According to the founder, he can make the economics of short trips (1-2hr) work with all-battery.
He cannot make them work if he has to store enough battery to fly around for an additional hour or two searching for an airport to divert to in an emergency, which is an FAA requirement.
So he has the heavy battery bank for regular trips costing almost nothing per flight-hour, and the expensive fueled backup system for emergencies.
He cannot make them work if he has to store enough battery to fly around for an additional hour or two searching for an airport to divert to in an emergency, which is an FAA requirement.
So he has the heavy battery bank for regular trips costing almost nothing per flight-hour, and the expensive fueled backup system for emergencies.