Editing Motor glider (section)

===Electric===
Although most motor gliders have [[gasoline]]-fueled [[internal combustion engine]]s, a number of electric-powered self-launchers have been developed including the [[Lange Antares 20E]] and [[Lange Antares 23E|23E]], [[Schempp-Hirth Arcus|Schempp-Hirth Arcus E]], [[Schleicher AS 34Me]], [[Pipistrel Taurus| Pipistrel Taurus Electro G2]], [[Alisport Silent 2 Targa|Silent 2 Targa LE]] (Lithium Electric), and the closely related [[Air Energy AE1 Silent]], [[Yuneec Apis 2]], [[Yuneec EViva]], [[Alpaero Exel]], [[Aériane Swift]], [[Electravia]] and [[Alatus AL12]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.lange-flugzeugbau.com/htm/english/products/antares_20e/antares_20E.html| title= Lange Flugzeugbau GmbH, Antares 20E Information| access-date= 24 November 2006| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061015141501/http://www.lange-flugzeugbau.com/htm/english/products/antares_20e/antares_20E.html| archive-date= 15 October 2006| df= dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.schempp-hirth.com/index.php?id=126&L=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=373&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=87&cHash=8a5d51d766 | publisher = Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau | title = Arcus-E | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150706124145/http://www.schempp-hirth.com/index.php?id=126&L=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=373&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=87&cHash=8a5d51d766 | archive-date = 6 July 2015 | df = dmy-all }}.</ref><ref>{{Citation | title = World Directory of Leisure Aviation | year = 2011}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.cafefoundation.org/?p=5043 | work = Café foundation|title=Going Vintage Electrically}}</ref> Some types use a pylon behind the cockpit to extend a propeller. 11 different types, from 7 manufacturers, such as the [[Alisport Silent 2 Electro]], use the [[front electric sustainer]] (FES) system with a folding propeller in the nose.<ref name="FES">{{cite web|url=http://www.front-electric-sustainer.com/|title=LZ Design web-site|access-date=14 November 2018}}</ref>

Advantages of electric power over gasoline include:
* Faster and more reliable transition from gliding to powered flight, as the time and risk required to start and warm up an internal combustion engine is eliminated.<ref name="FES1">{{cite web
|url=http://www.front-electric-sustainer.com/why.php
|title=LZ Design web-site
|access-date=14 November 2018
}}</ref> For example, the Antares 20E transitions from gliding to powered flight in under 12 seconds.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}  With a FES system maximum power can be available in 1–2 seconds.<ref name="FES"/>
* For types that use a pylon, lower drag and sink rate are achieved with the pylon extended and the motor not running, as there is no radiator as required to cool a gasoline engine. For FES systems, the drag from the folded propeller in the nose is negligible if the engine does not start. For safe operation, the "Engine out and not running" performance is used to plan in-air restarts in the event of a problem (even for electrics). The reduced sink-rate of electric-powered motor-gliders "engine out and not running" allows a lower altitude for a safe in-air restart.<ref name="FES1"/>
* For types that use a pylon, belt reduction drive and associated reliability issues are eliminated. As an electric motor can turn at a lower RPM than typical gasoline engines, it can be mounted at the top of the mast without a reduction system, eliminating belt-drive issues.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
* Greatly reduced noise, allowing take-off from locations where other powered aircraft are not permitted.<ref name="FES1"/>
Disadvantages of current electric powered motor-gliders as compared to gasoline include:
* Reduced range or climb altitude, as the energy stored per unit weight for available batteries is less than gasoline.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
* Gliders with pylon-mounted electric motors are slightly heavier than those with gasoline engines due to the batteries. An FES system weighs about the same as a two-stroke engine.<ref name="FES1"/>
* Increased cost. While electric motors are comparably inexpensive, low-weight batteries suitable for motor-gliders are a little more expensive than gasoline engines.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}{{when|date=August 2022}}

Electric sustainer systems (with power to sustain flight but not self-launch) are optional for the [[Schempp-Hirth Ventus-3]], [[HPH 304|HPH Shark]] and [[ESAG LAK-17B]]. These three all use the FES as used for self-launching lighter gliders, such as the Alisport Silent 2.<ref name="FES"/>