Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics - Gizmodo Comments

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

SewMaster — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:29:06 EST

So, when are they going to make that little half airplane back into the rest with a rear prop and fly away home? Best commute ever-fly to the airport and drive to work.

SewMaster

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

dataland — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 11:32:54 EST

The more I keep up with this car, the more I believe this is the first real re-thinking of the automobile since its inception. I know this sounds a little over the top, but the Typ-1's design is what I consider truly clean and innovative. In fact, I think if this car achieves satisfactory adoption, the rest of the auto industry could very well be shaken up. And that, in my opinion, is a very good thing when the status quo of auto makers today is entrenched in the production larger and larger oil belching monsters....

Crosstalk: [dataland.wordpress.com]

dataland

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

EMoShunz — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:25:11 EST

@skulldriveshaft: @ackthbbft: then price to feature...i'd say it's a close call, for 30% less money, the smaller space and less milage would be acceptable for a lot of people in this niche. i wonder why these things are so secretive?

EMoShunz

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

skulldriveshaft — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 05:00:08 EST

@EMoShunz: £ 22,500 is the price for the carver when and if it gets into production, a little more if you want one right now because it would be hand built :]

But it does exist already :]

skulldriveshaft

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

skulldriveshaft — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:41:15 EST

@tdenton1138:

You're the reason we need cars like this, and usually the only way there's going to be someone CRASHING into your suburban is either you're not paying attention or they're not paying attention.

Please go ahead with driving your suburban, apparently you have managed to keep it from failing emissions tests, or just plain avoided major accidents, which kinda puts to rest your own argument about crashing.

You live in California?

skulldriveshaft

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

EMoShunz — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:35:52 EST

@ackthbbft: i can't find the price for that, but it gets less milage and has less interior room to start with.

EMoShunz

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

ackthbbft — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:23:57 EST

I wonder how this will compare to the VentureOne Carver (www.flytheroad.com)?

ackthbbft

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

EMoShunz — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:37:57 EST

i was finally able to watch the video. if the whole question of winter gets solved...i am in!

EMoShunz

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

discomonkey — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:34:34 EST

That thing got a HEMI?

discomonkey

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

pevans34 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:25:16 EST

very cool, pretty impressive, not practical. If I had $20,000 lying around I can think of a few things Id rather blow it on than this.

If I had a couple mil lying around tho, Id definetly snap one of these babies up.

pevans34

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

nutbastard — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:20:13 EST

@raygundan:
I for one am not gong to argue with it. 0.11 coefficient of drag is pretty much nothing.

nutbastard

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

EMoShunz — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:59:36 EST

@tdenton1138: maybe, but what would the crash survivability of a gas powered bicycle be?

EMoShunz

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

Jordan Lund — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:58:47 EST

We've got the form factor for our first flying car... now we just need someone to make it fly!

Jordan Lund

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

tdenton1138 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:46:07 EST

As much as I would like to get 300mpg, there are other ways... like a gas powered bicycle. It looks to me like the crash survivability would be the same against my 1987 Suburban: ~Zero. Wake me up when these cars are safe.

tdenton1138

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

raygundan — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:32:24 EST

What's up with the needle-tail? I thought Kamm-back designs that truncated the tail were more aerodynamic in the first place. After a certain point, you can chop the tail off and the air will still follow the same path, except without the surface drag of flowing along the long tapered tail.

raygundan

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

m4ximusprim3 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:21:19 EST

I hope they make enough of them so everyone in califormina who wants one can get one. I literally WILL buy one if there isn't some absurd waiting list (I'm looking at you, EV-1!)

m4ximusprim3

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

EMoShunz — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:55:42 EST

@rockosolido: i didn't even think of that, i guess i just assume that all cars work in snow...stupid me. i wonder how much longer us snow birds will have to wait :(

EMoShunz

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

DoPeY5007 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:55:14 EST

I would drive that

DoPeY5007

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

DelosWorld — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:25:01 EST

This thing would make a most excellent flashlight.

