30 September 2025 - 1 October 2025, Hall 7, MEETT, Toulouse, France

Saft’s Rodolphe Boulais on lithium-ion innovation for aviation

14/07/2025

Author: Mankirat Kaur

As electric aviation races ahead, the challenge of selecting the right energy storage solution becomes more critical than ever.

At the Aerospace Test & Development Show, Rodolphe Boulais, technical lead for emerging aviation products at Saft, shared how the company is leveraging its 90+ years of aviation experience to fine-tune lithium-ion technologies for the evolving demands of next-gen aircraft.

“In this presentation, we wanted to continue the dialogue with the industry,” said Boulais. “The message is really this equation between application and chemistry. Every aircraft has a specific mission profile, just like each car has a specific engine and tyres. That mission directly impacts which battery technology is most appropriate.”

Boulais emphasised that selecting battery technology for aviation is not about finding a one-size-fits-all solution, but about aligning technical criteria such as power, energy density, safety, and cycling life with each aircraft’s specific use case, particularly in advanced air mobility (AAM).

“For a vertical take-off aircraft, for example, you need a technology that can deliver big power peaks,” he said. “That’s very different from what’s needed for conventional take-off and landing aircraft. So understanding the application is key.”

To support this, Saft has developed heat maps and radar-style performance charts that link mission profiles with suitable lithium-ion chemistries – from traditional NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) cells to blended technologies like LMFP/NMC.

“The challenge is certifiability,” Boulais added. “You can’t just have great lab performance – the technology has to be safe, certifiable, and scalable. And maturity matters. Some promising chemistries like lithium-metal or sulfur cathodes aren’t ready for aviation yet due to safety or cycling issues.”

He stressed that safety always comes first, but it’s an engineering challenge rather than a constraint. “Safety is not optional, but it’s also not a barrier. It’s something you design for, just like putting a nuclear reactor in a submarine.”

Boulais noted that Saft’s long-standing credibility and backing from parent company TotalEnergies positions it well to serve this high-stakes market. “It’s not just about having the right chemistry. It’s about having the industrial muscle to bring it to life, and to still be there 10 years from now when your aircraft is flying.”

Saft’s collaborative, data-driven approach promises to play a pivotal role in helping OEMs, system integrators and insurers navigate the complexity of electrified aviation.

Session: Lithium-ion technologies; application driven optimizations and comptonizations

Date: 1st October 2025

Time: 13:00 – 13:30