Someone else mentioned the Aptera is back, with up to 1,000 miles per charge. But they didn't mention that it has solar and the ability to add up to 40 miles of range on a nice sunny day!
I've been holding my breath so long for this I've turned a dark shade of blue. Saw it a couple times on the streets of Carlsbad more than a decade ago. In reality I was younger then and would have been seriously interested but now not so much.
It's built like all Burt Rutan airplane designs (composite sandwich materials) I wish I could get one of those cells to install a Hayabusa engine in it
The company mentioned an optional engine (gen set?) - it would be nice to see an application of an engine operating with a more efficient thermodynamic cycle (Rankine, Atkins, etc.) used, extending the range and making longer trips easy on occasion. Bio-diesel begins to make sense if we get the mileage up to this level!
This car is actually supposed to be quite safe. The passenger sits in a "rollcage", a hard structure, while the other parts are easily crushed, much like racing cars :D
If I'm remembering some early specs correctly I think it'll get at least 100-150 if not more around 200 mpg actually (I've been following Aptera for quite awhile)
Here we are, late fall 2010, Aptera has nothing to show yet. I checked there web page and don't see how I could get one (Even if I was a CA resident). So did govt Red tape kill this?
zilcher, if you are covering the car with cells to do that then what I said is still valid. If you are using a large pannel of cells mounted off the car then that is a different story. At max efficiency (100%) you cant get enough power out of cells on a car to charge the batt. even when it sits over time.
then they should expand the solar panels to the point where they can provide more recharge capability. they will soon have panels that bend light so that if the light is not direct the panel itself will direct the light to energy production.
I've heard that electric vehicles are being fitted with a noise generator to warn pedestrians of their presence. As Don Martin might have it, "Not-a-sound."
i wonder why the solar panel on top is not used to re-charge the batteries for free. this is going to be a success, the first truly revolutionary, successful electric car.
Well, my way is the SUV way. 4 wheel drive in snow. More cargo space so I wouldn't have to make multiple trips if I wanted to buy some heavy equipment. Also, it depends on the job you have, my father is a remodeler so he requires lots of cargo space. Not everyone can or want to transfer to a small car like this just because others want us to and say it's greener and what not because it just doesn't have the requirments some people need.
wow. fuzzywzhe is pretty fuming. so sad. but you did say that relic said that100 watts was enough. here is the quotation: "My criticism of you is you think a 100 watts is enough to power a vehicle." BUSTED!
The Aptera's a bit of a joke. The prototype was something else, though. One of their original prototypes was an inline hybrid where a single-cylinder engine powered the generator, making a whopping 300MPG. Unfortunately, the production version won't have that feature (maybe Big Oil threatened them?). Instead, you get a flat 100 mile range from an electric-only drivetrain. Instead of being able to cross the country on 10 gallons of gas, you won't even be able to drive from LA to Vegas.
you need to read better ndyt. this is not about powering the car 100%. this is about re-charging the batteries, as much as possible, while the car is in the sun. no one claimed it would completely power the car. and fuzzy never said what you just said, even though he may have been trying to do that. the point is, if we maximize solar efficiencies on the car itself, the drain on the power grid will be reduced. that's all.
I think that is really interesting. It would be neat to see a hydrogen fuel cell version. I think it would be quicker to refuel than to recharge and have a longer range. I read that Aptera went out of business, bought a Chinese company then it was bought back by the founders and they are working on producing them again. There might not be a gas version (I think the gas version would be cool - perhaps a hybrid where a small gas engine powers a generator powering the electric motors in the wheels? - just thinking out loud).
Ok, so a car that can be essentially printed off a 3d printer(no, say the car companies), doesnt use oil or gas(no, say the oil comanies), has tiny tires and little weight(no say the tire companies), can be fixed with a fiberglass patch or yet another print off a plastic printer at home(no, say the insurance companies). Just how long does it take you people to figure out that close-to-free transportation would ruin the establishment?
> i wonder why the solar panel on top is not used to re-charge the > batteries for free. Because the amount of energy collected by the solar panels is small. Maybe 50 watts at the most. It would take a year to recharge the car, assuming perfect batteries that have no leakage current.
