4 ms·

I really, really want the Aptera [1] folks to succeed. Their vehicle is so aerodynamically efficient and relatively light that you'll be able to charge overnigh

I really, really want the Aptera [1] folks to succeed. Their vehicle is so aerodynamically efficient and relatively light that you'll be able to charge overnight on 110v and get about 130 miles of range - pretty much all the range I need 99% of the time. It would be a lot of gas station time saved. (being able to charge on 110v and get an appreciable amount of range everyday would also mean less stress on the grid if lots of people were to adopt vehicles like this). [1] https://aptera.us/ https://aptera.us/ (yes, they are overplaying the "driven by the sun" part, though maybe in a very sunny climate you could get possibly 20 or 30 miles of range if you park it in the sun and for a lot of folks that's all they need most days)

gameswithgo 5y ago
I would love one as well, but at 43 years of age I have seen so many weird, eco car ideas come, and none of them take off. Then Tesla came along and offered a big, powerful EV and everyone went wild. There is a lesson there.
- UncleOxidant 5y ago
  Sure, but I think the Aptera fills a sizeable niche, though. Or possibly multiple smaller niches: 1) people who want a really efficient vehicle for whatever reason (mostly environmental reasons). 2) people who would buy it as a 2nd vehicle. 3) Renters who want an EV but only have access to 110v. ... (probably other niches I'm not thinking of at the moment). They claim to have ~15,000 pre-orders and folks on their forums are pretty much in the "Just take my money!" mode. Yes, it is only a 2 seater, but if it's a 2nd car that's not much of a limitation. And it does have a pretty surprising amount of cargo space.
  - crooked-v 5y ago
    I think you're also missing 4) people who want a car that looks and feels like it came straight out of a scifi movie.
- sangnoir 5y ago
  > but at 43 years of age I have seen so many weird, eco car ideas come, and none of them take off I imagine you forgot about the Prius; the weird eco car that really took off.
  - cptskippy 5y ago
    The target audience for the doorstop Prius (and also the Nissan Leaf) was that overlap of super eco friendly people and attention seekers. Like the old joke, how do know someone is vegan||into-crossfit? They'll tell you. The latest models of the Prius and Leaf aren't that visually striking, though some of that might come down to being desensitized. What sets the Prius and Leaf apart from the Aptera, and other weird cars, is that they're actually practical and functional. They're hatchbacks that you can cram a boggling amount of stuff into, and as commuter cars they just work. The Aptera looks completely impractical for anything other than transporting 2 people and a purse from point A to point B. Where would you fit a suitcase in that thing?
    - UncleOxidant 5y ago
      They seem to be getting a lot of groceries in the back of that thing [1], also shows them putting in a surfboard. It has a lot more space than would seem to be the case from looking at the exterior. > Where would you fit a suitcase in that thing? Unless it's some kind of huge suitcase where the smallest dimension is 3+ feet... in the back cargo area under the hatchback. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWukO5TLssM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWukO5TLssM (about 15 seconds in)
      - cptskippy 5y ago
        Thanks, I didn't see that video showing off the hatchback. The photos make it look like the back is pretty narrow both vertically and horizontally. It's not huge, but it's definitely a lot more than I first imagined.
Mikeb85 5y ago
Of course it's not a real car so will crumble in an accident and probably have terrible handling.
- UncleOxidant 5y ago
  Handling seems fine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wi9xEVH6mU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wi9xEVH6mU crash testing apparently in progress or soon to be.
  - Mikeb85 5y ago
    You know there's only 3 wheels so it'll be classified as a bike and not need to meet car standards, right? And in that video there's shocking amounts of leaning and back tire slippage at low speeds...

gameswithgo 5y ago

I would love one as well, but at 43 years of age I have seen so many weird, eco car ideas come, and none of them take off. Then Tesla came along and offered a big, powerful EV and everyone went wild. There is a lesson there.

UncleOxidant 5y ago
Sure, but I think the Aptera fills a sizeable niche, though. Or possibly multiple smaller niches: 1) people who want a really efficient vehicle for whatever reason (mostly environmental reasons). 2) people who would buy it as a 2nd vehicle. 3) Renters who want an EV but only have access to 110v. ... (probably other niches I'm not thinking of at the moment). They claim to have ~15,000 pre-orders and folks on their forums are pretty much in the "Just take my money!" mode. Yes, it is only a 2 seater, but if it's a 2nd car that's not much of a limitation. And it does have a pretty surprising amount of cargo space.
- crooked-v 5y ago
  I think you're also missing 4) people who want a car that looks and feels like it came straight out of a scifi movie.
sangnoir 5y ago
> but at 43 years of age I have seen so many weird, eco car ideas come, and none of them take off I imagine you forgot about the Prius; the weird eco car that really took off.
- cptskippy 5y ago
  The target audience for the doorstop Prius (and also the Nissan Leaf) was that overlap of super eco friendly people and attention seekers. Like the old joke, how do know someone is vegan||into-crossfit? They'll tell you. The latest models of the Prius and Leaf aren't that visually striking, though some of that might come down to being desensitized. What sets the Prius and Leaf apart from the Aptera, and other weird cars, is that they're actually practical and functional. They're hatchbacks that you can cram a boggling amount of stuff into, and as commuter cars they just work. The Aptera looks completely impractical for anything other than transporting 2 people and a purse from point A to point B. Where would you fit a suitcase in that thing?
  - UncleOxidant 5y ago
    They seem to be getting a lot of groceries in the back of that thing [1], also shows them putting in a surfboard. It has a lot more space than would seem to be the case from looking at the exterior. > Where would you fit a suitcase in that thing? Unless it's some kind of huge suitcase where the smallest dimension is 3+ feet... in the back cargo area under the hatchback. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWukO5TLssM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWukO5TLssM (about 15 seconds in)
    - cptskippy 5y ago
      Thanks, I didn't see that video showing off the hatchback. The photos make it look like the back is pretty narrow both vertically and horizontally. It's not huge, but it's definitely a lot more than I first imagined.

Mikeb85 5y ago

Of course it's not a real car so will crumble in an accident and probably have terrible handling.

UncleOxidant 5y ago
Handling seems fine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wi9xEVH6mU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wi9xEVH6mU crash testing apparently in progress or soon to be.
- Mikeb85 5y ago
  You know there's only 3 wheels so it'll be classified as a bike and not need to meet car standards, right? And in that video there's shocking amounts of leaning and back tire slippage at low speeds...