Airbus and Renault are to partner on developing batteries for aircraft and cars.
The agreement aims to synergize both companies’ electrification roadmaps and will focus on energy management optimization and battery weight improvement.
According to Airbus a move from current advanced lithium-ion cell chemistries to all solid-state designs could double the energy density of batteries by 2030. The company plans to use the batteries in future hybrid-electric aircraft.
The work will also consider the full lifecycle of batteries to prepare for their industrialization while assessing their carbon footprint across their entire lifecycle.
Gilles Le Borgne, executive vice president of engineering at Renault Group said, “For the first time, two European leaders from different industries are sharing engineering knowledge to shape the future of hybrid-electric aircraft.
“This cross-industry partnership with Renault Group will help us mature the next generation of batteries as part of Airbus’ electrification roadmap,” said Sabine Klauke, Airbus’ chief technical officer. “Reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is a challenge that requires cooperation across sectors, starting today.
“Bringing together Renault Group’s experience in electric vehicles with our own track record in electric flight demonstrators will allow us to accelerate the development of the disruptive technologies required for future hybrid aircraft architectures in the 2030s and beyond. It will also foster the emergence of common technical and regulatory standards in support of the clean mobility solutions needed to achieve our climate targets.”
“Aviation is an extremely demanding field in terms of both safety and energy consumption, and so is the car industry. At Renault Group, our 10 years of experience in the electric vehicle value chain gives us some of the strongest feedback from the field and expertise in the performance of battery management systems.
Driven by the same ambition to innovate and reduce the carbon footprint, our engineering teams are exchanging with those of Airbus to converge transversal technologies that will enable both hybrid aircraft to be operated and the vehicles of tomorrow to be developed.”
