The hybrid approach seems like a plausible way to deal with the reserve capacity problem, but they'll need to contantly exercising it to ensure it works when needed

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I can see some logic for an APU charging batteries (it'd be working at its optimum design point, so most efficient)
but it is an ugly compromise ... this approach has been disregarded in cars.

but they also say electric only operation. I guess adding the range extender gives them some tolerance to electric only "foul ups".

But certifying this isn't going to be easy.

"Hoffen wir mal, dass alles gut geht !"
General Paulus, Nov 1942, outside Stalingrad after the launch of Operation Uranus.

The APU is supposedly for reserve; I read somewhere, possibly here, that the A/C needs something like a 30 minute reserve flight capacity; which would be a killer if it were battery-based.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
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yeah, I used "APU" as shorthand for "some gasoline engine that's only driving generators"

"Hoffen wir mal, dass alles gut geht !"
General Paulus, Nov 1942, outside Stalingrad after the launch of Operation Uranus.

The Far out there thought being given its a 45 minute reserve @ cruise (Part 135 & Part 121) I wonder what the installed weight would look like with say a dozen small solid fuel rockets and regenerative breaking om the props & flying the aircraft on a saw tooth flight profile. GA manages to cope with rockets for airframe chutes so its not impossible.

What about a hydrazine motor like the F16 for emergency power?

I don't think this, and "Alice" are pipe dreams.

Rather, they are business bets on future battery advances.

Get the design done. Get the aircraft certified.

Be first on the market when batteries get good enough to make commercial electric flight viable.

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/fc/48/...

Just saying... That's been a minute.

ok, now That is a pipe dream ! along the lines of a fission power plant for a plane.

"Hoffen wir mal, dass alles gut geht !"
General Paulus, Nov 1942, outside Stalingrad after the launch of Operation Uranus.