DelosWorld

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

jcraig — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:23:40 EST

@Zlevee: Well "the Island" was based off a book called "The Experiment"

jcraig

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

sumocat — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:20:43 EST

@SuperMacGuy: Why do you assume your world is the only one that's real? According to the write-up, this is a niche vehicle with a market limited to California. It's for long highways with no snow.

sumocat

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

ppiddyp — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:10:44 EST

Holy crap I wonder what that looks like after an impact with a Suburban.

ppiddyp

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

kittenman — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:02:04 EST

i am gonna move to california baby!

kittenman

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

jetdillo — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:02:03 EST

@MMCNARY:
The futuristic look is one of the main reasons I *WOULD* buy it. It looks like a concept car that managed to go from Syd Mead's sketchbook to reality without getting mutilated into another bimbomobile or mombox along the way.
If you'd ever seen the "concept" version of the Neon or Focus or Stylus, you'd know exactly what I was talking about.

I think, for the first time in my life, I am actually experiencing car lust...

jetdillo

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

mrchuck85 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:01:20 EST

@Empire:

going north right before the 5- just in time to crusie into the tunnel and get instagibbed.

mrchuck85

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

SuperMacGuy — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:00:19 EST

No back seat? No trunk? Where to the groceries go? Hell where do the kids go? How do I change the tire in the rear? What happens when those dumb LCD screens take a sh*t? It's so light it'll never be able to drive over 1 inch of snow. I'll hold out for the 200mpg 5-seat station wagon version. I live in the real world.

SuperMacGuy

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

Empire — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:43:46 EST

@EMoShunz: They lost me at Mitichlorians.

@mrchuck85: When can you go 95 on the 405? 3am?

Empire

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

cowboyshootist — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:37:47 EST

A couple of comments. First, even an economy car won't get 30mpg in rush hour traffic. I have an Acura TSX, gets 31-32 mpg on the highway. Take that into the city and it gets about 25 mpg. In rush hour that drops to 19 mpg. When you're in rush hour traffic you spend more time sitting burning fuel than moving. Mileage drops drastically so a vehicle like this might be just the ticket.

What I want to know is where do you attach the wings? LOL

cowboyshootist

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

johnnyabnormal — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:33:15 EST

It's all fun and games till someone pops a wheelie.

johnnyabnormal

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

discomonkey — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:45:17 EST

@nutbastard:
Every fourh year you ebay a set to the bastards who drive gas-guzzling Insights.

discomonkey

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

ideaman2020 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:36:52 EST

@nutbastard: Spare tire. Duh.

ideaman2020

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

nutbastard — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:21:51 EST

"The tires on the prototype are the same 165/65R14 tires from the Honda Insight. "

what do i do when the "BUY 3 GET THE FOURTH FREE" tire sale events come around????

nutbastard

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

nutbastard — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:17:17 EST

@SalParadise:
"The chassis has steel reinforcements in key areas: at the roll hoop, along the bottom of the windshield, in the doors (for side impact protection) and, of course, in the front subframe (for the suspension system as well as the engine and battery cradle). "

might help

nutbastard

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

devianaut — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:13:08 EST

guys guys guys...

go to:

[www.aptera.com]

look at their crash-test area. it's amazing. my friend helped build the struts on that car, and he said up-close and personal; you just can't believe how high-quality it is, especially the fact that they finally got a [low] priced concept car to be manufactured so well.

first off, to scrub anyones criticism...

on their website they boast the bubble-like typ-1 recieves around 120mpg. that's a whopping 120 and more than you'll find anywhere else. the starting price for that is somewhere (if i remember right) around 27k. with 27,000 you could buy a brand new honda civic. the second version of this car does indeed reach 300mpg, and even read in a few other reviews that it COULD receive around 330mpg. the price tag for the second version is just under 30k.

whether you like the design or not, just understand that a concept/pseudo-kit care like this could easily be in the 80k arena. i mean... com'on! this car is amazing. don't expect to get, ya know, 130k miles on it... but just think of what you'd save instead of getting a civic-hybrid.

now that's awesome ;)

devianaut

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

nutbastard — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:09:45 EST

@SalParadise:
well, you're not supposed to crash it, duh.

nutbastard

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

nutbastard — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:09:14 EST

of course i'm driving something fairly economical so lets see, 1397/30 = 46 gallons @ $3.30 = $154 a month, but i usually do around another 80 on the weekends, so figure total would be 58 gallons a month, so if this thing gets 10X my mileage i subtract 5.8 to get 52 gallons, which is $172 a month. ALMOST a car payment!

nutbastard

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

SalParadise — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:05:24 EST

Look great to me, but has anyone driven it into a wall at 5 mph? How about at 50 mph? What's going to absorb the impact, besides your legs?

