Introduction

Hybris is a hybrid-electric light aircraft designed with extensive use of structural batteries, capable of purely electric flight during take-off and landing phases, allowing drastic reductions of noise and CO2. To date, the emissions caused by the aeronautical sector are 2% of the total emissions, but their percentage is expected to increase up to 10% in 2050, if actions are not taken. The estimated market for electric-powered aircraft is $ 99.3M and it will grow to $ 121.8 in 2023.

Technical features

Hybris allows to significantly reduce the weight of lithium-ion batteries to be embarked by using structural batteries. The latter are composed of innovative multifunctional composite materials, consisting of a polymeric matrix reinforced by carbon fibers, able to withstand mechanical loads and, at the same time, to store electrical energy. The structural batteries are located in the fuselage and the outer part of the wings of Hybris. The hybrid-electric solution makes it possible to increase the range, in particular exploiting the internal combustion engine (ICE) to supply the aircraft with energy during the cruise phase. The ICE can also be used to recharge batteries during flight, reducing ground recharge times. Hybris won the 1st prize in the international competition “1st Annual General Aviation Design Competition: E-Conditions Fixed-Wing Aircraft Design Challenge” of the British Royal Aeronautical Society, the oldest aeronautical society in the world.

Possible Applications

• Hybris technology is applicable in any aircraft that uses electric power for propulsion, whether it is a fully electric or hybrid-electric aircraft;
• Structural batteries can be applied all types of aircraft.

Advantages

• Reduced weight of batteries;
• Approximately 20% reduction in operating costs;
• Reduction of CO2 emissions;
• Reduction of noise especially during take-off and landing, usually the most annoying for the population on the ground.