Inhabitat

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They say they’re shipping in Q4, 2008. The PHEV will be $29k. 2 adults plus 1 child - actually very useful for a lot of people. A $500 deposit gets you on the list…I did and am really looking forward to driving it. This car is SO much more relevant than a Tesla.

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An interesting and futuristic car to be certain… but I bet it crumples like a paper bag in an accident. Shame, that.

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how does this thing hold up in an accident?

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The 0.5 passenger is a baby seat in the back.

“We build with the consumer in mind, one who wants to make a bold statement for themselves and those around them” I see they are pandering to the bumper sticker mentality. =/ Now you can out-prius your neighbor and show her who REALLY cares about the environment!

No crash test results, which cost $millions and would be necessary to sell in the US.

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Like so many design blog posts, the objects featured may or may not be a physical reality. The posted objects represent what MAY be possible. This is the nature of blogs and, in posting these concepts, they have fulfilled their obligation and objectives.

As far as this particular design is concerned, it has a great promise. But a mere $500. deposit for this vehicle seems totally unrealistic.

Unless more verifiable information can be provided, I have grave doubts about the entire offering.

    --1

Ah, yes, that’ll be th eday when I plunk down $30K for a car built by a mushroom company. Get real, and
plug-ins are characterized by their electric range, NOT by any goofy, arbitrary MPG figure that is totally meaningless. And one doesn’t plug in a 120 mile all-electric for “a few hours.” The battery pack is around 20 kWhrs and a 110/15 amp outlet ain’t gonna recharge it in no “few hours.” Say “12 hours at elast” and you will be in th eballpark. Oh, how I love to read media articles by thos who haven’t a clue about their subject matter.
If you insist on trying to write about EVs and plug-ins, I’d start by learning what the hell a kilowatt hour is.
Jerks, pure jerks.

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coolio

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Seating for 2.5 usually refers to 2 adults and one child. I agree, though, that their website is very sparse with the info.

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would be curious to find out whether the deisel motor is sufficient to sustain its charge, or does it have to be plugged in?

Also, if you plug it in at half charge to leave it charging overnight, does that develop a battery memory? does it have to go flat to be ready to charge… and if so,,, how do you get the bloody thing home ones you’ve driven it flat?

I’m only new to electric cars so this is all probably easily answered… but yeah!?

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What about crash repairs? Spare parts? Reverse parking?

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My comment was somehow cut off, but with an asking price this low, the company must be genuinely well intentioned in designing and producing this vehicle. As for the design being unrealistic because it doesn’t appease your aesthetic tastes…get over it? For as many advantages this car has due to the aerodynamic characteristics of its “bug” look, I’m sure the market will get over the fact that it’s wholly atypical of current automotive design. Plus, the reason it pushed that envelop in design is because it IS a whole new animal.

    +0

I love this car.It looks smart, comfortable and progressive. It might not be the unltimate in sustainable transportation (a.k.a. walking), but it’s a well imagined and implemented step. Two questions: 1) Would I and my 1.5 passengers get blown off the edge of picturesque Hwy 1 in CA (though this would be green, seeing as we’d get recycled back into the food chain) and 2) how structurally sound is it if I had to take a roll or got into the crash? It looks egg-shaped, which worked for Mork from Ork, so maybe it’d hold up well.

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Trikes are tricky to drive — while the concept of turning the whole little vehicle into a crash helmet/cacoon/space capsule is intriquing, there is still the problem of piloting the thing? Does one progress in training from motorcycle to side-car to Aptera, in order to master the drift and braking issues? Or, like the Segway, will Aptera need to do extensive driver-training programs at the factory? As a road vehicle, will it still have the problem of a harsh learning curve (death and injury in too many of its low-production vehicles in its early stages of sales)?

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This car has a great design and the cost is incredibly affordable. I can’t wait to see these on the road.

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Does it bother anyone that the company offers no address or phone number? I have never seen a new offering by an unknown company, with little information available about the founders and financial backers. I sent an email to the web site with the above questions and to date, have seen no replies.
I would love to invest in this car but am bothered by the above problems.

