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Featured Aptera attempting a come back.

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Trollbait, Feb 5, 2020.

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  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    these things always start with a lot of hype to raise money, then reality sets in
     
    #21 bisco, Feb 5, 2020
  2. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Wow I followed Aptera extensively back a few years ago.
     
    #22 farmecologist, Feb 5, 2020
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    and what happened?
     
    #23 bisco, Feb 5, 2020
  4. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    So, what is the trade-in price for my 2019 Std. Rng. Plug Model 3? ... All of their capital?

    Bob Wilson
     
    #24 bwilson4web, Feb 5, 2020
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  5. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    we were so hard up for an EV back then - we had a $500 deposit on one. Except for gen1 rav4EV's there wasn't much else. Got all $500 back before they went under. The title though? "most efficient car" btw - that is a misnomer .... a 3 wheeler makes it registerable as a motorcycle, so it can't be the most efficient car

    GM? ..... I do not know - they DID produce the Vega. Wish GM would have gone bankrupt prior to making that Automotive Titanic. Had one. Every owner knows how that story went.

    .
     
    #25 hill, Feb 5, 2020
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2020
  6. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Don't care for a screen for everything myself, but it is cheaper than a bunch of buttons and switches. Controlling costs will be important for the trike to be a success. The only two seater vehicles available now are all sports 'cars'. I don't see the Aptera2 being a direct competitor there, and any incentives it qualifies for will be lower than the ones for 4 wheeled cars.

    Depends on the efficiency of the trike, and efficiency of the PV cells. I agree with it being impractical and expensive, but US Prime owners here have wished for the PV option since the car arrived. It could be worth the cost for those without regular charger access.

    Well, they do have low six figures, so probably not all their capital. The plan now is to raise $2.5mil to build three prototypes.

    The founders were successful after the initial Aptera. Two started a company that does battery energy storage, so should be quite familiar with the state of Li-ion today. The other did organic farming.
     
    #26 Trollbait, Feb 6, 2020
  7. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Reminds me of early days of Tesla when they built an electric car only to realize that it was a total fail when it comes to crash safety test certification and they had the throw the entire car out and start over. That little thing would be totaled in a fatality accident even below 20mph. There's no way it could get certified safe as a car, but maybe as a motorcycle?
     
    #27 PriusCamper, Feb 6, 2020
  8. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    This is Aptera return number 3 now?
     
    #28 El Dobro, Feb 6, 2020
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    #29 bisco, Feb 6, 2020
  10. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Instead of Aptera, they should call it "Rocky".
     
    #30 El Dobro, Feb 6, 2020
  11. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    [​IMG]

    Bob Wilson
     
    #31 bwilson4web, Feb 6, 2020
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  12. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    they made a hurculean effort. but -hit by reality - their lack of cash became a mortal blow.

    still . . . i sent 'em a get-well greeting
    ;)

    [​IMG]

    . . . . and got or deposit back
    .
     
    #32 hill, Feb 15, 2020
    bisco, dig4dirt and El Dobro like this.
  13. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    They got the prototypes, and I read somewhere that they are taking $100 deposits.

    Aptera Announces a 1,000-Mile Range 'Never Charge' Solar EV But We Should Explain
    Aptera 3 - Wikipedia

    [​IMG]

    Aptera is saying deliveries in 2021 with prices in the $26k to $46k+ range.
    Four battery offerings; 25, 40, 60, and 1000 kilowatt hours. The uncertified ranges are 250 to 1000 miles.
    FWD with an AWD option.

    Their predicted amount of miles from solar charging is likely optimistic, but maybe closer than others have made.
    [​IMG]
    "The only two seater vehicles available now are all sports 'cars'. I don't see the Aptera2 being a direct competitor there"
    I might be wrong about that, and it might be too fast for @Leadfoot J. McCoalroller. The claim is 5.5secs for 0 to 60, and 3.5 secs with AWD.
     
    #33 Trollbait, Dec 7, 2020
    bwilson4web and Leadfoot J. McCoalroller like this.
  14. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Wow... The insurance premiums on something like that... With no bumpers or structural reinforcement for such it looks like a fender bender might lead to it being totaled out. And highway safety wise it looks like a death trap.
     
    #34 PriusCamper, Dec 7, 2020
  15. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    How much is the insurance on a motorcycle?

    mHow much for a slingshot (no roof)?

    there is your answer
     
    #35 Rmay635703, Dec 7, 2020
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  16. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    The only reason aptera didn't go bankrupt sooner in the early days, was because no one had any other Ev readily available on the market. Once that crappy Nissan Leaf said they'd soon come out, Aptera became DOA. Think of the downsides before the fact that there's no service center Nationwide. Trailer hitch in the middle of the road? You've got 3 sets of wheels that can hit it. A motorcycle or car has one or two wheel tracks that might run over junk.
    Going through a drive-in McDonald's? You have to get out of the thing as those runners that hold the wheels are far away from the attendant Reaching their hand out there to take your money or hand your food to you. You'll have to get out of the thing twice at take outs.
     
    #36 hill, Dec 7, 2020
  17. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    Aptera is tied at the hip with Zap, let that sink in.

    possibly very very bad business practices ahead
     
    #37 Rmay635703, Dec 8, 2020
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