IEEE T T E Special Issue on Electrified Aircraft Technologies

Worldwide, air transportation accounts for at least 2.5% of carbon emissions, and this fraction will rise as the industry continues its rapid growth. Electrification of air transport is a vital component of global carbon reduction. The United Nations Climate Change Conference held in 2021 (COP26) set a clear goal of securing global net zero emissions by mid-century and keeping $1.5 ^{\mathrm {\circ }}\text{C}$ global warming limit within reach. The development and implementation of energy-efficient advanced technologies with reduced environmental impact is of critical importance. It is predicted that by 2050, energy use and carbon emissions of the transportation industry will increase by 80% over present levels if there is no concerted action to mitigate this. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has set the target of at least 50% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2050. Leaders at the COP26 summit signed an agreement committed to supporting the adoption by UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of an “ambitious long-term aspirational goal that is compatible with net-zero global emission by 2050.” Achievement of these strategic goals requires fundamental reconsideration of aircraft engineering and propulsion, which have not really changed since the 1950s.