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[...] Hij ziet er erg grappig uit, is erg zuinig, en ook nog eens een keer milieuvriendelijk. Ik heb het over de Aptera. Je moet er wel $26,900 voor neer tellen, maar auto’s zijn tegenwoordig erg duur, dus eigenlijk valt die prijs me best nog mee. Hij zou hier voor de deur niet misstaan, maar het zal er wel niet van komen APTERA Diesel-Electric hybrid car on sale Now! [...]

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Ok, The Electric car thing is very cool this car is awesome pretty affordable but also

what would happen if you were to hit a guard rail and this car and you are submerged in a lake is it basically an “Electrifying” outcome?

If the car does good on crash ratings the only thing that worries me about it is if you are to end up in water by some sort of accident would you just be shocked to death?

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To Mr. Jefe and Paul B.

Cameras instead of mirrors seems a poor choice. cameras can fail to work. Mirrors work. Having both might be acceptable ? Also… positioning the screen display of the camera on the dash, means that you will look down to see it. I think that looking up to a rearview mirror on the windshield is safer.

Are 3 wheels better than 2 ? And what about the extended away from the body wheel wells ?

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omg I love dis car… gimmeeeee

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@Kent Beuchert

“plug-ins are characterized by their electric range, NOT by any goofy, arbitrary MPG figure that is totally meaningless.”

For a guy who doesn’t like reading stuff “by those who haven’t a clue about their subject matter”, you sure seem pretty confused about yours. If you took the time to read the article you’d know that the Aptera is available in two configurations, one is pure electric and the other a electric/gas hybrid, which is the model to which the 300mpg refers to.

But since your only claim to fame is going around posting disinformation about anything vaguely related to environmentalism, (just google his name) I’m sure you already knew that.

I know you wouldn’t drive a car that looks like a mushroom but are you sure you haven’t been eating too many?

@Mike Hopkin Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and they didn’t like it on Engadget either, but since it’s claim to fame is obviously it’s fuel efficiency and one of biggest the reasons that it’s so efficient is the aerodynamic shape, hiring designers to change the shape would sort of defeat the purpose.

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A few answers to some previous posts.

The shape of the car might not look good to some people, but it’s essential to achieve the performance. Once you get above about 30 miles per hour, aerodynamic drag dominates. So if you want to really reduce the energy required to move 2 people from point A to point B, you need this shape. We started with that, and then tried to make the car as comfortable as possible. Right now,the total drag of this vehicle is more than 2.8 times less than a Prius, for example. That just means way less energy to move the vehicle.

Another comment - someone asked about if it fits in a parking space. We’ll have to get the actual dimensions up on the site - and we will soon. But it does fit in a parking space. The car is just about the full wheelbase width of a typical car/car space.

Bill

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P.S. in australia we make seatbelts compulsory because without them airbags kill people. In the US your automotive industry played dirty to avoid compulsory seatbelts, and the net result is preventable deaths.

Getting smacked in the head by an expanding bag of gas has been demonstrated to break infant’s necks. But these are more ethical than environmental issues… and as an aside, its interesting the overlap between being green and being ethical… those with a penchant for green seem to correlate with people looking for a high standard in business ethics. Good!

Tim

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Um… Tim from Australia…

Seatbelts have been “compulsory” for auto makers in the USA since the 1960’s, and seatbelts with shoulder harnesses since the late 1970’s. Airbags are called “supplementary restraints” and are in addition to seatbelts. As to wearing seatbelts, most States have laws requiring them to be worn (21 States plus all territories). Nevertheless, insurance companies require them to be worn if you want coverage, and all States require insurance.

Why is it those not in the USA seem to think they are the experts on the USA? Juts because it’s on the Internet or TV News doesn’t mean it’s true.

By the way, if the automotive industry “played dirty” we wouldn’t be stuck with these terribly ugly and underpowered “feel good about myself” hybrid cars even though their use makes no environmental impact whatsoever (blocking out the sun or plugging up a volcano might start to impact the climate in a cooling manner). The Prius is an ugly gimmick with no power and no speed and no practical use in most places in the USA other than being smug in San Francisco or New York. If they “played dirty” we wouldn’t be with ridiculously ineffective and inefficient “emissions” systems that actually waste more energy (and release even more toxic gases than without) than gas engines ever did before.

With that said (and vented) I think this car is pretty cool. I’m all for alternative vehicles as long as they are practical for their use, and add another item to the economy. Competition and a free market fueled by great ideas can make more of a difference both environmentally and in lifestyle than a bunch of naked whiners on a melting glacier singing “Kum-by-yah” worshiping Al Gore statues.blaming mankind for everything the Earth’s natural cycles bring.