@rickylarch Exactly. Let the people-movers be in the hands of responsible and trained drivers (buses) or better yet, off the road entirely (trains). Movement of goods should also have its own right of way, whether that be train tracks or separate freeway lanes. Of course, that will never happen, but maybe they could make super-light SUVs? :\
It's safer than a Honda CRX. That car weighed just as much, had DOUBLE the drag, and still got over 50mpg if you got the HF version. And that's the EPA rating, if you know how to drive for efficiency you'd blow right through that number with an HF. Put the same powertrain in an Aptera... Oh man. I'd LOVE to park one of these things next to my V8.
> then they should expand the solar panels to the point where > they can provide more recharge capability. There isn't that much energy in a square meter of sunlight - 1.3KW per square meter, and the BEST you can expect from an AMAZING solar cell is 30% efficiency making that effectively 0.40KW per square meter. A *bicycle* will take 100 KW to run (if it's a good bike) at 20 MPH. There isn't enough surface area - not even close.
You have to keep in mind what the Smart was built for. If you drive around between cities a lot, its stubby shape is inferior to any aerodynamic car. However, in cities, it is extremely short and, due to its low weight, very efficient. Naturally, the right car for the right purpose. The Smart is a city car and you spend a good deal less fuel searching for an adequate parking spot. Concerning electric cars: Don't expect them to get as powerful as fossil fuel cars. Think differently.
no one ever said 100 watts is enough to power a vehicle. stop putting words in my mouth. knowing your limitations and searching for a newer, better way are not mutually exclusive einstein. why bring up perpetual motion? nothing said about that, and no one claiming that they work here. again, pull your head out and take a breath of fresh air. research, commitment, and scientific study got us to the moon in ten years. we can improve solar efficiences, with appropriate effort.
> no one ever said 100 watts is enough to power a vehicle. stop putting > words in my mouth. You think I'm doing that? What is the surface area of a vehicle that would be in direct sunlight? Using that value, calculate the total possible energy input from the sun by a vehicle covered in solar panels that have a 20% efficiency conversation ratio, and show your work. Sheesh.
That's why I'd buy a gas car like an SUV because I choose my kids safety over something that could risk their lives just to save fuel and the environment.
well dude, it's worth fighting for. It's better to have the technology available...and then just tax people for the money we need for a functioning society.
I doubt it, because hydrogen will take more energy to use because we need to use electricity to make hydrogen. Whereas an electric vehicle would directly use the electricity. The conversion of energy would be unefficient.
No doubt. I think something like this with a gas engine would be great. We have efficient gas engines now. Put the little Honda engine in a car like this & mileage goes way up without any of the current drawbacks of electric. The current "high mileage" gas powered cars are pitiful efforts. Look at the Smart. It's ugly,very small & doesn't really get all that great gas mileage. We could be doing that today while the problems with electric are worked out. Why? Why? Why don't they do it?
> but you did say that relic said that100 watts was enough. > here is the quotation: > > "My criticism of you is you think a 100 watts is enough to > power a vehicle." > > BUSTED! Busted? He was asking why the solar panel array on top of the Aptera isn't being used to charge the batteries of the vehicle. I've already gone through explaining how to calculate maximum possible energy product from a solar panel. Approximately how much energy is produced by the solar array? Sheesh, dummy.
@Threetails Interesting insight. Did you see previous versions of this car that got far better mileage? Makes me wonder. I notice that this is another private company making a GOOD electric car. hhhmmm that makes me wonder too. GM's version is horrible compared to the ev1 that came out 15 years ago.
oh, and the next thing will be your major criticism of my being a dreamer. simplistic, uninformed, head in the clouds, stuff like that. let me give you the names of a few dreamers who had their heads in the clouds fuzzyscience: da vinci, tesla, edison, galileo. you need to bring your head back into the sunshine, and open your eyes.
The solar power is just work the same way as new prius.. 2.32 JUZ a "ventilation of the passenger room to make it cool" sorry man not a recharging, you need to listen better zilcher and another 7 dumbs
Your SUV is a safety risk to your kid's lungs and it's weight is a threat to all the people and cars outside it. Smaller is better all around. Stopping distance on an SUV is terrible compared to a small car like the Aptera. SUVs are only marginally safer to the occupants. To everyone else SUVs are a menace.
