I will almost definitely upgrade my suspension with air suspension. Would there be any clearance issues if I used a 6" diameter air spring? I work at AKTV8 in Michigan and we do a lot of software validation with the air manifolds, and like to use extreme vehicle scenarios like an 1800lb. 3 wheeled vehicle for test vehicles.
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The rear suspension doesn't look like you could put a shock / spring unit that large a diameter on it - it is in tension. If you look closely, there are 2 rods on either side of the unit. For the front suspension, it is a little harder to see what the clearances are.
Being able to raise the vehicle a few inches at slow speeds over rough terrain (like potholed city streets) would be a great feature.
I want the system Audi has demonstrated, radar maps the roads contours and the suspension is actively managed to absorb bumps 100%, imperceptible to the occupant. Then small diameter, narrow, high pressure wheels become less of a compromise. The challenge is doing this efficiently.
Active air suspension would require an air compressor. More parts and weight. Coil springs now in design seems best for a super efficient vehicle.
You might think the additional weight of an air suspension system would be quite a lot, but in reality, due to the reduced weight of the suspension components, and removing the steel spring mass, the added weight is minimal, and it also reduces the unsprung mass at each corner, which would be quite valuable in this vehicle due to having a high unsprung weight to begin with. The added weight could be less than 5lbs, depending on compressor and tank size, both of which could be very small for a vehicle that weighs only 1 ton. The added benefit of lowering the unsprung mass would likely be worth it, as well as added performance, and only needing one type of suspension that could be user adjustable in cockpit, depending on the vehicle needs.
@Rex Good points. I can see a shock/airbag combo that would be lighter than the coil springs. I like the idea of air ride adjustable by driver.
Air compressor and associated stuff is more things to wear out, fail and use up energy. For the "advantages" it offers, I'd rather do without.
Absolutely true, and it would really make the most sense to offer both air, and non-air options, with air being another option package that could be a great revenue generator for Aptera. Most would probably not choose air, but for those that do, they could have a vehicle that could be lower for highway and city driving, and also higher for the times they are off-road.
suspension that harnesses electricity through shock absorbance, and energy can be directed to make artificial body weight distribution around g forces and ride quality enhancement can be switched on too, and active suspension is useful to mizimize crash damage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkqGubp90ZY
https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1092944_audi-unveils-suspension-energy-regeneration-technology https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306261919318677
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT9bY7pCBNg
mclaren 720s has this anti roll suspension that can allow narrower width of teh car, aptera is too wide for many places. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkwL8lBo2e0&feature=emb_title . mclaren has eletronic suspension behavior toggability, aptera can skip that and thus skip much of teh electronics in the system, the valve pressure toggles can be replaced with mechanical connection to steering wheel position by chain and gear action rather than shaft and gears for more flexibility of how the system takes up space.ideas here: https://www.aptera.us/forum/aptera-design-discussion/overall-structure-perportion-alternatives
also maybe allow front wheels to fold forward for lows speed/parking situations, where teh need for narrow car is most relent and there is less need for more balance against g-forces.
also this emerging wheel tech that affects suspension https://hackaday.com/2019/07/25/airless-tire-for-your-car-michelin-says-2024-heres-what-theyre-up-against/
also maybe it pays to have variable diameter tire by having a air suspension based on the hub on teh tire, it pushes the edge of the tire up for larger diameter (more torque) and down for smaller (less energy cost ex. less cost to fill up on gas). this can also be active air suspension (less bumpy ride, can go faster at turns if ur driving fast, can save energy when slowing onto a slower road by transferring more momentum to foward movement around turns instead of losing it as heat and electrical ineffincy at the regenerative braking system or losing it as heat at friction brakes and brake pad erosion) and a form of making energy from movement of suspension (less energy costs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f_ZBIJsyx8
Aptera would certainly be the first vehicle efficient enough to make this energy recovery technology worthwhile to utilize, as the energy recovered could be 4x more useful than in a typical EV. Great link, thank you for sharing!
Complexity = increased cost & maintenance. Any good engineer knows that the best parts are the ones not needed and thus not used. Keep it simple, robust, affordable & easily maintained.
And yet, many engineers I have worked with are in the air suspension business. Of course air suspension adds cost and longevity challenges, and it is the job of suspension engineers to figure out how to make it as robust and cheap as possible, while increasing performance.
How about a low tech solution - a simple mechanical crank mechanism.
Sandy Monroe has said in a recent interview that Aptera will use dynamic air suspension to enhance stability. I’m concerned that the slippery slope of gadgets will make the Aptera unaffordable by the general public. I like free choice, not centralized mandates. Options not force. I understand needs vs wants.