Evaluating hybrid-electric aircraft viability: The Ampaire Eco Caravan cost analysis

IF 7.3 1区工程技术 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Transportation Research Part D-transport and Environment Pub Date : 2025-04-26 DOI:10.1016/j.trd.2025.104759

Vincenzo Cusati , Mario Di Stasio , Gabriele Lucci , Qinyin Zhang

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Abstract

This study evaluates the direct operating costs (DOC) and economic feasibility of the Ampaire Eco Caravan, a hybrid-electric retrofit of the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. A specialized cost methodology was developed, incorporating fuel and energy consumption, acquisition costs, maintenance, and operational expenses. Results show the Eco Caravan reduces fuel consumption by 50% due to its hybrid-electric propulsion system, which integrates a fuel-efficient piston engine and an electric motor during high-power phases. Additionally, maintenance costs decrease by 14%, and for a 100-nautical-mile mission, operational costs are 9% lower than the conventional model. However, higher acquisition costs and reduced block speed increase total DOC by 3%. Scenario analyses highlight the impact of fuel prices, electricity costs, retrofit expenses, and airport charges, emphasizing the critical role of policy incentives. These findings suggest hybrid-electric aircraft can be viable with technological advancements and regulatory support.

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评估混合动力飞机的可行性：Ampaire Eco Caravan成本分析

本研究评估了 Ampaire Eco Caravan 的直接运营成本 (DOC) 和经济可行性，这是一种赛斯纳 208B Grand Caravan 的混合动力电动改装车。我们开发了一种专门的成本方法，其中包括燃料和能源消耗、购置成本、维护和运营费用。结果表明，Eco Caravan 的燃油消耗减少了 50%，这得益于其混合电力推进系统，该系统集成了高燃油效率的活塞发动机和大功率阶段的电动机。此外，维护成本降低了 14%，在执行 100 海里任务时，运营成本比传统机型低 9%。然而，较高的购置成本和较低的区块速度使总 DOC 增加了 3%。情景分析突出了燃料价格、电力成本、改装费用和机场收费的影响，强调了政策激励的关键作用。这些研究结果表明，在技术进步和监管支持下，混合动力电动飞机是可行的。

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来源期刊

Transportation Research Part D-transport and Environment 工程技术-运输科技

CiteScore

14.40

自引率

9.20%

发文量

314

审稿时长

39 days

期刊介绍： Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment focuses on original research exploring the environmental impacts of transportation, policy responses to these impacts, and their implications for transportation system design, planning, and management. The journal comprehensively covers the interaction between transportation and the environment, ranging from local effects on specific geographical areas to global implications such as natural resource depletion and atmospheric pollution. We welcome research papers across all transportation modes, including maritime, air, and land transportation, assessing their environmental impacts broadly. Papers addressing both mobile aspects and transportation infrastructure are considered. The journal prioritizes empirical findings and policy responses of regulatory, planning, technical, or fiscal nature. Articles are policy-driven, accessible, and applicable to readers from diverse disciplines, emphasizing relevance and practicality. We encourage interdisciplinary submissions and welcome contributions from economically developing and advanced countries alike, reflecting our international orientation.