Source | Lilium

Lilium (Munich, Germany) has started production of the aviation-grade battery packs — featuring composite battery enclosures — that will power the Lilium Jet on its first piloted flight, targeted for end of 2024. This next step in development follows extensive testing of battery pack subcomponents from individual cell to stack level with a focus on performance, safety and regulatory conformity.

Lilium’s battery pack is comprised of lithium-ion cells with silicon-dominant anodes that the company says will enable higher energy, power and fast-charging capabilities than graphite anode cells. Automakers such as Mercedes, Porsche, and General Motors (GM) plan to incorporate silicon anode technology into their premium electric vehicles (EVs).

Lilium’s battery packs are being designed to meet the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) stringent aircraft safety requirements regarding shock resistance, heat resistance, containment and redundancy (read “Blueshift becomes Lilium thermal protection system supplier”). They are also being designed to deliver high power and energy density to support a business model focused on regional, rather than urban, air mobility. Lilium has secured comprehensive intellectual property rights for its battery technology.  

The company’s Jet battery packs are being assembled at its purpose-built battery factory, located at Lilium’s headquarters outside Munich, with the aid of new generation digital tools that enable process control, efficient data collection and traceability. Lilium has been supported in the design of the assembly line and initial production ramp up by suppliers with extensive experience in battery industrialization, especially in the automotive sector.

The first units off the battery assembly line will be used for verification testing ahead of the Lilium Jet’s first piloted flight. Each Lilium Jet aircraft will be equipped with 10 independently functioning battery packs that are designed to enable safe flight and landing, even in case of failure of any single battery pack.