Range and Endurance Estimates for Battery-Powered Aircraft

The relations developed to estimate the range and endurance of a battery-powered aircraft were reported. It was observed that the Peukert effect could increase the range and endurance of a vehicle if the battery capacity was large with respect to the current required. The capacity of a battery was typically quoted in ampere hours or milliampere hours. The effective capacity was reduced if the current draw was close to the batteries' nominal capacity. A battery with a capacity of 2 Ah would appear to be capable of supplying a current of 2 A for 1 h. The power output of the battery would be reduced by losses in the propulsion system consisting of the motor driver, motor, and propeller. The endurance and range was reduced by 12.5 and 15.1%, respectively for a capacity of 1 Ah. The effective battery capacity was enhanced for presented capacities of two and higher. A linear increase in capacity resulted in a nonlinear increase in required current.