LiBAT Clean Sky 2 Project:
Electric Airplane Battery System
Development of an electric airplane battery system for climate-neutral aviation by 2050.
Clean Sky 2 Program
The Clean Sky 2 program, part of EU Horizon 2020, is the European approach to address aviation sector challenges that come about with globalization, climate change and scarcity of resources. Clean Sky 2 technologies are expected to cut fuel burn & related carbon emissions by 20-30%, reduce noise levels (compared to 2014) by a similar amount, and to significantly improve competitiveness and mobility throughout Europe.
Visit the Clean Sky website for more information about the program:
Roadmap to climate-neutral aviation as part of EU’s Horizon 2020 initiative. Source: https://cleansky.eu/
LiBAT Project
LiBAT, a project initiated under the Clean Sky 2 program, focused on research and development of a light, compact and high voltage lithium-ion battery for aviation applications. In collaboration with LiBAT consortium partners, LION Smart successfully developed a new HV battery system capable of powering a manned aerial glider. Our role in the project included system design, prototyping and testing of the battery pack. When developing battery systems for electric aviation, size, weight and thermal management pose serious obstacles in the design process. The LiBAT demonstrator constructed by LION Smart, which featured innovative battery systems connected to an electric motor and propeller, addressed these issues through an exceptional level of integration and combination of advanced technologies.
Key Features:
LiBAT demonstration at the LION Smart test laboratory in Garching. The LiBAT battery powers an electric motor with propeller attached. Powers of up to 3,25kW with currents up to 30 A peak value were achieved at 2860 rpm in the tests.
Future Applications
While the project design was focused on powering electrified gliders, the LiBAT system also holds potential for use in hybrid propulsion systems, flexible frequency auxiliary networks, electric and hybrid cars, electric air taxis, and power tools (among others). However, the use of multi-level inverters for mobility applications is a potential game-changing technology that could transform battery systems in the avionics sector and beyond.
For more information and technical details about the LiBAT Clean Sky 2 project, check out the official website and press release here:
Official LiBAT Project consortium video.
This project has received funding from the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 821226”. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the authors, and in no way represents the view of the European Commission or its services.
Consortium Partners:
LION Smart GmbH – Technical Development & Implementation
TWT GmbH – Project Coordinator, Simulation & Design
Dassault Aviation – Topic Manager
Dr. Paul Riley, City, University of London – Supporting Partner
Dr. Obrad Dordevic, Liverpool John Moores University – Supporting Partner