I don’t like smog or pollution at all. Nevertheless, improvement and change comes much easier and quicker when you approach it with giving incentives to change not punishments and threats. Don’t say I can’t buy leaded gasoline or I have to pay outrageous fees for a bi-annual emissions system check. How about instead offer me equal or better alternatives like this car and say “come and get it”. The market is far more powerful than rules and regulations that people out of spite will just ignore or circumvent.

When technology has better alternatives to offer, the market is what makes the changes. Gasoline isn’t going away until marketable equivalents are available. Ingenuity and incentive is far more powerful an environmental changer than rules and restrictions.

If organizations like Greenpeace and such would actually sit down with companies they hate and offer them equally profitable alternate means of doing business instead of just using dingies to block shipping etc, then they might actually get an end result that benefits everyone. What they don’t realize, and, frankly, understand about businesses, is that they are in business to make money and profit. If you show them how to do it differently, and effectively, with POSITIVE results to the company, and actually help them to change, then environmental activism would be much more effective. My father always said “you get more with honey than with vinegar.” Running around like a chicken with its head cut off blaming everyone for [insert problem here], advocating rules and regulations, will never ever work as well as finding a better alternative and making it marketable.

Want to talk science? Real science? Which rat is better trained? Is it the one trained with positive re-enforcement or the one with negative re-enforcement? Fear and punishment was never a good motivator.

Want to change the auto world? Make a better alternative to the Corvette, Ferrari, SUV, Cadillac or truck that gives the buyer the same or better experience but runs on an alternative fuel, and you WILL change the world. Don’t offer them useless crap like a Prius that isn’t practical (no trunk space), has no power (0-60 MPH in uh… six days), only 5-10 MPG better than fuel alone (typical), is butt ugly, has no leg room, and isn’t comfortable to drive long distances. Something with usefullness, has lots of power, looks good, has pep and is an equal ior better replacement for what the market already has out there is going to be the big changer. This car is a step in that direction.

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Tri-pod steering?! Have you ever tried to drive on the highway with this steering set-up? Oh yeah, it’s gonna happen. Suurrrreeeeee…I won’t hold my breath.

    +0

I just noticed another ‘thing’ ! Do the drivers side and passenger side windows roll down ? If not… that’ s a deal killer for me.

    +0

“actually, a minus sign would be good for reverse…doesn’t make sense on a brake”

actually not. although tom may never read this, you people can get my view point on it.

if you look at the car as accelerating/decelerating, then the + would mean you are increasing acceleration, while the - would be decelerating. although, when you make a turn you are technically accelerating as well…but if you look at accelerating meaning change in speed alone, then my theory works….

and i definitely like the car idea, its inventive unlike all the run of the mill production cars out there today. when you see a lotus drive by, you turn your head, but when you see a toyota drive by, you cant tell the difference between it and a honda or nissan. THIS will turn heads.

are they collecting $500 to get money for research? figure if they can get 1000 people to “deposit” $500, thats 1/2 million for research and development that isnt out of their pocket, even better if they can get 2-3000 people.

    +0

where would you mount a license plate? where are any external ventilation ducts? where is the fuel filler cap?

The wheel fairings appear solid in some images and have functional slots in other images.

Gosh, wouldn’t the brakes get rather hot inside a solid fairing without any ventilation?

Hey, just send me a $100 ‘deposit’ and save yourself $400. ;-)

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[...] read more | digg story [...]

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What we need is production on large scale of such a models!!! End soon…
Nobody knows the name of the firm!

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[...] via [...]

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[...] Source : Inhabitat [...]

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WOW! where did all the experts come from? super work you brilliant analysts.

the vehicle has airbags, rear view cameras, seatbelts, plenty of storage, safety composite and metal structures, and a windshield wiper.

oh, and the deposit money is held by an escrow account. a real company? absolutely.

semi trucks on the road? please, think about this, if you have a very slick shape, that the air flows over with maximum efficiency, why would a truck disturb that airflow???? you get alot of push back from the air in a regular car but not a shape like this.

so, on with the experts.

W

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When I can buy it NOW in the USA, let me know.
How much is is going to be and when?

