Aptera - the solar car - opens reservations

[FutureBoy]

You want this, not an Aptera.


-Crissa

I wish we had this kind of "ferry" in Puget Sound. It would be a great way to get between Seattle and Victoria BC. About 1/3rd the time of a normal ferry.

Would be even better if it was battery-powered. Especially if the charge could be upped during passenger turn around or if batteries could be swapped during passenger turn around. Based on the specs I read, it seems like it currently takes enough fuel to make a round trip per tank (around 100 miles each way).

I could also see this kind of craft being used between large cities on the great lakes. Hopefully, the plane can land on a frozen surface. Or perhaps between large cities on the Atlantic. Say between New York and Washington DC.

If it's only flying between 100 and 120 mph then it's not going as fast as high-speed rail but the infrastructure doesn't need to be extensive, and it can easily be re-deployed based on need to different routes. And it would certainly be more relaxing than having to drive 100 mph on the freeway, through traffic.

 

[Crissa]

Like this one in Boston?



-Crissa

 

[FutureBoy]

Like this one in Boston?



-Crissa

LOL. Yes. That's an interesting example. And they added airfoil to the technology! Talk about checking the fringe tech boxes.

The company is Boston-based but it seems like their proposed use is across the English Channel. To compete with the chunnel I guess.

 

[Crissa]

If they can get the per transit cost down, it would be a lovely addition to many a sea-side local.

-Crissa

 

[FutureBoy]

Yeah. It's been a long time since I traveled the chunnel. Back in the day though there were multiple options already. Chunnel train, passenger ferry, vehicle ferry, large hovercraft, commercial airplane, personal airplane, solar airplane, pedal-powered airplane, swimming. Seems like the channel is the preferred location for alternative travel.

 

[John K]

Width is a deal breaker for me. A video on the site show the vehicle barely fitting in a freeway sized lane.

still will watch progress.

 

[Ogre]

Finally watched this video and could not look away from the G4 iMac. My favorite computer of all time.

 

[FutureBoy]

Curious Aptera video.

Quote at 0:34

Some of the unique things are a big center screen that has most of the functionality of the vehicle on it. And side cameras instead of side mirrors so we have better aerodynamics.

Mirrors are old technology.

They're old technology. We may still have to have some reflective material out there on our little camera pod, cause the motorcycle regulations require you to, in the states. But we think that they are very close to approving digital cameras. It's just taking the government a long time because it does.

Interesting. Aptera being a 3 wheel vehicle needs to follow the motorcycle regulations but they are still dealing with the mirror issue. Although, they still have a little stick pointing out the side of the vehicle to house the sideview camera.

Hopefully, the electronic sideview camera issue gets resolved and is also resolved for automobiles so that the CT can also only have cameras.

Quote at 3:50

The interesting thing about the Aptera is we don't have a central motor with a transaxle that has drive shafts that come out to the wheels. We have the motors in the wheels. So that green ring inside there is actually the electric motor that is part of the wheel. So 1, we are able to move the mass of the motor out to the wheel. And 2, we get much better efficiency that way. And we get better regenerative braking and its a lot simpler. Every time you have a gear in a system you have a loss. And a typical drivetrain like my Tesla you could lose 15% of your power out of your motor, just going through all the gears to get to the wheel. If you just put the power in the wheel, you end up being much more overall efficient.

Hmmm... I wonder what it looks like to have a flat and need a tire change... I like the efficiency story. But there is a version of Aptera that is supposed to be off-road capable. Does the spare need to have a spare motor too? Me thinks the Aptera version of off-road is just gravel roads.


Quote at 14:14

The rear actually has a good amount of storage. Which you may not expect from how our teardrop shape looks. We also have a tent, that goes over the rear here. This goes over this way. I remember in college, I used to take my Honda CRX across country. And I would sleep in the back in a very similar situation. So when we started to open up the rear storage here, it was very apparent that "Gosh, this is really usable space. How do we maximize that?"

I can just imagine... looking at the stars... with plenty of room.

You do have a lot of room. How tall are you?

I'm 5'7".

OK, that's good.

And I've also had my golden doodle. He also fits in here very nicely.

So you also have a camper van.

Yeah.

I was really wondering how the camping tent would work. It is really just a tent sheet that they strap over the back of the vehicle. Not bad for a night or two. And easy to stow away so one could use it on a cross-country or similar road trip. It was nice to see it in action.

 

[Crissa]

I hope the tent is easier to use than that ^-^

I have only had one car with a PRNDL on it - the Nova.

-Crissa

 

[Cybr on]

Man, where is everybody?
Well shit!
i guess that’s what happens when your late to the the party??

just wanted to say we placed our order at 420 Crissa? and on this beautiful national carousel day!!(Merry go round) guess where we are going right now? Yup. Santa Cruz. YES! I think I just made my girls happy?

 

[Cybr on]

@Crissa
I’ve been reading that some people feel the 1000 mile is just a marketing thing. Never gonna happen talk. Too heavy and where’s it gonna fit talk. What are your thoughts on the 600 and 1000 ? Or any
Btw, we changed interior to Coast. Lol. Duh.
Like Dierks Bentley says,
“What was i thinkin”? Love that tune. ? sol looks more and more appealing each day over the Noir Black to me.

 

[Crissa]

@Crissa
I’ve been reading that some people feel the 1000 mile is just a marketing thing. Never gonna happen talk. Too heavy and where’s it gonna fit talk. What are your thoughts on the 600 and 1000 ? Or any
Btw, we changed interior to Coast. Lol. Duh.
Like Dierks Bentley says,
“What was i thinkin”? Love that tune. ? sol looks more and more appealing each day over the Noir Black to me.

Coast? You want that blue and not the Vida orange? Hee ^-^

I think it'll happen. They need to get cars out the door, first. The battery isn't that large, equal to the packs in a Tesla Model S. Tesla didn't start with the 100kWh battery, either.

-Crissa

 

[Cybr on]

I wonder what the difference it will be to the vehicle with larger 100kwh battery to the tires and suspension. I can see why it seems the 400kwh battery looks like the perfect match. Would be much lighter on tires for less wear and tear as well as the suspension wear too. Will 100kwh get beefier suspension? ?‍

 

[Crissa]

I wonder what the difference it will be to the vehicle with larger 100kwh battery to the tires and suspension. I can see why it seems the 400kwh battery looks like the perfect match. Would be much lighter on tires for less wear and tear as well as the suspension wear too. Will 100kwh get beefier suspension? ?‍

Did you mean 40kWh?

They are planning heavier suspension, but mostly it's going to eat into your cargo carrying capability.

-Crissa

 

[Cybr on]

Did you mean 40kWh?

They are planning heavier suspension, but mostly it's going to eat into your cargo carrying capability.

-Crissa

Sorry, yes. ? that kind of Sunday. ?