SalParadise

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

nutbastard — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:05:10 EST

@crash:
5 days a week it's a 65 mile round trip. So 4.3 weeks in a month = 1397 miles and i know fools who drive even more. It's only 45 minutes each way. So yes, people really do drive that much. that 1397 ONLY covers going to and from work.

nutbastard

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

EMoShunz — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:04:17 EST

@crash: you are right. my wife's car gets (just under) 30mpg on a good warm day. She has to fill up 7 times a month at $65/ea. (we are paying $.90-$1.10/ltr, or about $3.50-$4/ gallon). so really, it's closer to $410 per month in savings, but i figured roughly $50 to plug it in at some point since i don't really know if it is a plug-in hybrid or not (i didn't watch the video).
it's sad, but by commuting 125 km each way every day she makes $20,000 more a year (almost double than the same job in town) and gets good benefits.

EMoShunz

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

strider_mt2k — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:58:01 EST

My wife hasn't seen Sleeper.
Awesome flick.
-but she will.

strider_mt2k

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

froggy — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:45:26 EST

well, i'm sure they'll sell a total of 5 by the end of 2009.

froggy

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

crash — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:43:32 EST

Emo,
How do you figure $360/month in fuel savings? On the east coast, gas is roughly $3/gallon. That's 120 gallons a month. Even at only 15 mpg, that's 1800 miles. And if you currently drive a compact (which I'm assuming is the competition for this thing), you probably get closer to 30 mpg, which would require you to drive 3600 miles a month. Do people really drive that much? I guess it's possible, but for someone who lives in the city and walks to work, that much time in a car seems crazy to me.

crash

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

senorbelly — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:31:58 EST

@Munch: I completely agree. Coupe-de-Sperm.

senorbelly

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

fezzercanezzer — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:28:19 EST

Hey guys you don't have to worry about the tail because once it makes is way into the garage the tail will fall off.

fezzercanezzer

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

rockosolido — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:24:32 EST

I'm just curious as to how the Aptera can/will handle a Michigan Winter, we can easily have six-eight feet of snow dumped on us completely out of the blue after a nice 60 degree day.

Once I see that kind of road test, then I'll make my decision. But jesus tapdancing christ, I want this thing.

rockosolido

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

LoganSix — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:21:35 EST

I saw both. Yes, the Island wasn't a complete ripoff. Logan's Run wasn't about cloning yourself for parts. It was about cloning to keep the population levels down.

Anyway, interesting looking car.

LoganSix

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

Zlevee — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:06:53 EST

Wow, a "Logan's Run" reference. Why did nobody notice that "The Island" was a blatant ripoff of that movie? Wait, maybe that's 'cause nobody saw either of those movies.... Both good though (the second one was good despite being made by Michael Bay).

Zlevee

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

Munch the BanNail — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:53:27 EST

@fezzercanezzer: Me too. I was suprised that it took the 13th post to point that out.

Munch the BanNail

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

rsquared — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:51:58 EST

Mfaerber's post went in before mine but after I started typing. Take it from someone who knows- DO NOT rely on backup cameras or backup sensors. They are pretty much guaranteed to get you into trouble.

And no, I don't have one. I just have a job where I learn these things through other people's stupidity.

rsquared

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

rsquared — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:48:58 EST

Haha, I wanted one just cause Jesus compared it to something from the funniest movie ever- "Sleeper", but then fezzercanezzer added another Woody Allen reference (Although tangentially since he didn't actually mention "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Sex") so now I definitely want one. When it's time to retire the Subaru you may well see me behind the wheel of one of these babies. Could they make a convertible model though so we can enjoy the SoCal sunshine while enjoying the MPGs?

rsquared

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

mfaerber — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:46:55 EST

The desing of this car is not embarrassing. What IS embarrassing is that some 100 years after the first cars fuel efficiency has barely changed in this country (relative to all other forms of technology). I would buy this in a HEARTBEAT if I lived in CA. As soon as I can buy it on the east coast, I'll be the first in line.

RE MMCNARY: It has a rear-view camera.

RE P3NNST8R: Do that, and it wouldn't achieve 300mpg. It's a very small sacrafice to make to pollute less.

mfaerber

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

JeffCarr — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:43:38 EST

@p3nnst8r: It definitely serves an aerodynamics purpose, and there is no way it would have the mpg it does without being ridiculously aerodynamic, but I think it also might be there to crush during an accident.

