please tell me they’re prioritizing minimizing the existential cost of the climate catastrophe over the $ cost
I’m sure you know that’s not the case. It’s always about the money.
That said, I would guess that these function similarly to hybrid car engines. Electric motors are better at providing a quick or variable torque rsponse and gas engines are most efficient running at a constant RPM. Put those properties together and you get an electric motor designed for takeoff and large altitude changes, and a gas motor designed for maintaining cruising speed.
Essentially, the exact opposite of what you wanted.
I’m sure you know that’s not the case. It’s always about the money.
That said, I would guess that these function similarly to hybrid car engines. Electric motors are better at providing a quick or variable torque rsponse and gas engines are most efficient running at a constant RPM. Put those properties together and you get an electric motor designed for takeoff and large altitude changes, and a gas motor designed for maintaining cruising speed.
Essentially, the exact opposite of what you wanted.
I’m pretty sure it’s exactly that. Electric engines during takeoff and landing would also decrease noise pollution near humans.