Aptera's 300 MPG car available for pre-order
By Donald Melanson 
posted October 10th 2007 3:34PM
posted October 10th 2007 3:34PM
Aptera certainly managed to attract a fair bit of attention for itself earlier this year, when its concept car turned as many heads for its space age looks as it did for its promised 200 MPG range. Now the company looks to be taking the next step on the long road to availability, with it accepting pre-orders for the car, which apparently now boasts a range of 300 MPG in typical driving conditions. What's more, the company says its also readying an all-electric version of the vehicle in addition to the plug-in hybrid model, with promising to last for around 120 miles before needing a recharge. Both models will also apparently come packed with features, include driver and passenger side airbags, interior and exterior LED lighting, a "solar assisted" climate control system, and an "advanced drive computer" that includes GPS, a rear-view camera, and a complete vehicle diagnostic system. All that apparently comes at a bit of a premium over the initially-estimated $20,000 price, however, with the electric and plug-in hybrid models now set to run $26,900 and $29,900, respectively. If that's still in your ballpark, you can reserve yours now for a mere $500, with the first vehicles promised to be in drivers hands in 12 months or so.
[Via Digg]
[Via Digg]
Sperm with tires?.
I was getting all excited until I realized that this car doesn't fly.
You'll never see a flying car. The most important feature that tires provide is traction. Traction allows you to stop quickly or turn quickly. Imagine you're in your flying car and someone swerves right in front of you. Whatcha gonna do? Slam on your... um... OH NO!
So $500 deposit, if a 1000 people are stupid enough to pre-order one, that's half a million without even ever making anything.
"Would you invest in this company?"
This is a risk free investment. Fully refundable, held in escrow. Pretty
standard for high-risk pre-orders.
Personally I think it looks awesome, much better than the ugly lode of propaganda that is the chevy volt. It probobly has great handling too due to the out rigger style front wheels.
Where the hell do you put the license plate?
Where can I buy a gallon of electricity?
Just in case that this is a serious question:
A gallon of gasoline could be translated into a certain amount of electricity by measuring the energy content in kilowatt/hour. I believe one source stated that one gallon of gas as being 33.7 kwh.
i kept looking at the picture and wondering when the grinch or the who's are going to pop out
HOW exactly does one measure RANGE in miles per gallon? "200 MPG range"? What?
If this car were in transformers...it would so get whooped.
I was getting all excited until I realized they would actually release it. I prefer concept cars staying a concept. We'll only be dissapointed otherwise.
All BS aside, I'd drive this thing. You have to admit it looks better than a Corbin Sparrow, or Merlin for that matter. It actually seats 2. If it'll actually do better than 200mpg, let alone the 300mpg they claim, then the thing might be able to pay for itself after a few years of ownership. OK, maybe not, but it'd have to be way cheaper to operate than the regular commuter vehicle, which is sadly too often a pickup or SUV these days, with only a single occupant.
I can't believe I'm on the "green" side with this... I'll take my motorcycle on good days, and this thing would be fine when I need to be out of the elements.
"Where the hell do you put the license plate?"
you put it on the back of the vehicle in the license plate holder just like all the other m-cycles. ever see a motorcycle with a front license plate? no.
S
Dunno about the US, in India atleast, Motorcycles have front license plates...
This thing is what we need to start breaking the molds around here. I actually went to the website and enjoyed reading what it had to say about the car and why it looks the way it does. This thing makes use of a lot of new technologies and I may be in the minority, but I think it looks great! The aerodynamic design is awesome and the lightweight, durable materials all add up to the mpg numbers even if mpg is a misnomer. The all electric version would be great for me and if I actually could afford one of these puppies, I would get one even if people laughed at me!!
"How is it that they can produce it for so cheap? Considering the Chevy Volt is supposed to retail around $30k when it comes out in 2-3 years time, I have my doubts about the validity of the price, or the quality of the kit you're getting for that money."
This is a 3-wheeler which is considered a motorcycle and does not need to conform to automotive crash or safety standards. The Volt is a full-fledged car. You're comparing apples and oranges.
I think it looks really funky, I'd rather drive a VentureOne: http://flytheroad.com/ The VentureOne is based on the leaning trike from Carver (which is already on sale in Europe with conventional powertrains). They're planning on both an PEV and PHEV option for the model sold here (like the Aptera,) but I think Aptera is closer to having a working production vehicle.
TIMMAH! is right on the money. I'll only add: it's a pretty expensive bike and don't forget your helmet in mandatory helmet law states.
The VentureOne looks like serious fun at least until a teenager in her 6000lb hand-me-down Ford Expedition runs you over thinking "Was that another dog? That's the third one this month!" =)
Yes it is a pretty expensive bike, but at $18K with my current gas burnrate, it would pay off for itself within 10 years (assuming gas prices stay at under $3.50 a gallon.)
SWEEEEEEEEEET!!! I like it!!!
I am totally with TRUTH. I think this thing looks awesome. You gotta kinda wrap your mind around it first. I would go buy one right now if I could afford it (and they were on sale). Anyway, you also gotta see it from other angles to really understand how it looks. Check out the web site and dig around. There is a section in there with a good 20 or 30 pictures.
- K
If power is only delivered to the rear wheel (other articles indicate as much), will this thing have any traction in snow at all? Sounds like it could get stuck awfully easily...
