A Review of Electric Propulsion for Air Vehicle Research

Electric propulsion technology possesses the potential of high efficiency, low noise and low emissions. Distributed electric propulsion technology can not only provide the thrust required by the aircraft, but also the flexibility of power transmission, which makes the design of the aircraft from a larger dimension. Therefore, electric propulsion aircraft is one of the main development directions of future aircraft. Based on the electric propulsion method, the aerodynamic layout of the aircraft can be changed, and the flight efficiency can be improved by improving the lift-to-drag ratio, making the aircraft safer, more efficient, and low-carbon. This article reviews the development status of aviation electric propulsion vehicles, focusing on the characteristics of distributed electric propulsion technology and aerodynamic layout changes of electric aircraft.