[bsilvereagle]

" If batteries don’t get dramatically better in the next decade, we design our plane as a hybrid with electric motors, like a Volt. It still has great cost savings as compared to today’s planes, and it doesn’t require massive battery advances. If batteries do get a lot better in the next decade, our plane is fully-electric and has fantastic cost savings. See chart #2 below; a near-future jump to a chemistry like Li-Metal doesn’t seem beyond the realm of possibility." - https://weflywright.com/blog/

I'm glad to see they have a contingency plan for not being fully electric.

[SigmundA]

Seems like this would be a step backward in efficiency. Direct mechanical drive is more efficient than double conversion at cruise speeds. Even the Gen1 volt connected engine to wheels at highway speed because it was more efficient, Gen2 they went to a more conventional hybrid design like a Prius with mechanical power splitting because its more efficient even at lower speeds.

Airplanes are even simpler using variable pitch props the ICE just runs at it most efficient rpm with no or minimal transmission and nearly zero mechanical losses.

Also a hybrid design is heavier than a direct mechanical and airplanes would seem to not benefit from hybrid advantages such as regenerative braking and 0 rpm torque.