Spend $20,000 extra on the car, save $20,000 in gas! Ooooh, where do i sign?
If the car is as good as their website, everyone who buys one will be very disappointed. The website is garbage; uninformative, slow and needlessly flashy (pun intended).
While I wish them well on their goal of getting environmentally friendly cars into the market, I foresee a massive failure here. These wildly stylized, retro-futuristic, three-wheeled two-seaters just don't scan with the populace. I'm sure Ed Begley Jr. is signed up though.
I am fairly certain I will not see one of these on the highway within the next twenty years. For what this costs and what it is capable of, your money is better spent on a very nice touring motorcycle.
Based on the draconian, and US auto market oligarchy, I seriously doubt the NHTSA is going to let this vehicle slide through for long without cuting it for various reasons. Despite it's potential "motorcycle" status, it is being billed as a passenger vehicle, even if more along the microcar design. In which case the NHTSA may find several problems with it, not the least of which is lack of sideview mirrors (despite the camera system, which is more fallible than a mirror), and front and rear bumpers. There will likely be concerns of safety in inclement weather and seasonal performance. Can this vehicle handle safely in sleet, slush, ice and snow? If not, will its legal, licensable use be seasonally mandated as with motorcycles? I would guess that such a situation would severely diminish sales (especially given if $25k+ price tag).
Time will tell, but I do not predict a solid future for the Aptera.
I think the NHTSA, and the US market, will squash it, as its name would so aptly (if ironically) imply.
I just hate it when stuff i like gets "cuted by the NHTSA for various reasons". But then again, legislation "based on the draconian, and US auto market oligarchy" sometimes gets a little squirrely and um nonsensical, much like the bulk of your comment here.
You're right about the website, though.
Well, now that noted NHTSA and automotive expert ratnikh has spoken we can all give up.
Granted their website is currently lacking in critical info, but it does state that a new version is coming soon with stats, figures, info and such.
But, since we have now heard that the future is not solid (see notgonnahappenDOTcom/becauseratnikhsaysso),;) we can stop commenting on such a vehicle.
By the way, it is NOT a car. It will not replace a CamCCord mid-size sedan anytime nor should it. But can you tell how big it is? not small by my guess.
As for the weather, has no one seen the other photos including the one with the door open? See the giant door seal? see the actual glass? Snow? forget it, and it is not targeted to sell in snowland. However, if they succeed in selling some to those interested, with it's STATED safety goals then cool.
S
I personally would not drive this car based on looks alone. The fuel economy (if thats what they mean by range) is impressive. Watch the range be how long the car will run for as in a car lasting for a hundred thousand miles or so before it doesn't work that well but in this case only 300 miles. I also do not like how unsafe it looks. I have no idea why they thought that would be better for its design it just looks like that would get totaled.
book by it's cover. looks unsafe. totaled? perfectC you have amazing insight and i thank you.
Joeseph, not a player? define that please.
S
JOseph, not joeseph. my miss-spelling.
uuhg... why can't they make a decent looking hybrid?! Why does green have to equal ugly?!
I'd pay $30k for a version that has 4 wheels, half the mpg, and goes a bit quicker and faster.
300mpg?! my gawd.. I'd be happy with a decent looking and low-cost car that gets 50 to 100mpg!
"I'd pay $30k for a version that has 4 wheels, half the mpg, and goes a bit quicker and faster.
300mpg?! my gawd.. I'd be happy with a decent looking and low-cost car that gets 50 to 100mpg!"
It's called a Toyota Prius...
@ticohans
I think you missed the "decent looking" and "goes a bit quicker and faster" requirements...
the prius is ugly as sin, and slower than hell!
You just can't add great gas mileage with a normal car look can you? You had to go and make it look like a Naboo Star Fighter.
So a lot of you are bitching because this is a motorcycle, and who would pay $30K for a motorcycle. Well, I wouldn't pay that much for a motorcycle, especially because I couldn't fit a toddler seat it one ... nor would I get air conditioning in 100-degree Texas heat. However, regardless of it's dubious lookage, I would pay for an enclosed, air conditioned, three-seater that would let me commute an hour and a half through traffic to the university every day, off of my household electric bill, after dropping my daughter off at daycare.
So, yeah. I'm seriously considering this once I see some more concrete information. I want to see they've got a functional, working, accurate model. I want to see stats on ABS brakes, acceleration (though not picky), and any traction control. I'm wondering where the nearest service/sales center would be. Plus I want to see if it's legal in Texas. Then I will very seriously consider this.
I'm enthralled... I have been waiting for Toyota to come out with their next Prius which is supposed to get around 100mpg with the lithium ion batteries but this may not happen until 2009. However when I found this car I really fell in love with its quirkyness, mileage, and computer gadgetry. The rear cameras overs mirrors are cool, the keyless entry and start like the Prius are cool. Heated/cooled seating, solar cells to charge the batteries while parked, and the way cool Street deck radio/information/navigation center is way cool by itself. Well worth the money and from what I can imagine, would be a blast to drive based on the wheel placement and the driver position. I havent put money down on it as I have not recievedemail back from the company after I asked some design questions and the snow/mountain climb factor is a concern for me (I'm in Colorado) but damn, sign me up! Based on the miles I put on... (and the Street deck that I can load video games onto) I NEED this car.
I put my 5 bills down and can't wait!
woot!
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/