Someone else mentioned the Aptera is back, with up to 1,000 miles per charge. But they didn't mention that it has solar and the ability to add up to 40 miles of range on a nice sunny day!
www.aptera.us/
Honest , Uncomplicated & Nice to Watch Video about the electric Aptera! Thank You So Much for Sharing! ♥️🌷🕯
Aptera is back again! With the same founders. 1000 miles per charge. In wheel motors. Great new interior. See www.aptera.us
I've been holding my breath so long for this I've turned a dark shade of blue. Saw it a couple times on the streets of Carlsbad more than a decade ago. In reality I was younger then and would have been seriously interested but now not so much.
It looks very cool!
it would be so sweet if I could show up to school with this xD
oh I wish lol
OMG UA-cam please filter 10 year old comments
I wanted to say the exact same thing. Future 50s is here!
Perfect car for going and coming to work, leave the sports car for the weekend.
I remember waiting around to make the Aptera my first car. Never happened.
it might still happen. www.aptera.us/
@mingleduck Actually, It will, It's stronger than metal so serious dents. and it has a tested 4 star safety standard.
That is crazy that it's actually a car you can buy.
really nice :D definitely a move on the right direction
I like this car it's design is what i been looking for in a vehicle
A crying shame this company fell through. Imagine what a 2016 model would look like. :(
There's hope shoutout.wix.com/so/81Mq8cWpx?region=8922f055-4bc0-433c-308c-4ed93da26ceb#/main
Go to WeFunder. They are back
www.aptera.us/ check out their web site.
It's built like all Burt Rutan airplane designs (composite sandwich materials)
I wish I could get one of those cells to install a Hayabusa engine in it
looks like a 50's future car... today!
yes indeed...your a great father
The company mentioned an optional engine (gen set?) - it would be nice to see an application of an engine operating with a more efficient thermodynamic cycle (Rankine, Atkins, etc.) used, extending the range and making longer trips easy on occasion. Bio-diesel begins to make sense if we get the mileage up to this level!
This car is actually supposed to be quite safe. The passenger sits in a "rollcage", a hard structure, while the other parts are easily crushed, much like racing cars :D
I like it. just saw Running On Lithium and that I like much more.
The first electric car that actually looks cool.
If I'm remembering some early specs correctly I think it'll get at least 100-150 if not more around 200 mpg actually (I've been following Aptera for quite awhile)
Here we are, late fall 2010, Aptera has nothing to show yet. I checked there web page and don't see how I could get one (Even if I was a CA resident). So did govt Red tape kill this?
zilcher, if you are covering the car with cells to do that then what I said is still valid. If you are using a large pannel of cells mounted off the car then that is a different story. At max efficiency (100%) you cant get enough power out of cells on a car to charge the batt. even when it sits over time.
pretty cool
the percentage on tint pertains to the visibility. so 95% tint is basically clear. i think u meant "tinted out 5%"
This is a fucking shame of humanity that this car will never be built. I am so angry with the people who shut this project!
is a tijuana model out yet?
then they should expand the solar panels to the point where they can provide more recharge capability. they will soon have panels that bend light so that if the light is not direct the panel itself will direct the light to energy production.
Yes, but does it drift?
What is it's Nurburgring lap time?
I've heard that electric vehicles are being fitted with a noise generator to warn pedestrians of their presence. As Don Martin might have it, "Not-a-sound."
We'll all be mooching charges off each other soon!
i wonder why the solar panel on top is not used to re-charge the batteries for free.
this is going to be a success, the first truly revolutionary, successful electric car.
for between 25 and 40 grand, these and the hybrid should be great cars.
For that much money they are not going to have any customers. A golf car is $2000, and there is no more material involved.
coming out in october 2009 in california
I want one :)
if the "Back to the future" movies were filmed today, the car would be an Aptera instead of a Delorian
What do i do when first snow hits the road?
with todays battery this car should get 300miles . oil company killed that concept
Well, my way is the SUV way. 4 wheel drive in snow. More cargo space so I wouldn't have to make multiple trips if I wanted to buy some heavy equipment. Also, it depends on the job you have, my father is a remodeler so he requires lots of cargo space. Not everyone can or want to transfer to a small car like this just because others want us to and say it's greener and what not because it just doesn't have the requirments some people need.
wow. fuzzywzhe is pretty fuming. so sad.
but you did say that relic said that100 watts was enough. here is the quotation:
"My criticism of you is you think a 100 watts is enough to power a vehicle."
BUSTED!
The Aptera's a bit of a joke.
The prototype was something else, though. One of their original prototypes was an inline hybrid where a single-cylinder engine powered the generator, making a whopping 300MPG.
