Originally Posted by
FlightlessParrot
Is there another way of herding electrons which will be viable?
Personally, I'm a belt, suspenders/braces,
and glue guy, myself. Hydrogen fuel cells, batteries, photovoltaics on the fuselage and wings (appropriately airfoiled) - all at once. One of the nice things about electric engines - they can run off more "fuel" sources than even a diesel. A watt is a watt is a watt....
Electric power is going to "work its way up" slowly but surely - from piston-prop-type aircraft to turboprop-type airframes. I won't even guess at when something resembling an "electric Embraer" will get here - if ever. But every little bit helps.