Developing status and prospect of range-extended aircraft

All-electric aircraft face limitations in achieving long range due to the energy density constraints of current lithium batteries. Range-extended aircraft, employing an "electric-dominant, fuel-supplement" powertrain architecture, offer a balance between environmental benefits and extended range, positioning them as a crucial transitional solution for aviation decarbonization. This review focuses on the range-extended technology pathway. It provides an overview of the technological roadmaps adopted by representative range-extended aircraft models both domestically and internationally; it compares and analyzes five typical hybrid powertrain architectures, elucidating the definition and operational principles of the range-extended concept. It explores the advances and challenges of key enabling technologies that are driving its development, including high-power-density permanent magnet motors, intelligent energy management systems, efficient thermal management systems, and high-voltage partial discharge monitoring and protection technologies. This review clarifies the current landscape and core barriers of range-extended technology. It provides essential insights to inform the technological evolution towards long-range adaptability for all-electric aircraft and serves as a valuable reference for formulating strategies aimed at the low-carbon transition of the aviation industry.