2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Just as electric-drive cars are becoming more common on the roads, electric propulsion aircraft and air mobility vehicles are also expanding their reach into the airspace. Currently, there are over 200 electric aircraft in development, and the market size for electric propulsion aircraft is expected to exceed $25 billion by 2030 [1]. With regulations and international consensus driving the aerospace industry away from its dependence on fossil fuels, the future of electric propulsion is strong with a positive outlook.

Like their fossil fuel-dependent ancestors, the electric propulsion industry will be seeking a myriad of design and manufacturing specialists with degrees in engineering and engineering technology that are vital to the development and delivery of aircraft in the aerospace design and supply chains. Additionally, trained and skilled technicians, historically FAA-certificated airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanics, provide support and maintenance.

As with any new technology, there is minimal existing support documentation. Companies that develop these technologies are understandably reluctant to share their proprietary data. Much of the existing data can be found in industry-developed consensus standards. These standards are a publicly available source of data that can be used to identify the needs of the industry. This study reviews existing industry-developed consensus standards related to electric propulsion and identifies foundational course outcomes. Those outcomes will be aligned with both ABET EAC and ETAC student outcomes. This information can be used by post-secondary engineering or engineering technology programs with a focus in aviation propulsion to meet the future needs of an electric propulsion-based aircraft industry. While these outcomes are focused on undergraduate education, there may be applicability in introductory courses at the graduate level.