World's first ultra-fast charging battery for eVTOL

China Two companies are collaborating to develop batteries for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that can be charged from 30% to 80% in just a few minutes.

EHang, a Chinese aerial vehicle company, has partnered with Guangzhou Greater Bay Technology (GBT), a fast-charging company, to develop the world’s first Ultra Fast Charging (UFC) and Extreme Fast Charging (XFC) battery solutions for eVTOL, Interesting Engineering reported on April 29. eVTOL, or electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, is seen as a revolution in personal mobility.

“This cooperation will significantly reduce charging time and lay a solid foundation for efficient, large-scale and cost-effective commercial operations in the low-end economy,” EHang said.

EHang and GBT will work together to develop battery solutions and energy storage systems for eVTOLs, ensuring they meet the 4H standards set by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). These standards focus on high energy density, long cycle life, high instantaneous charge-discharge rate, and high safety. In addition, to create an ecosystem for future commercial operations, the two companies will gradually build fast-charging stations and other infrastructure.

One of the key components of an eVTOL is the battery system, the performance of which will affect the flight range, stability, safety and efficiency. The new UFC/XFC battery will focus on three important parameters. First is fast charging, taking only 5-10 minutes to charge from 30% to 80%. Second, the battery system has an energy density of more than 200 Wh/kg. Finally, the lifespan is more than 2,000 cycles.

The new partnership will help accelerate the development of EH216-S flying taxi, which was granted a mass production license (PC) by the CAAC on March 7. This is the world’s first PC license in the global eVTOL industry, marking a major leap forward toward mass production of such vehicles and subsequent commercial operations.

The current flight range of the Ehang 216-S is only 30 km with a charging time of 2 hours. The new battery with high energy density and ultra-fast charging capability will significantly improve the operational prospects of flying vehicles like the EH216-S.

Thu Thao (According to Interesting Engineering )

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