EASA Approves Lilium's High-Voltage Battery: What This Means for Electric Aircraft

ByUjjwal Sukhwani•January 16, 2026 at 01:30 AM•3 min read

TECHNOLOGY EASA Approves Lilium's High-Voltage Battery: What This Means for Electric Aircraft

EASA granted approval to Lilium's high-voltage battery system, marking a major eVTOL certification milestone for the development of its electric aircraft.

Key Points

1EASA approved Lilium's high-voltage battery system, a major component-level certification for the Lilium Jet eVTOL.
2The approval confirms the battery's ability to meet stringent SC-VTOL safety requirements, particularly for thermal runaway containment.
3Lilium is targeting EASA type certification before 2026 and is pursuing concurrent FAA validation for global operations.
4The Lilium Jet utilizes 10 independent battery packs with silicon-dominant anodes for high power and safety redundancy.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved Lilium's high-voltage battery system. This marks a critical eVTOL certification milestone for the German manufacturer. The approval is a key step toward the commercialization of the Lilium Jet, their flagship electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

This system approval confirms the battery's design meets stringent safety standards. It moves the Lilium electric aircraft closer to its target of entering service by 2026. The company is pursuing concurrent certification with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Regulatory and Technical Significance

Battery technology is central to the future of electric aviation technology. The propulsion battery system is one of the most complex components to certify. It must meet high safety targets for redundancy and containment.

High-Voltage Battery Safety

Certification focuses heavily on high-voltage battery safety. Regulators must ensure the system can manage a thermal runaway event. This is a critical safety requirement under EASA’s Special Condition VTOL (SC-VTOL) rules. The battery must prevent fire or fragments from escaping the system. The Lilium Jet will use ten independent battery packs for added safety. These packs feature lithium-ion cells with silicon-dominant anodes. This design allows for higher power and faster charging capabilities.

This specific component approval follows a broader organizational step. Lilium received EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA) in November 2023. The DOA confirms Lilium's processes meet the standards for designing commercial aircraft.

Impact on Urban Air Mobility

This Lilium Jet battery approval is a major signal to the industry. It validates the technical maturity of next-generation aircraft development. The approval helps pave the way for regional air mobility operations.

Lilium focuses on regional routes, not just urban air mobility (UAM). The battery system must provide the energy density needed for longer flights. Success here reduces the technical risk for future eVTOL programs globally.

Opportunity: The approval validates a complex, high-energy propulsion system. This sets a precedent for other eVTOL manufacturers.
Challenge: The industry must now scale production while maintaining quality. New maintenance and operational standards must also be established.

Lilium is the only eVTOL developer with both EASA and FAA certification bases for its powered lift aircraft. This dual regulatory path is crucial for global market acceptance. The company expects to achieve EASA type certification before 2026. This latest approval is a tangible step toward that commercial goal.

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