[looping__lui]

Unrealistic business plan estimations not factoring in the true costs of operating an aerial vehicle...

It’s a bit like “soon to be plane owners” that don’t quite pay attention when they are told the spark plug for their Cessna is 50USD, they need 8 for 4 cylinders and replace them rather frequently ;-)

Changes when they realize that those companies chartering out planes for less than 200 USD/h probably don’t make loads of cash but just keep track of actual expenses, have a high utilization and capable maintenance staff...

[wahern]

> It’s a bit like “soon to be plane owners” that don’t quite pay attention when they are told the spark plug for their Cessna is 50USD, they need 8 for 4 cylinders and replace them rather frequently ;-)

That's supposed to be the promise of electric aircraft: almost all serviceable parts go out the window, just as with electric cars. Construction and maintenance costs are reduced to a fraction of what they are for mechanical systems. And because these are VTOL, ground expenses are likewise reduced.

Batteries are still rather expensive, though, and energy density sucks. The advantages may not be able to compensate, at least not sufficiently to hit a price point that appeals to a wider, non-millionaire market.

[looping__lui]

Ok, the only certified batteries you can install in a Cessna is like 500 USD and it literally dies after 2 years of (not heavy) usage. It’s worse and less sophisticated that your 50 USD car battery.

I don’t want to sound like an aviation cynic, but for pilots (even in the non-commercial sector) spending 50 USD for a spark plug or 500 USD for a battery is “normal”.

Tiny bit of innovation and disruption = very very expensive in aviation.

[AtlasBarfed]

Some israeli startup is doing replaceable aluminum air batteries. Also there are probably low-cycle solid state lithium designs that can start to approach the needed density, it would take a really good recycling loop though.