PhD Studentship: Energy Management Fuel Cell-Battery Energy Storage System in E

PhD Studentship:
Intelligent Energy Management for Fuel Cell-Battery Energy Storage System in Electric Vertical Take‑Off and Landing Aircraft for Efficiency Improvement and Operation Safety

Apply for this PhD studentship at the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC).

Location:

Coventry, Warwickshire.

Funding for UK students: UKRI Standard Stipend & RTSG for 3.5 years.

Hours:

Full Time. Place on: 2nd September 2025. Closes: 30th January 2026.

The development of electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles is a promising solution for reducing air pollution, road congestion, and long commute times. Lithium‑ion batteries are the most common choice for the energy storage system (ESS) due to their high energy density, long lifetime, fast charging, wide operating temperature range, and light weight. Fuel cells have gained popularity in recent years, especially in transportation applications, because of their high energy density and ability to operate across a wide temperature range.

To achieve high energy and power densities simultaneously in eVTOL applications, a hybrid energy storage system (HESS) comprising lithium‑ion batteries and fuel cells seems feasible. An effective energy management system (EMS) is therefore required to monitor states and optimally manage the HESS, thereby enhancing the eVTOL’s performance and safety.