully battery-electric and hybrid-electric using VerdeGo Aero’s VH-3-185 hybrid powerplant. Multiple fuels will be examined for the hybrid-electric configuration, including multiple sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production pathways and power-to-liquid (PtL) e-SAF. The conclusions presented will show that SAF can reduce emissions by up to 87% compared to those due to the production of electric power required to recharge the fully electric aircraft. Emissions and operating costs associated with battery production are considered, including the required time of operation of a battery electric aircraft to offset the emissions due to production of its battery. Operating costs of the aircraft configurations examine the overhaul and maintenance costs associated with hybrid-electric and fully electric aircraft. Additional impacts due to infrastructure requirements, power grid management, as well as availability of battery components and SAFs are analyzed. This study provides a quantitative comparison of emissions and operating costs for hybrid-electric and fully electric urban air mobility aircraft which emphasizes the challenges associated with fully electric aircraft and the benefits of hybrid-electric powerplants for current and future aviation applications.