Blueshift becomes Lilium thermal protection system supplier

Lilium (Munich, Germany) has selected Blueshift (Spencer, Mass., U.S.) to be the official supplier of thermal protection systems (TPS) for its initial series production electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. As part of the agreement, Blueshift will supply its AeroZero TPS, which will fit within Lilium’s carbon fiber battery design to help prevent burn through and mitigate the risk of thermal runaway propagation.

Blueshift’s technology provides protection of carbon fiber composites and thin metallic housing and parts, such as aluminum, titanium and steel. All of Blueshift’s products are flame retardant, less than 1.5 millimeters thick and have a very low thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity.

Key applications include direct flame and thermal protection for batteries and their enclosures, composite housings, structural barriers, as well as helping mitigate fire propagation from thermal runaway in power-dense batteries.

Many of Blueshift’s products are currently being evaluated and integrated into different areas within battery packs, battery housing, external skin/wing protection and other areas of eVTOLs and electric-powered aircrafts.

“We’re looking forward to working with the team at Lilium in protecting their battery packs and other critical areas within their aircraft,” Tim Burbey, president at Blueshift, notes. “Our partnership will prove the incomparable benefits of our technology in promoting a more sustainable method of transportation.” 

“Blueshift’s thermal protection system is light, thin and easy to incorporate into our strict design requirements, while producing exceptional thermal results,” Martin Schuebel, Lilium’s senior vice president procurement, adds.

The Lilium Pioneer Edition Jet is the first planned model of the Lilium Jet and will comfortably seat four passengers on estimated non-stop flights of up to 175 kilometers at 250 kilometers per hour at launch. The first manned flight of the Lilium Jet is scheduled for late 2024, with entry into service expected in 2026.