I'm just wondering if the new version of the car is structurally different between the different battery options? Specifically if I was to buy the short range option now (which would, range wise at least, cover all my driving needs) would I be able to purchase additional battery modules in the future to increase the car's range? I love the idea of solo offroad camping trips in the car, but can't justify the additional cost right now for 1% of my driving. One of the things that interests me about this car is the company's support for right to repair, and this kind of thing seems to line up with that.
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Chris has said that this hasn't been fully decided yet, but the desire to make the battery pack a structural member works against it. I would guess this is especially true of the 1000 mile range version.
We will have to be patient with this one.
The schematics show a certain battery framework and that has me wondering if that holds the 1000 mile battery as well as the 250 mile battery. It would be a nice feature to be able to add more range later if you feel you need it. Has this been addressed?
My understanding is that this is being considered, but I would guess the exact engineering details haven't been completely decided yet. There are some potentially competing engineering concerns.
I imagine the battery modules form a part of the structure. They might have to reinforce the composite to compensate for the lack of battery in the lower range versions. Or they could have dummy battery structures that bolt in where the battery would go, but that would increase the part count. I'm sure they'll figure it out right
Could the 100 KW version have ~ 2/3's of its battery pack removable, to save weight when not on a long trip? Its a move that would increase efficiency, and perhaps the removed portion could be made plug and play for home use?
take some battery cells off from inside the car after folding seats up, instead of a removable hood built into the underside of teh car
It would be a big engineering challenge to make the battery removable. The connection must be able to carry a couple hundred amps - that's about the same as the power input into the breaker box of a typical house. There are also coolant lines, temperature sensor data, etc. Not to mention the weight of the battery modules.
@carlton_jeff Vehicle to Home (V2H) bidirectional charging capability would eleminate the need to remove the battery packs.
https://www.aptera.us/forum/aptera-design-discussion/vehicle-to-home-v2h
The notion that the 100kWh option is built up to using five, 20kWh packs makes sense based on the shell deleted illustration and capacity options (except for the 25kWh version?). There are a couple of obstacles I can envision to easily swapping packs out though. Biggest issue is that those packs are liable to weigh between 100 and 200 pounds each so manhandling them in and out is a pretty big ask for anyone.
Electrical connectors are liable to be complex and hazardous to handle. Warranty and liability issues follow. On the other hand, seems some battery manufacturer or other was recently taking up having shifted their cell and pack diagnostic data feeds to wireless. That could simplify things a great deal.
Active cooling system integration and isolation could be a further complication though something like the hydraulic quick connectors on my tractor might ease that enough to work.
All just speculation of course.
battery packs can be smaller so people can lift smaller weights every time they lift a battery pack. if such is considerably performance affecting ex. it may add considerable weight, the efficiency improvements in terms of energy costs, driving range and drive handling in decreasing unnecessary weight, increased storage space, and potential increased average lifetime of batteries from less usage, will probably far outweigh weight penalty of driving at relatively unusual times of driving with all the batteries, especially across different users average driving needs.
if battery packs still to heavy for some reason:
rubber pieces can be applied around the battery corner once having disconnected a battery pack from the rest, to prevent damage in case it falls, and such can be built in if its doesn't cause considerable packaging problems. there could be a inflatable cushion to slide the battery pack out the car and drop it onto the air cushion that can be deflated and stored away, so only lifting battery into car would be difficult, not sliding it out.
Isn’t the point of the Million Mile Battery NOT having to replace it?
If you could quickly swap a add on battery module in and out depending on range needs that would optimize efficiency for all the short trips!!
https://www.gore.com/news-events/press-release/GORE-SELECT-membrane-honored-by-toyota
GORE-SELECT Membrane
Toyota says max output is 128kW with fuel cell efficiency of 152km/kg.
Translates to 850km per charge (or 525 miles per charge... )
Weighing in at a 5.592 Kg (or 12.32 lbs)
Not sure what that would mean for our car.)
It's one of the best I've seen other then possibly the lith-ion battery pack I link to somewhere else.
nvm.... the last line of my post just above seems to be for phone batteries.
@Blake K Fool Cells to keep us addicted to the gas station business model.... no thanks!
https://www.aptera.us/forum/main/comment/6031e0f0b65b710017064a5e this combustion system can also act as battery, just a outlet for exhaust at window by putting down window and replacing it with transparent replacement with hole, or replace that window part, etc, no holes for drive shafts like in normal gas drivetrain. includes adaptiblity to "e fuels", combustion fuels that can be made of junk materials, carbon dioxide emissions, possibly allowing zero/less than battery electric and motors lifetime emissions. materials science behind these are still as much of challenge as it is for electric batteries for environmental problems and customer satisfaction, so aptera should be able to adapt to future tech by drivetrain swaps, given such improvement is far more marketable than replacing the whole car even when there is chance to update other parts of car. when other parts of car have potential improvement good enough for teh market, aptera can have a fully next generation vehicle by then, be it a car or public transportation etc.
WHAT are you talking about? Please organize your thoughts.
How is this related to the question of adding battery packs to make a low range vehicle into a high range one?
the combustion battery concept at that link can also fit into aptera if "e fuels" become sucessful, and its also a way to win customers if theres shortages in minerals for electric battery, and it could be just as environmentally friendly. this especially true for trucks, where batteries are too heavy to pay off, maybe boats too, even planes although for planes things would be very different
I saw a link to a 5 y/o post on YT about turbines that referenced 15 y/o articles. Turbines work in planes, but are a bit much when near people, and does NOTHING to help Aptera who are already uber-efficient. The base car only needs 25kWh of battery and the WORLD is going toward batteries.
Suggesting untested and old tech makes me think of the Toyota push for hydrogen cars, and is certainly in the wrong thread if not the wrong site.
its not just turbines. about electric batteries, lucid air seems to have interesting system: https://www.aptera.us/forum/main/comment/60313dd5ac35490017ae3507