Market Trends of More Electric Aircraft Industry
The Commercial Segment is Expected to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period
The aviation industry generates 2-3% of the world’s human-generated carbon dioxide emissions and around 12% of the CO2 emissions from all transportation sources. Thus, to lower its impact on the environment and improve the sustainability of operations, the commercial aviation sector has committed to achieving net-zero air transport emissions by 2050.
The aviation industry is focused on improving aircraft performance, reducing gas emissions, increasing dispatch reliability, and reducing maintenance costs. The key original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are working on introducing advanced technologies through research and development (R&D) and adopting hybrid electric-powered or more electric aircraft. The more electric aircraft (MEA) concept utilizes electric power for non-propulsive systems. Traditionally, the systems were driven by various secondary power sources such as mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulics, and electrical.
Technological advancements in fault-tolerant architecture, power electronics, flight control systems, electro-hydrostatic actuators, high-density electric motors, and power generation and conversion systems lead to the growing adoption of more electric aircraft, driving the market’s growth. More electric aircraft in the commercial aviation segment include the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 XWB. Over the years, major aircraft manufacturing companies like Airbus SE and The Boeing Company have introduced more electric architecture to their commercial aircraft. Thus, growing expenditure on research and development and introducing advanced electric aircraft are driving the market’s growth.
North America is Expected to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period
North America is a large market for more electric aircraft due to the huge amount of aircraft deliveries that incorporate more electric architecture into the US. The necessary infrastructure and a strong emphasis on research and development in the electrification of aircraft subsystems are expected to aid the growth of the more electric aircraft market in North America. For instance, in 2021, Lockheed Martin Corporation delivered 142 F-35 fighter jets to the US and its allies. The power-by-wire system of the F-35 represents an essential advancement in more electric aircraft technology. It integrates self-contained electro-hydrostatic actuators (EHAs) to control the primary flight surfaces.
The increasing environmental concerns and stringent regulations for aircraft emissions are the major factors responsible for the dominance of the more electric aircraft market in the region. Though the deliveries of wide-body aircraft like the Boeing B787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 XWB have slowed down in the region, airlines still have several aircraft on order due for delivery. For instance, in October 2023, BETA Technologies, a Vermont-based electric aircraft startup company, deployed its ALIA, a fully electric aircraft, to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The ALIA has flown 336 nautical miles in a single charge. Such demand for new models of more electric aircraft from the commercial and military segments is expected to drive the market in North America during the forecast period.
