Feasibility study for a medium-range regional aircraft retrofit with battery powered propulsion system

Kurzfassung

In this paper battery-electric retrofits for a medium-range regional aircraft, comparable to the ATR 42- 500, are analysed for five different technology scenarios. The methodology and component models are described in detail as well as the validation of both the methodology and the aircraft model against conventionally powered aircraft. Based on the assumptions used, the present study reveals that battery-electric retrofits are likely not possible in the near-term future. Only when heavily relaxing the mission requirements and significantly decreasing the range retrofits become possible. For a 2050 technology scenario the range of the battery-electric retrofit is only about 280 km.