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[...] read more | digg story [...]

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@Ralph Steadman
If you look closely in the cliffside image, you can notice plants on the windscreen, so the photo’s could be real. But in another sense if you look at the two birds-eye view images all of the reflections are exactly the same; the cloud reflections are identical on both images.

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what colors will it come in, and how well does the a/c work, is there a video?

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To those who think this car doesn’t exist go to youtube and search for aptera, you will find several videos of the prototype. They also have a new website up with more info about the car.Also,according to their website,they are only selling the car in California.

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[...] Via, via [...]

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[...] Inhabitat y [...]

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Aptera has released an update on it’s upcoming 300 Mpg car. This car really approaches transportation from a very different vantage than does the rest of the auto industry. This car is slated to sell for $30,000 USD, and offers room for two. Here is a brief overview on the update …

Talkback: http://dataland.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/apteras-sub-30k-300-mpg-car-will-be-here-in-2009/

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Does it have a bumper?

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This is right from the website’s FAQ, top question. If you have ANY doubts about this car, go to the website and READ about it.

With safety being our top priority, we have raised our standard beyond the requirements of a typical passenger car. Nothing is normal or standard for the Aptera so why should we stick to “normal” safety standards? For example, the Typ-1 roof is designed to EXCEED rollover strength requirements spelled out in FMVSS(Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) 216 for passenger cars. The doors also far EXCEED mandated strength requirements for passenger cars as does our 45″ frontal impact deflection and crumple zone. We decided not just to meet many of the requirements for passenger cars, but we chose to exceed them. Industry safety standards are very different for passenger cars and motorcycles; we are choosing to go well beyond the industry safety standard for passenger cars so Aptera drivers can feel safe in any driving situation.

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i love what your doing,this car (motorcycle) is the best thing i have seen in a long time , keep up the good work i live on the east coast and would like to know when it can be bought in rhode island?

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we wont one ….. an im going to start bussing head tops if i dnt

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I’m about as environmentally friendly as a styrofoam cup. I’m an engineer and the world is a place where people make the environment fit their needs. The Aptera is classified as a motorcycle. The shape is supremely aerodynamically efficient. It has airbags, seatbelts, a full cage, crumple zones, rear and sideview cameras (which people have been retrofitting on the Insight since it came out- morrirs are aerodynamic nightmares), a winshield wiper that tucks down below the rear edge of the front cowling because the wipers on your average car have more drag profile than the entire Aptera. There are pictures of the electric motor and the drive belt that propel the vehicle. This is one poorly researched article. Use it as a starting point and do a little research folks. ONE person picked up on the big edge on this vehicle. As soon as people start buying them (initially ONLY offered in California so that they can handle the service and repair issues as they get started and establish a broader network) and the initial owners start talking to their neighbors and friends about driving all week on $6 in gas…. these WILL take off. And yes, they are real.

John

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WOw..slow car…cool lookin though

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It is an amazing car, I like it very much, it is just like seen in the movie. I hope that this car could fly in the rush hour!

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Fantastic design, but - - questions. How does one put air in the tires when the valve stem is hidden? Jacking up the vehicle to change a flat tire? Is there a spare in the car? Will the electric motor overheat when driven in temperatures of 110 or 115? How about the drive belt - will it pick up mud from the road and wear out faster? Create drag? What of the suspension arms, do they require lubrication, and how accessed? How long do the batteries last and how costly is it to replace them? How large is the fuel tank for the generator? I have read one source which says it is a 5 gallon tank. True? Fambro says the car will go 600 miles with the generator running. Do the math, 8 hours of driving at 75 mph requiring 5 gallons of gas translates to 120 miles per gallon, not 300. And that doesn’t even include the cost of electricity. Many questions will have to be answered before I would even think of spending that much money. Hey, the buying public deserves some answers.

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my dream car

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Koolio

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The car looks and sounds like just what this nation needs. I’d certainly considewr buying one. The guy with the most negative things to say (KB) probably owns a slug od oil stock and the thought of something getting 300 mpg frightens him. Gas is already $3+/galloon and we all know its not going to stop here. The video shows what appears to be a great car.

