Gizmodo: aptera

Electric Car Whiz Builds World's First Plug-In Hybrid Speedboat

Wilson Rothman — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:45:00 EDT

One of the brains behind the Aptera electric three-wheeled car also runs Epic Boats, which just intro'd the Epic 23e, the first plug-in hybrid electric boat. Who knew lithium-ion batteries were waterproof?

For as little as $150,000, you too can own the first-generation of the plug-in, battery-powered equivalent of a 375-horsepower motorboating experience, which uses the auspiciously named Flux Propulsion EVO 8.1 Marine Drive System to recharge itself over a four-hour run via gas motor. In all, it uses just half what a similarly beefed-up powerboat would use to pull skiers and wakeboarders and let's not forget fat, drunk tubers. If you're a bit strapped for cash, wait till 2012, when AutoblogGreen reports there may well be a $70,000 version.

The funny thing is, no matter how smugly green a boat gets, any promotional video of it—shown below—still makes it look like just the thing for some good ole red-state R&R. I should know, having grown up waterskiing on Lake Maxincuckee in Culver, Indiana. Tip to director, though: For an even more successful promo vid, add some bikini-clad blondes, a case of Coors Light, and more life-threatening airborne trick action. [AutoblogGreen via Engadget]

Aptera Electric Trikemobile Finds a Friend (and $2.75m) in Google

John Herrman — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:52:52 EDT

Pre-orders for the awesome Aptera electric car opened up last year, but the company has been relatively quiet about their progress as of late. Google's philanthropic arm has just thrown a cool $2.75 million their way, and now they're being a little more forthright: the Aptera Typ-1 is due this year, same specs, at about $30,000. Both full electric and plug-in hybrid flavors will be available. Given electric car startups' propensity for disappointing failure, it's comforting to see this especially promising one get a vote of confidence from Papa Goog. [CNET]

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:02:52 EST

Popular Mechanics test drove the Aptera Super-MPG Electric Typ-1 e. And despite its stupid stupid stupid name it looks like it works great. Capable of achieving 300 miles per gallon in its hybrid version, the $30,000 Aptera is a winner according to them: the electric-only version is stable, practical for daily transport and drives well, all while looking like a prop car from Woody Allen's Sleeper or Logan's Run, especially its '80s-retro-futurist interior:

For now Aptera is only going to sell their Typ-1 e and future hybrid version cars in California, where everyone is chic and cool, like Jason Chen. [Popular Mechanics]

Aptera Electric Three Wheeler Available for Pre-Order

Charlie White — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:51:04 EDT

We heard rumblings of the electric three-wheeled Aptera over a year ago but now the company has opened up an annoying and overwrought website soliciting "reservations," meaning you can plunk down $500 and get the right to buy either the all-electric or plug-in diesel hybrid model. The good news is, there's a working prototype with specs that are jaw-dropping.

How's 230mpg while driving at 55mph? Yes, that's short of the 330mpg first promised last year, but that's a real world number demonstrated as the company rolled out the first working prototype of this diesel-electric car in March. Part of the secret to that great mpg number is its drag coefficient of 0.11, extremely slippery. The company's also claiming a 0-60 time of 10 seconds.

It looks way-cool, too. We especially like the view from the rear of this car—it looks like a flying saucer, and the view from the side? Why, it's a banana on wheels, and we mean that in the nicest way.

And the pricing? The company insists all this tech will cost around $20K, and say the first Apteras will be delivered in "approximately 12 months." That's a long time to lend someone $500 interest-free, but hey, this is an extraordinary design so maybe we'll give 'em a pass this time. [Aptera]

Aptera Concept Car: 330mpg, Under $20K

Charlie White — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 10:00:54 EDT

Yeah, you're laughing at this weird-looking half-egg-shaped concept car now, but when gasoline costs $10 a gallon not too long from now, this 330 mile-per-gallon Aptera concept car might start looking pretty damn good. It cops that high-mpg efficiency with a fuel-sipping diesel engine lashed onto hybrid technology, coupled with its wind-slippery aerodynamics and 850-pound weight.

Stare at it long enough, and it starts looking like a lemon that's been cut in half. Will it be a lemon? Wait a couple of years to find out, because the Aptera's designer, Accelerated Composites, says the three-wheeled fuel miser will hit the road by the end of 2008 at a sticker price of less than $20K. – Charlie White

The Race to 100 MPG [Popular Science, via Sci Fi Tech]

330 MPG Concept Vehicle

Jason Chen — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 16:00:00 EDT

This Aptera concept vehicle looks like an amalgam of all kinds of vehicles. In the design, you can see a tricycle, a Plymouth Prowler, the glossy white of an iPod, and an EV-1.

The hybrid car can get up to 330 MPG, and if actually made, will be targeted at less than $20,000 and get a 0-60 time of around 11 seconds. They want to make this thing safe, but it looks kinda small and easy to be thrown around. Here's hoping this one gets to market. – Jason Chen

Aptera™ Concept Car [Accelerated Composites via Red Ferret]