The electric powered wheel is such a bad idea that Airbus has been testing it on airliners. Using it for taxi and acceleration during take off reduces fuel consumption considerably and shortens takeoff distance. Newer electric motors can produce tremendous amounts of torque and are much lighter. Just what you need for initial acceleration.

Current self launchers are many times equipped with finicky engines and complicated mechanics to expose the prop. When you need the lowest sink rate to prevent a land out, deploying the motor decreases the glider's performance to it's lowest.

If our sport is to survive, we need innovation. A low maintenance, affordable self launch could go a long way toward that goal.

Charlie