JeffCarr

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

analyticalmind84 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:43:38 EST

they would have to make special parking spaces for those cars...

analyticalmind84

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

blein — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:41:34 EST

if you check out the website, it gives you THEIR crash test pics. Having said that, if this car were to get into a fender bender, it would be impossible to get fixed.

From the pics, it doesnt seem that the windows open at all. So you can't breath the fresh air that you are trying to save.

blein

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

P3nnst8r — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:38:02 EST

@mmcnary:

Seriously, does that serve any purpose? I can think only possibly stabilization and aerodynamics, but is it really needed to that extent?

Regardless, i'd get this car in a heartbeat if they downgraded the body style of the thing to something a little less futuristic.

P3nnst8r

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

adamdouglasking — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:32:44 EST

the important question: does the spermmobile have a place to plug in my (insert proprietary DAP name here)?

adamdouglasking

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

GoPadge — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:32:08 EST

@mmcnary: If you watch the video on the linked PM website, you'll see that the back end isn't a pointy skewer, but a flat bar that's the width of the body.

Having said that, with a vehicle that light I'd be happier with a skewer to discourage tailgating....

GoPadge

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

EMoShunz — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:21:20 EST

@fezzercanezzer: lol, now i want one even more...makes me think of stewie in a sperm fighter

EMoShunz

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

fezzercanezzer — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:16:16 EST

uh is it just me or does this car closely resemble a sperm. GENIUS!

fezzercanezzer

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

ir_427 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:13:20 EST

Hmmm, ok. Impressive. Really - super impressive. I'm impressed. Now let's see them crash test it...

ir_427

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

EMoShunz — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:05:35 EST

@kevjohn: money or power....oh, i get it, greatest jedi ever...bla bla bla :)

EMoShunz

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

mmcnary — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:03:02 EST

With that big old stinger on the back, I'd be worried about backing or out of a parking spot. If you thought that backing an SUV into a kid was bad, wait until you skewer some 70 walking through Wal-Mart's parking lot...

mmcnary

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

kevjohn — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:58:46 EST

@EMoShunz: The mystery in the Verse is how a lame douchebag can ever end up with a hot chick.

kevjohn

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

EMoShunz — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:38:47 EST

@OMG!!! Ponies!!!: i absolutely love how you go off on these tangents, reminds me of my stoner days.
personally, episode 2 was the big let down for me. that dude was such a spoiled brat, why would a hottie like that even look at him twice?

EMoShunz

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

God made the pretty girls pretty because he likes them more — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:19:04 EST

Does it come with that brat from the Phantom Menace?

Talk about a seriously flawed movie. First of all, Darth Vader - at no point in his life - ever said "yippee". Unless the Galactic Gasbag edited out all the parts of Empire Strikes Back with Darth Vader skipping through Bespin, picking daisies.

Second, that kid had a lot of free time to play for a slave. Maybe it's my upbringing, but I think "slave" and I think heavy manual labor with some guy whipping you every five seconds for spending too much time breathing. Darth Vader was not a child slave. He had an after-school job working for an asshole that paid shitty wages. If that's slavery, we all qualify.

Third, you'd think that blowing up a battle station using a stunt fighter to deliver a targeted attack on a ventilation system would be a valuable learning experience. Evidently not.

The Galactic Empire - is it any wonder they fell?

God made the pretty girls pretty because he likes them more

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

mrchuck85 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:14:51 EST

Wonder how it does on the Grapevine or at 95 mph on the 405.

mrchuck85

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

EMoShunz — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:13:22 EST

that's not that pricey for 300mpg...holy crap, what an awesome commuter vehicle!
The $360/month in fuel savings (will rise as time goes on too) would almost pay for it.

EMoShunz

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

swpoison — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:06:26 EST

omg eco save the world ..... just have to sell your body to pay for it.

swpoison

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

Erwos — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 07:58:10 EST

It looks surprisingly comfortable, although I worry about those doors hitting the ceiling in my parking garage. If they can it down to $20k, I might buy one.

Erwos

Aptera Electric Car Works Great, Says Popular Mechanics

valis — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 07:54:37 EST

And like Schwartptrzcchnegger, chic & cool like a Barby.

valis