Powering eVTOL: The role of stringent battery & powertrain testing

Advanced testing and AI tools are driving safe, efficient, and scalable global eVTOL deployment.

- BY: Baskar Ceri, Managing Director, NI-India, Emerson's Test and Measurement Group

The aviation industry is on the verge of a major transformation, with eVTOL aircraft set to reshape urban mobility. In the wake of increasing congestion and emissions among urban dwellers, eVTOL technology seems to be an effective remedy. However, safe operation, performance, and reliability have to be guaranteed by the aircraft so that they can easily fit into airspaces around the globe.

The need for overall validation of eVTOL systems

With the shift from conventional aviation to eVTOL, thorough testing and validation, and more so of the batteries and powertrain, must be done to determine safety and performance. The aircraft must be capable of withstanding composite conditions such as temperature, humidity, and altitude changes, the elements that have enormous potential to impact performance and longevity.

With ongoing technological progress in eVTOLs, stringent testing regimes must be designed to prove a sequence of operational parameters. Through simulator testing in actual operating flight conditions, regulation testing and stress testing for the operation of equipment in diverse environmental conditions, strict verification is only assured to award eVTOLs the requisite certification and social acceptance to mass-produce.

Battery validation: Sustaining performance and reliability

Battery technology is the support feature of eVTOL systems that determines range, efficiency, and operational safety. The primary battery validation challenges are:

• Thermal management – Elevated temperatures can accelerate battery ageing, reducing life and efficiency. Advanced thermal management systems and rigorous stress testing are required to deliver the best performance.

High energy density and fast charging - eVTOL flight needs to be affordable, and for that, high energy density and fast charging are essential. Test must standardise charge cycles, efficiency loss, and ageing.