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After reading all the comments posted on this forum, both positive and negative, I can\’t believe no one has made reference to the EV1, a totally radical car made by General Motors in the mid \’90\’s…. also destroyed by the same company (see http://www.ev1.org) This vehicle was capable of getting 300 miles per charge, was totally independant of using oil and the biggest joke of all was, after the car was scrapped, GM sold the patent for the NiMH batteries to Chevron Oil…… Totally electric, no way, but give the public a Hybrid and both the car manufacture\’s and oil companies win. Sorry people, it\’s not about the enviroment, or being green, it\’s about money, stock holders and investors. I wish the Aptera well, but I fear that if it is successful, the patent will be bought and this vehicle will be shelved… it\’s death will be due to it\’s success.
Dave

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How is this for a tall person. I am 6′4″ and over the years have experienced a number of automobile options that would not accomodate my frame.

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Crackers has stated the obvious point that has kept this technology from flourishing for decades. Remember the Tucker? But anyone that has ever had mustang fever or gone to an antique car show can plainly see that the emergence of new technology does not mean the extinction of the old. This is America and we can have anything we want if we are willing to do what it takes to have it. Electric does not have to replace gas, it just needs to help with the gas pains. When I play golf, I prefer a gas powered cart but electric will do fine. Both have their place. We cannot give in to fear in ANY aspect of our lives. That is no way to live. Take the chance. Do something different and see how many people come on board. Give one of this things to Schwarzenegger (sp?) and Hillary then make ‘em campaign in it. Hell, a month later it’ll be a law to have one. Fine with me as long as they never legalize them at NASCAR!

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I have been driving a hybrid since 2000. Potentially this design could relieve the gas pressure in the market.
Buy the hybrid model as pure electric is not practical. I will gladly purchase this vehicle to compare it to the one I have, which by te way had $ 36,000,000 in R&D at Honda before they mastered the design.
It is a step in the right direction!!

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Is the diesel available now? If so where do I go to purchase mine? I am ready today!
Jim 1901 Enterprise Ave
League City
Texas 77573

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Well if it goes into production by 2010 I will likely buy one. Last week I bought a Geo on ebay. I am dropping a low mileage Japanese engine in to replace a tired one. A 3 cyclinder, 5 speed, I already got 46-55 mpg and
the engine was sucking oil. Aptera is to far out for my current needs, but driving a Geo, instead of my Ford Ranger, means trading some safety and comfort.

After a Transportation Safety crash test and some clues to who will service these vehicles, the investment for those of us that still drive 4,000 plus miles per month, makes some level of sense. I have had motorcycles and certainly they were a safety consideration and or trade off as well. I am in my second Geo Metro and know what to expect. I have had a head on collision (37 years ago), so I can factor that experience into the potential benefit and risk of driving a light weight 3 wheeler.

My business puts me on the road and increased transportation cost can put me out of business. Its all about benefit and with an extended driving range, for some of us the Aptera makes sense.

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It\’s a jarring sight, but with the increasing plethora of Personal Electric Vehicles being designed, and the increasing willingness of the general public to make adjustments away from gas economy, I can see more of these types of vehicles on the road in the near future. Once they start appearing, I bet there will be a snowball effect, and these lighter PEV\’s will lose their stigma as \”toys\”, and may even come to characterize the bulk of traffic, eventually. As for futuristic design, I say why not, let\’s bring some style back into our lives and start living like the frikkin\’ 21st century! I can see a real variety in design coming into the humdrum copycat crap that dominates our roads today.

Safety is of course an important issue which this company is addressing. But anyone who drives on an interstate knows that 18 wheelers are the real challenge to be overcome. These roads have become monstrous in my lifetime. 18 wheelers often violate the speed limit and make poor decisions; but then lots of people like to tailgate at 75+mph. There needs to be a *revolution* in public traffic habits. I\’m not wishing - I\’m saying the effing truth and I mean it.

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Like most “FORWARD LOOKING” Americans say, “I want one!” (They are STILL limited to California) Why can’t General Motors or Chrysler build something this new in style or simply will APTERA just get the U.S.Government funding to buy-out G.M & Chrysler Dealerships globally to update the automotive industry in America with American products? Is an APTERA/Burt Rutan OTR “Snake” Tracker /Trailer rig next? I picture, Solar collectors covering the entire roof of massive Trailers. (”Got your ears on, good buddie?”)…THE Independent Truckers CAN return! Affordably!!!!!