System and methods for designing and building regional hybrid-to-electric systems and methods for designing and optimizing regional hybrid-to-electric aircraft

A method comprising:

• transporting, by a ground system vehicle, at least one charged energy storage unit from a first airport location to a stationary, landed aircraft;
• and
• while the ground system vehicle is aligned with the stationary, landed aircraft and using equipment installed on the ground system vehicle:
• removing at least one depleted energy storage unit from the stationary, landed aircraft, removing the at least one depleted energy storage unit from the stationary, landed aircraft comprising mechanically and/or electrically disconnecting the depleted energy storage unit from an aircraft bay;
• and
• installing the transported at least one charged energy storage unit on the stationary, landed aircraft to replace the removed at least one depleted energy storage unit by positioning the transported at least one charged energy storage unit while external to the landed aircraft using one or more locating devices to track a location of the transported at least one charged energy storage unit relative to the landed aircraft and, once installed on the landed aircraft, mechanically and/or electrically connecting the transported at least one charged energy storage unit to the aircraft bay.