Unfortunately, the production version won't have that feature (maybe Big Oil threatened them?). Instead, you get a flat 100 mile range from an electric-only drivetrain. Instead of being able to cross the country on 10 gallons of gas, you won't even be able to drive from LA to Vegas.
This is a re-uploaded vid in the beginning lol.
Very cool, sounds promising, but my major concern is safety...it looks very cool but very unsafe! Crash Tests???
you need to read better ndyt.
this is not about powering the car 100%. this is about re-charging the batteries, as much as possible, while the car is in the sun. no one claimed it would completely power the car. and fuzzy never said what you just said, even though he may have been trying to do that.
the point is, if we maximize solar efficiencies on the car itself, the drain on the power grid will be reduced. that's all.
I think that is really interesting. It would be neat to see a hydrogen fuel cell version. I think it would be quicker to refuel than to recharge and have a longer range. I read that Aptera went out of business, bought a Chinese company then it was bought back by the founders and they are working on producing them again. There might not be a gas version (I think the gas version would be cool - perhaps a hybrid where a small gas engine powers a generator powering the electric motors in the wheels? - just thinking out loud).
www.aptera.us/
Ok, so a car that can be essentially printed off a 3d printer(no, say the car companies), doesnt use oil or gas(no, say the oil comanies), has tiny tires and little weight(no say the tire companies), can be fixed with a fiberglass patch or yet another print off a plastic printer at home(no, say the insurance companies).
Just how long does it take you people to figure out that close-to-free transportation would ruin the establishment?
I'm sorry but the interior does not look big also what if you are driving 200 miles would you have to stop and wait for it to charge?
I want one please...!
www.aptera.us/
did all these people who ordered it acutally got the car ?
i really liked it but what about safety?
i bet these would be great in a collision with anything.......
oh fuzzyscience:
have a beer. sit on the porch. listen to music. or do what's really necessary: get the lobotomy.
sweet!
> i wonder why the solar panel on top is not used to re-charge the
> batteries for free.
Because the amount of energy collected by the solar panels is small. Maybe 50 watts at the most. It would take a year to recharge the car, assuming perfect batteries that have no leakage current.
i want one!
When there is a Gas engine, I would consider buying one.
@rickylarch Exactly. Let the people-movers be in the hands of responsible and trained drivers (buses) or better yet, off the road entirely (trains). Movement of goods should also have its own right of way, whether that be train tracks or separate freeway lanes. Of course, that will never happen, but maybe they could make super-light SUVs? :\
It's safer than a Honda CRX. That car weighed just as much, had DOUBLE the drag, and still got over 50mpg if you got the HF version. And that's the EPA rating, if you know how to drive for efficiency you'd blow right through that number with an HF. Put the same powertrain in an Aptera... Oh man. I'd LOVE to park one of these things next to my V8.
I've never gotten under 56 mpg with my CRX.
Wait, "the driving position is 'somewhat' comfortable"? How "somewhat" are we talking?
> then they should expand the solar panels to the point where
> they can provide more recharge capability.
There isn't that much energy in a square meter of sunlight - 1.3KW per square meter, and the BEST you can expect from an AMAZING solar cell is 30% efficiency making that effectively 0.40KW per square meter.
A *bicycle* will take 100 KW to run (if it's a good bike) at 20 MPH.
There isn't enough surface area - not even close.
@ParadeofCrows haha for sure
You have to keep in mind what the Smart was built for. If you drive around between cities a lot, its stubby shape is inferior to any aerodynamic car. However, in cities, it is extremely short and, due to its low weight, very efficient. Naturally, the right car for the right purpose. The Smart is a city car and you spend a good deal less fuel searching for an adequate parking spot.
Concerning electric cars: Don't expect them to get as powerful as fossil fuel cars. Think differently.
The Smart is not very smart , a Honda Accord gets better gas mileage.
Smartest thing about a Smart car is to NOT buy one.
oh shit thanks a lot man.
edit:
I would drive it
TINTED OUT 0.5%
no one ever said 100 watts is enough to power a vehicle. stop putting words in my mouth.
knowing your limitations and searching for a newer, better way are not mutually exclusive einstein.
why bring up perpetual motion? nothing said about that, and no one claiming that they work here.
again, pull your head out and take a breath of fresh air.
research, commitment, and scientific study got us to the moon in ten years.
we can improve solar efficiences, with appropriate effort.
