Re: It's cold up there.
Not to mention that fuel is often stored in the wings where exposure to the airflow cools it down below the ambient temp, hence fuel is used as a coolant. A battery powered plane would need an alternate cooling system.
Lithium batteries would be dangerous in an accident, particularly if the plane crash lands on water. They can vent toxic fumes when damaged, burst into flames when crushed and react explosively with water.
They would do better to spend their money researching carbon-neutral ways of producing kerosene fuel from natural / renewable sources.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
