I believe if the original Aptera group had stayed faithful to their original concept. That is, creating an everyday hybrid commuter vehicle that could be registered as a motorcycle, thus saving money on insurance, registration and regulation. Instead they shifted to trying to make it an everything to everyone vehicle and ran into every hurdle that could appear. The motorcycle concept was sound,the price point was sound . But they priced themselves out of the market by trying to turn it into a car. Had they manufactured the original concept and marketed it, I believe they would have been successful. If you try to turn it into a car at a price point of $35000 and up you will be in direct competition with Tesla. They have a proven product that is already deep into the market. It all started out with a 2 place sports car. A 2 place motorcycle with climate control, room to carry a surfboard or lots of groceries and no stops at the gas station, together with a sane price point, would be awesome. Keep it simple, affordable and by all means make it. It worked for Henry Ford.
The Aptera Forum
Have you checked the pricing of electric motorcycles?
Yep, $4000, to around $25000. Still you can't get much more than 100 miles range, and would be hard pressed to carry a surfboard ,golf clubs, 10 bags of groceries. No heater or a/c. AND you still get very wet riding in the rain.
The H-D Livewire has a 90 mile range and is going for $30K. "Affordable" is a relative term...
The original idea was to focus on the two fundamentals, aerodynamics and light weighting, when developing an auto platform. This was achieved. It was management by later Detroit exes that bankrupted the company. Today, the focus is still on efficiency, adding solar and new tech. Blame higher cost on govt. caused inflation/regulation. Why chose CA?
The two questions I have are; how practical is the "never charge" feature, and how much are people willing to pay for it.
That would vary with how much the customer needs/wants a solar only option. Imagine possibilities: 1. Off grid living with little money. 2. City living but no money for PV. You want the option in case of a black out. 3. You go camping in the wild. 4. Direct (solar) charge as a first step toward energy independence. No tax. No way to be regulated.
How much do you value your independence? What would you do/pay to be free from the violence, threats, fraud, of all govt.?
I don't see what point 4.) has to do with the design, manufacture or sales of an electric commuter vehicle. As far a practicality goes... there are rainy weeks without much sun, and all vehicles eventually need repairs, so...independence?
At any rate it seems there would be an advantage to bring a real vehicle to market sooner than later. Marketing as a motorcycle could allow for less legal hurdles and a lower starting price point. I believe a lot of the aerodynamic and weight work was already done, so no reinventing the wheel here. Make the power plant happen and get it to market. We have all talked about this vehicle for too many years. Enough with the "Popular Science" pie in the sky already.
Point 4 is irrelevant to sales appeal? It's my #1 reason for buying an Aptera, PV panels, Power Wall. Obviously we have very different politics, worldview.
The Aptera builders over a decade ago were first "to bring a real vehicle" forth, entering it in the X Prize completion (They were robbed) which really took the fundamentals serious. I assumed they got inspired by the paper RMI wrote, which I bought ($200+) just because I was convinced this would be the first paradigm shift in autos since the invention.
Aptera is at the point of starting to assemble testing prototypes: It's way too early to become impatient with the development process. Everything we've heard about the vehicle is based on computer models so let's let them get them up on their feet - and then let Sandy Munro tear one apart - and THEN let's get impatient for production to start! As to the "power plant" - do you mean the motors? There are images posted on their Facebook page showing the Elaphe motors arriving on a shipping pallet from Slovenia. Aptera also recently posted an image of the first body panel fitted with solar cells.
I have a bone to pick with the never charge feature.
Requires car to be parked outside (UV damage)
Obstruction from trees, buildings will impact charging significantly
Periods of prolonged bad weather
Fabrication cost of solar panels integrated on a car >>> cost on a roof /kw $.
Cell selection will be more exotic to provide the power required $.
Due to variability of surface lighting they will need sophisticated MPPTs $.
Panels will need a conforming clear coating that protects against physical damage like hail, scratches and won't yellow with UV $.
Panels will have reduced heat dissipation and thus efficiency.
Its hard to make panels on a car attractive.
Charging port cannot be eliminated
I would like to see the economics broken down. A yard stick might be existing solar racing cars.