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Aptera

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Jennjay, Jun 3, 2008.

  1. Jennjay

    Jennjay Member

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    Anyone see the report on the 300mpg Aptera hybrid on NBC news this evening??
     
  2. wchardin

    wchardin Senior Member

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  3. KandyRedCoi

    KandyRedCoi S is for Super!

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    2seater 3wheeler...hope it works...:thumb:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  4. danatt

    danatt New Member

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  5. stumpy_c

    stumpy_c New Member

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    I want one of these soooooo bad. Wish I'd caught the story :(.
     
  6. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

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    They had the Aptera on our "channel 4 news," here in California, about three weeks ago.
     
  7. Jennjay

    Jennjay Member

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  8. ShinerBTX

    ShinerBTX Junior Member

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    Yes - Comment about putting a "propeller" up front was tacky !
     
  9. Jennjay

    Jennjay Member

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    Not only tacky, but stupid
     
  10. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    Too bad they have no plans in the reasonable future to sell it outside of California!
     
  11. wchardin

    wchardin Senior Member

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    My thoughts exactly.
     
  12. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    I think California's getting the 'beta' models, and sales will expand from there. Here's an unofficial Aptera website.
     
  13. bac

    bac Active Member

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    ThanX for the link ... nice report, and what a machine!

    How do/will they get by safety standards such as 5 mph bumpers, etc? Is it because it's a 3-wheeler, and so not subject to normal 4-wheeled auto safety rules?

    ... Brad
     
  14. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    From what I've read, the Aptera has been designed with safety in mind, and is being tested far beyond the requirements. Despite being classed as a motorcycle, it has airbags, a rollbar, a safety cell, and crush zones.
     
  15. bac

    bac Active Member

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    Yeah, I read that on their site also. However, I'm not really buying it.

    I mean, sans any real bumpers, that puppy is gonna crumble up like a piece of paper in a crash ..... at least that's what it looks like to me. It seems that, since this is a 3-wheeler, it only has to comply with the standards set for motorcycles, which are obviously much less than for a traditional auto.

    In other words, you can put as many crumple zones you'd like on a Yamaha, but it still doesn't compare to the relative safety of a traditional auto.

    I still dig it, and even knowing about safety concerns, would consider it for sure.

    ... Brad
     
  16. pkscout

    pkscout Junior Member

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    It's that kind of logic that gets us soccer moms in hummers...
     
  17. Kablooie

    Kablooie Member

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    It's hard enough to gauge the where the front of the Prius is and it has bumpers.

    Look at this thing. No bumpers and you aren't going to be able to see the front at all. You're going to see a lot of Apteras with a smashed in nose cone.
     
  18. Devil's Advocate

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    From reviewin gthe safety specs, it looks like this thing will be just as safe, if not safer, than any other small car.

    5 mph bumpers are NOT for safety. They are desinged to compensate for bad drivers who drive by the sense of touch!

    There is a danger that if the driver of the Aptera, or cars parking around the Aptera, aren't paying attention then the body could suffer. I think however that the construction, composite fiber (hopefully with some give), will provide protection for 3-5 mph "bumps"
     
    drash likes this.
  19. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    They say they have plans to expand out to other states. But not even a hint of when that will be. Since they are likely to sell all they can build without enlarging their geographic area, they'll have little incentive to do so until they are able to very significantly expand their production capacity. I'm guessing quite a few years.
     
  20. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

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    Get hit by an SUV in your Prius and the bumpers won't even get a scratch. The only vehicles that have bumper height requirements are CARS. The next safety regulation should be to require ALL vehicles on the road to have bumpers at the height currently specified for cars. Anyone needing more road clearance for off road travel can buy an optional hydraulic lift kit. Or maybe the manufacturers can invent removable street legal bumpers.