Larger airframes drove the development of electrical systems, capable of quickly and reliably starting the new higher power engines. These soon gave rise to the need for engine-mounted electrical generators as the primary source of in-flight power for the electrical loads and onboard recharging of the aircraft battery system. Of all the backup power sources, batteries represent the most common means of storing energy for auxiliary or emergency power requirements. It is not unusual for a typical commercial airliner, such as a B-737 or A-320, to have dozens of batteries on board. The electrification of civil aircraft and the evolution of energy storage presents a solid perspective on how civil aviation has matured in its quest to develop lighter, more efficient and less polluting aircraft, and also more electric.
Includes bibliographical references.