Low-Altitude Aviation’s Untapped Market Expected to Drive Solid-State Battery Demand to 302 GWh by 2035, Says TrendForce

TrendForce’s latest investigations reveal that the development of flying cars and electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL)/urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles are positioning solid-state batteries as a key energy technology for low-altitude aviation. Based on policy visions in regions like China and the United States, global demand for solid-state batteries in the low-altitude aviation sector is projected to reach 86 GWh by 2030 and further grow to 302 GWh by 2035.

A number of global automotive and aerospace manufacturers have entered the low-altitude aviation market, with over 200 flying car projects and more than 900 eVTOL models currently under development. Companies such as Boeing, Toyota, and Changan Automobile are investing in flying car technologies. Additionally, XPeng AeroHT, a subsidiary of XPeng Motors, recently secured an order for 2,008 flying cars at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition—the largest single order in the global industry to date.

TrendForce highlights that as low-altitude aviation technologies evolve, the performance demands on batteries—the core power source for these vehicles—are becoming more stringent. For example, eVTOLs require 10 to 15 times the power for vertical takeoff compared to ground travel, necessitating batteries with high energy density, high power output, high safety, and ultra-fast charging. Solid-state batteries, offering energy densities exceeding 500 Wh/kg, superior safety, high power, and ultra-fast charging potential, are well-suited to meet the demanding requirements of eVTOLs and UAM vehicles.

Both China and the United States are actively pursuing visions for low-altitude aviation. In March 2024, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), along with three other government departments, jointly issued the "Implementation Plan for Innovative Application of General Aviation Equipment." The plan explicitly calls for the mass production of 400 Wh/kg aviation lithium batteries and the validation of 500 Wh/kg aviation lithium batteries, providing strong policy support for the adoption of solid-state batteries in low-altitude aviation.

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