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800 — Hybrid-electric propulsion

Hybrid-electric aircraft are not defined by a single architecture. They are defined by power-sharing and energy management across a mission.

This chapter uses a computational test case (via PhlyGreen) to explore:

  • hybridization level and power split choices,
  • battery cell assumptions and sizing,
  • drivetrain efficiencies,
  • mission-dependent constraints (power peaks vs energy capacity),
  • where hybrid-electric helps (and where it does not).

The goal is not to “optimize” a single design, but to learn how hybridization reshapes trade-offs and constraints.


Exercises in this chapter

800.1 — Hybrid-electric mission test case with PhlyGreen

A guided notebook using a Class II battery model and a prescribed hybridization strategy. You will explore:

  • power split ratio along the mission,
  • battery cell properties and pack sizing,
  • component efficiencies,
  • hybrid-electric aircraft performance along mission,
  • sensitivity of results to assumptions.

➡️ Exercise page →


Learning outcomes

After completing this chapter, you should be able to:

  • Interpret how mission power profiles drive battery sizing and feasibility
  • Identify which parameters dominate results and which are second-order
  • Produce a defensible sensitivity study (rather than “turning knobs randomly”)
  • Communicate hybrid-electric results with appropriate knowledge about assumptions