Aerospace

Aerospace Battery Systems | EVolve Battery Systems

EVolve Battery Systems manufactures lithium-ion battery systems for aerospace applications including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), eVTOL development platforms, satellite ground support equipment, high-altitude pseudo-satellites (HAPS), and experimental aircraft. Systems are built on NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) chemistry, which offers higher energy density than LFP, a critical advantage when weight and volume are constrained. Nominal voltage configurations span 28V to 400V, with capacity from 0.5 kWh to 50+ kWh in single-pack form. EVolve designs with aerospace environmental categories in mind and can support programs pursuing DO-160 environmental qualification. Wire-bonded cell interconnection eliminates welded tabs, providing cell-level fault tolerance without a thermal propagation path through the interconnect. All hardware is manufactured at EVolve's facility in Boulder, Colorado, USA.

What aerospace applications does EVolve support?

UAV / UAS Prototypes

Development and flight test articles for MALE, tactical, and VTOL UAS platforms. Structural enclosures designed for the shock and vibration profiles of airborne programs. Defined interfaces from day one.

eVTOL Development

Development-phase packs for eVTOL programs and electric auxiliary power units (e-APU). High continuous and peak discharge rates support propulsion and hover power profiles.

Electric Propulsion

Flight test and development hardware for electric propulsion programs in pre-certification phases. 18-month lead times of volume aerospace suppliers are bypassed with EVolve's prototype path.

Ground Support & Labs

High-power DC supply for flight simulation, propulsion test stands, and lab load emulators. Dual contactors with precharge, HVIL, isolation monitoring, and CAN telemetry.

Hypersonic Test Support

Mission-critical backup power for hypersonic and advanced propulsion development vehicles. EVolve has delivered an 8.8 kWh, 403V system for a hypersonic propulsion program.

View program →
Satellite Ground Systems

Power storage for satellite test facilities and ground support equipment requiring precise voltage stability and long-duration discharge capability.

What certifications and compliance standards apply?

All EVolve battery systems are shipped with UN38.3 transport classification, which is required for air freight and hazmat shipping documentation. This covers transportation safety; it is not a system-level airworthiness certification.

For program-level environmental qualification, EVolve designs battery systems with DO-160 environmental categories in mind. DO-160 covers temperature, altitude, vibration, shock, humidity, EMI, and other environmental conditions relevant to airborne equipment. EVolve can support testing to DO-160 sections at qualified test laboratories and can provide the documentation package (test plans, test reports, compliance matrix) needed for program qualification. EVolve does not currently hold a DO-160 certification on any standard product; qualification is executed per-program.

Important: EVolve does not claim DO-160 certification on standard MonoLith products. Programs requiring environmental qualification can engage EVolve engineering to scope and support a qualification test campaign. Contact us to discuss your program's specific compliance requirements.

How does EVolve optimize battery packs for aerospace weight requirements?

NMC chemistry provides higher gravimetric energy density (typically 180–250 Wh/kg at cell level) compared to LFP (150–180 Wh/kg), which is a meaningful advantage in weight-constrained aerospace applications. At the system level, wire-bonded interconnection eliminates the mass of tab welds and busbars, and aluminum 6061-T6 enclosures provide structural rigidity at lower weight than steel alternatives.

180–250
Wh/kg
Cell-level energy density (NMC)
130–180
Wh/kg
System-level (MonoLith typical)
6061-T6
Aluminum
Standard enclosure material
28V–400V
Nominal
Aerospace voltage range

For programs with extreme weight budgets, EVolve can discuss reduced-mass enclosure designs, optimized module configurations, and cell selection tradeoffs. Lightweight does not always mean lower structural protection; EVolve engineering reviews vibration and shock environments before finalizing enclosure design.

What voltage and capacity configurations are available for aerospace?

The most common aerospace voltage configurations are in the 28V–400V range, which aligns with aircraft bus standards (28V DC, 270V DC, 540V DC) and propulsion inverter input requirements. EVolve configures MonoLith voltage in 7.2V steps, allowing precise matching to required bus voltages.

ApplicationTypical VoltageTypical Capacity
Small UAV (tactical)28V – 50V0.5 – 5 kWh
MALE UAS50V – 150V5 – 30 kWh
eVTOL propulsion300V – 400V20 – 80 kWh
Electric propulsion test100V – 400V10 – 50 kWh
Ground support / lab48V – 200V5 – 30 kWh

Use PackForge™ to filter configurations by your target voltage and capacity range.

What BMS and safety features are included?

Standard MonoLith systems include a custom BMS, which provides cell-level voltage and temperature monitoring, active cell balancing, state-of-charge (SOC) and state-of-health (SOH) estimation, programmable fault thresholds, and CAN bus telemetry. Safety architecture includes:

  • Dual main contactors with precharge: prevents inrush current damage on energization; verified via auxiliary feedback
  • HVIL (High-Voltage Interlock Loop): continuous monitoring of connector physical integrity; opens contactors immediately if any HV connector is disturbed
  • Isolation monitoring: detects ground faults between HV bus and chassis ground in real time
  • Thermal monitoring: per-cell and per-module temperature monitoring with programmable thermal cutoff thresholds
  • CAN bus telemetry: SOC, voltage, current, temperature, and fault state broadcast over CAN; DBC objects documented in ICD

Wire-bonded interconnection adds a passive safety layer: if a cell fails or shorts, the aluminum wire bonds at that cell open before significant current flows, isolating the faulty cell without thermal propagation through a welded tab.

How does EVolve handle vibration and shock requirements?

EVolve enclosures are machined or fabricated from 6061-T6 aluminum, which provides high stiffness-to-weight ratio and resistance to fatigue under cyclic vibration. Module mounting uses constrained elastomeric elements or direct rigid mounting depending on the vibration spectrum of the target platform. All internal cell arrays are bonded with structural adhesive to prevent relative motion.

For programs with defined vibration and shock requirements (DO-160, MIL-STD-810, or customer-defined profiles), EVolve reviews the applicable spectra during the design phase and can specify mounting isolation, enclosure wall thickness, and internal bracing accordingly. Qualification testing at third-party vibration test facilities can be scoped as part of the program.

EVolve has delivered flight test articles that survived sustained shock and vibration environments on tactical UAS and rally racing platforms. See the Dakar Rally Battery program for an example of a 773V system qualified for high-vibration environments.

How do I start an aerospace battery project with EVolve?

01
Submit Requirements

Submit voltage, capacity, envelope, interface, and environmental requirements via RFQ or PackForge. Include any existing CAD envelope or reference drawing.

02
Fit-Check & ICD

EVolve engineering reviews for in-catalog fit and flags constraints within 2–5 business days. On contract: STEP CAD, ICD, CAN DBC, and LV harness pinout.

03
Prototype Delivery

First-article hardware in 8–16 weeks from contract. Full documentation package included. Integration begins from a known baseline.