Aptera

[TEG]

www.aptera.com





Steve Fambro interview

[jsnable]

Great video and write up now on Popular Mechanics:

Aptera Electric Typ-1 e - Video Test Drive - First Look Details and Slideshow - 300 MPG - Popular Mechanics

Jay

[mt2]

There were a few items in the article that I hadn't read before that struck me as interesting about this vehicle.

The one that turned my head was with the number of units sold. I already knew that 580+ Californians had plunked down $500 pre-orders. But according to Steve Fambro, the company need only sell 300 cars to go into the black. Hello?! They'll be turning a profit before they finish delivering the advance sales?

It seems to me they could drop the price a little. That would boost interest and they'd still get in the black by the end of the first manufacturing year.

[tonybelding]

A surprising thing to me was that the production car will have windows that can roll down. I don't see how that's going to work, unless they only roll down like 1/3 of the way, maybe.

Is it even a good idea for this car? I mean. . . Driving with the windows down would play hell with all their carefully designed aerodynamics, plus you're adding the mass of the window motors and mechanisms, plus the car has a solar-powered ventilation system already (so you won't need to crack a window when parked in the sun). . .

[mt2]

A surprising thing to me was that the production car will have windows that can roll down. I don't see how that's going to work, unless they only roll down like 1/3 of the way, maybe.

Is it even a good idea for this car? I mean. . . Driving with the windows down would play hell with all their carefully designed aerodynamics, plus you're adding the mass of the window motors and mechanisms, plus the car has a solar-powered ventilation system already (so you won't need to crack a window when parked in the sun). . .

I guess enough people asked for it that they felt it was necessary. Surprises me too.

I have to use my ID badge to get through the gate at work in the morning and wondered how I'd do it on a rainy day without windows that roll down. The same for toll booths and parking garages. Then I realized that the doors provide a degree of cover and don't extend past the wheels, so that would work just fine for me. Even better than windows that roll down, actually, because the location of the wheels mean it is a long reach from the driver's position to the carry-out window and I'd have to open the door anyway.

[The Other Martin]

Last week I followed a guy in the drive-through lane at a restaurant. His window must have been broken, because he opened his door to pay and receive his food. Quite awkward.

So yes, the open-able window option is hard to live without.

[mt2]

A surprising thing to me was that the production car will have windows that can roll down. I don't see how that's going to work, unless they only roll down like 1/3 of the way, maybe.

Is it even a good idea for this car? I mean. . . Driving with the windows down would play hell with all their carefully designed aerodynamics, plus you're adding the mass of the window motors and mechanisms, plus the car has a solar-powered ventilation system already (so you won't need to crack a window when parked in the sun). . .

This has been bugging me. Specifically, PopMech says the windows will roll down, but the Aptera FAQ says only that they will open. An earlier FAQ said that they were working through some design options, but gave no indication of what they might be. I can't imagine that they'd promote 300 MPG, and then give you the ability to raise the drag exponentially.

So I sent them a comment asking them to clarify what 'windows that open' really means and what the purpose would be. We'll see if they respond.

[DDB]

Anyone know of a real person that actually put a down payment on one of these? Better yet, someone willing to start apteramotorsclub.com? I'm just curious about the reality of all those out there that would actually place the payment as opposed to those that say "I will..."

[TEG]

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/22...ests-plug-cars

[malcolm]

Aptera may undergo some design changes before December production - AutoblogGreen