On Thursday, April 9, 2020 at 10:32:35 PM UTC-4, wrote:
The first electric motor gliders borrowed the retractable mast
from their gasoline counterparts.

No, real-world designers understood that a pylon system:
- makes possible much larger hence more efficient prop,
and efficiency is critical given battery low energy
- avoids prop strikes
- doesn't reduce performance
- makes cooling easier
Real-world examples include:
- original electric Silent circa 1997
- Antares (2m prop)
- AS-34 (and AS-32E sustainer)
- GP series (Real Soon Now)
- Hank's ASW-24E ;-)
etc.