I teach PG/PPG year round weather permitting and have since the early 90’s but I personally will never buy another gas unit again. I have one of the batch 2 OpenPPG, made a few modifications to it, and really customized my machine to my meet my needs. I am now pushing my students toward electric paramotors even though I still sell petro machines if they really want one. The average pilot around here at sea level will fly at most 45mn with a gas machine before having enough airtime for the day. Depending on pilot weight and wing model an OpenPPG could reach that duration on two Bonka packs (about 26lbs), etc… my machine is at the 50lbs mark with 4 Bonka.
Something to also consider, is that if you live in an apartment, you will not want to have to deal with gas cans, oil mixing bottles, buying oil bottles, mixing gas, funnel, a hose or electric portable pump to empty the gas tank at the end of the day, rags to clean your hands or overspills, fumes, motor maintenance (changing rings, pistons, clutch parts, and the list goes on and on…).
Added to that as GliderPilot mentioned, the fact that the torque is non-existent and there is no need to purchase additional counter-torque fins to attach to the net, or dealing with various other contration to negate the effect.
In my case another important factor is transporting the PPG to the takeoff site calling for an 8mn walk through a wooded area.
It really depends on what the pilot’s goal is.
Another advantage in my situation, and I understand that not everyone lives near a cliff at a shore line, is that I can takeoff and climb for a few seconds before going quiet and placing my flying tarp into the lift band. This machine enables me to cross gaps I was not able to breach free-flying before powering off again and catching the lift band to continue along the ridge for many more miles of quiet soaring. And if the wind speed drops or the direction changes making it impossible to stay aloft for too cross a direction or weak lift, I still have the chance to get back to home base without having to deal with a pull start that may decide to give me a hard time when I am trying to crank up the engine again. Gas machine still have the upper hand on some level for now, but the way things are going, who knows for how long?
Here with 12lbs worth of batteries