NMC cells and next gen solid state are good for about 1000-1500 charge cycles, so that probably comes out to about 1000-2000 hours of flight time, and gonna be at least 3 or 4 years of intensive flying. And by that time, you probably want to replace the batteries with newer (solid state) batteries in order to boost (double) your energy storage...
After some more thought, I actually think it might be better to have installable battery modules, like, in the wing. Because then you can do the math as follows:
Suppose I have 700kg of useful load (this is the case with a Velocity XL). I put a Yamaha Apex 998 engine which weighs 55kg and can be boosted up to 300hp - if you do not care about reliability whatsoever...
Lets say the engine, prop, and all of that comes to 70kg. Then you add 2 additional electric props totaling 30kg, so all in it's 100kg.
Now you're at 600kg remaining, you have an 80kg pilot and passenger, and some baggage totaling 200kg.
Now 400kg left. You need 50kg of fuel to get to your destination on gas engine alone.
Now you have 350kg left, if you have 3x 50kg modules in each wing and 1 in the center, you use all the weight you can carry.
If you need more fuel, more payload, my predictions too rosy... Whatever, remove the center battery module.
Need 50kg more, put the center one back and remove one from each wing.
And this way, you just add the right amount of battery in 50kg increments in order to always be at max weight.
(just double all of the numbers if you think in pounds)
---
Now flying it:
1. Always have enough fuel to get to your destination in engine alone.
2. Run your engine and electric both at takeoff
3. Once in cruise, go to engine-only, UNTIL you are within battery reach of your destination airport, then cut the engine.
4. Start the engine before landing so you have extra power in case you need a go-around.
So short hops you will only use the engine during takeoff and landing.
And this whole design idea really depends on *removable* batteries...
Caleb James DeLisle
npub105…t88up
2026-09-05 22:39:27 UTC
in reply to nevent1q…7vfm
Author Public Key
npub10502c8jv0y27jwcwxcq9kd3ph2wg7pt8ycexf5w2fyzythe97w2s7t88upPublished at
2026-09-05 22:39:27 UTCEvent JSON
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"content": "NMC cells and next gen solid state are good for about 1000-1500 charge cycles, so that probably comes out to about 1000-2000 hours of flight time, and gonna be at least 3 or 4 years of intensive flying. And by that time, you probably want to replace the batteries with newer (solid state) batteries in order to boost (double) your energy storage...\n\nAfter some more thought, I actually think it might be better to have installable battery modules, like, in the wing. Because then you can do the math as follows:\n\nSuppose I have 700kg of useful load (this is the case with a Velocity XL). I put a Yamaha Apex 998 engine which weighs 55kg and can be boosted up to 300hp - if you do not care about reliability whatsoever...\n\nLets say the engine, prop, and all of that comes to 70kg. Then you add 2 additional electric props totaling 30kg, so all in it's 100kg.\n\nNow you're at 600kg remaining, you have an 80kg pilot and passenger, and some baggage totaling 200kg.\n\nNow 400kg left. You need 50kg of fuel to get to your destination on gas engine alone.\n\nNow you have 350kg left, if you have 3x 50kg modules in each wing and 1 in the center, you use all the weight you can carry.\n\nIf you need more fuel, more payload, my predictions too rosy... Whatever, remove the center battery module.\n\nNeed 50kg more, put the center one back and remove one from each wing.\n\nAnd this way, you just add the right amount of battery in 50kg increments in order to always be at max weight.\n\n(just double all of the numbers if you think in pounds)\n\n---\n\nNow flying it:\n1. Always have enough fuel to get to your destination in engine alone.\n2. Run your engine and electric both at takeoff\n3. Once in cruise, go to engine-only, UNTIL you are within battery reach of your destination airport, then cut the engine.\n4. Start the engine before landing so you have extra power in case you need a go-around.\n\nSo short hops you will only use the engine during takeoff and landing.\n\nAnd this whole design idea really depends on *removable* batteries...",
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