What did this last guy just write?
Oh my gawd there are so many comments more than 10 years old I feel like I am a historian
> no one ever said 100 watts is enough to power a vehicle. stop putting
> words in my mouth.
You think I'm doing that?
What is the surface area of a vehicle that would be in direct sunlight? Using that value, calculate the total possible energy input from the sun by a vehicle covered in solar panels that have a 20% efficiency conversation ratio, and show your work.
Sheesh.
This shit has solar panels?! Damn I want one!
oh, with lights and a/c on all the time.
Sod on roof to keep interior cooler when parked
That's why I'd buy a gas car like an SUV because I choose my kids safety over something that could risk their lives just to save fuel and the environment.
Too bad the company is gone.
100 miles @75mph, 2 passengers, with 200pds of baggage.
Why the hell did they changed the design of Aptera!!? It looks great on this video, but have you seen the latest video of the Aptera? :(
buy a ford F-350, might be up your alley..
Already Bankrupt?
bankrupt, bought by a Chinese company, bought back by founders. www.aptera.us/
well dude, it's worth fighting for. It's better to have the technology available...and then just tax people for the money we need for a functioning society.
As beneficial as this is, it most likely won't keep you alive in a crash.
@THEmanTHATSwhite my thoughts exactly... *CRUNCH*
I doubt it, because hydrogen will take more energy to use because we need to use electricity to make hydrogen. Whereas an electric vehicle would directly use the electricity. The conversion of energy would be unefficient.
No doubt. I think something like this with a gas engine would be great. We have efficient gas engines now. Put the little Honda engine in a car like this & mileage goes way up without any of the current drawbacks of electric. The current "high mileage" gas powered cars are pitiful efforts. Look at the Smart. It's ugly,very small & doesn't really get all that great gas mileage. We could be doing that today while the problems with electric are worked out. Why? Why? Why don't they do it?
> but you did say that relic said that100 watts was enough.
> here is the quotation:
>
> "My criticism of you is you think a 100 watts is enough to
> power a vehicle."
>
> BUSTED!
Busted? He was asking why the solar panel array on top of the Aptera isn't being used to charge the batteries of the vehicle.
I've already gone through explaining how to calculate maximum possible energy product from a solar panel. Approximately how much energy is produced by the solar array? Sheesh, dummy.
@Threetails Interesting insight. Did you see previous versions of this car that got far better mileage? Makes me wonder. I notice that this is another private company making a GOOD electric car. hhhmmm that makes me wonder too. GM's version is horrible compared to the ev1 that came out 15 years ago.
went bankrupt
Actually the Feds, didn’t give it a go! Under electric vehicle investments. Never went bankrupt
but they are back. www.aptera.us/
ehh, but it will never beat the sound of gasoline!
I would love to see the Aptera design/engineering come back in the form of an autonomous delivery robot.
Having only 3 wheels classifying it as a motorbike is great for tax purposes, the old robin reliant had 3 wheels for that reason.
Tax purposes?
If this car is classified as a motorcycle, does it mean that drivers will need to wear helmets?
Only in states that require them.
Didnt mention anything about if ya get crashed into though... doesnt look like you will survive a hit from cars nowdays seen as its so light...
Lul, at 1:10, he should have said "can be lifted by one person"
id buy it if i was richer
hit the break and get hit by DR. Pepper lol..
これってリッジ4のテラジの車にそっくり！！！！
very light shell. Crunch
Look up Zaptera USA
oh, and the next thing will be your major criticism of my being a dreamer. simplistic, uninformed, head in the clouds, stuff like that.
let me give you the names of a few dreamers who had their heads in the clouds fuzzyscience:
da vinci, tesla, edison, galileo.
you need to bring your head back into the sunshine, and open your eyes.
The solar power is just work the same way as new prius..
2.32
JUZ a "ventilation of the passenger room to make it cool"
sorry man not a recharging, you need to listen better zilcher and another 7 dumbs
special car .... the future is electric
I would drive it
TINTED OUT 95%
Your SUV is a safety risk to your kid's lungs and it's weight is a threat to all the people and cars outside it. Smaller is better all around. Stopping distance on an SUV is terrible compared to a small car like the Aptera. SUVs are only marginally safer to the occupants. To everyone else SUVs are a menace.