I think a great idea for Aptera would be a winter weather package. This could include a heated steering wheel, heated seats and windshield and if possible a heat pump. Heat pumps are more efficient. I’d be willing to pay more since I live in the Midwest. People in the south and southwest could skip this option.
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Yes, Skipped here🥵
Given the energy costs for heating, even up north I'd not bother; I just get a cover for the steering wheel or wear gloves. A nice clever cover made from something fuzzy and warm would be more green.
Heated seats sure are nice... maybe better than heating the cabin? I'm used to not even using the heater already but the seats I use for a few minutes.
One would think the air conditioner could be run both ways...
Never had to worry about heat "down here" but... are there good heated driving gloves" out there?
@Len not that I know of - I've only noticed big heated snow mobile gloves. I think up here most people would feel like wimps using normal gloves with heaters in them.
The only real problem in cars is fog and frost on the windshield.
Heated seats are said to be more efficient in the Volt than heating the cabin. I can't verify as mine doesn't have them.
I would recommend Aptera to make a decent winter package. I believe if you make the Aptera to Spartan it will not speak to a brought enough audience. The whole concept is already efficient enough. Heated seats, steering wheel and front windscreen will not make a big dent in energy use but will provide great comfort.
Heated seats and steering wheel save me a ton of range. I almost never have to run cabin heat or wear gloves. Directly heating the windshield would be another energy saver over using heated air, although doing that without heater element lines would be the challenge.
The first Toyota RAV4 EVs had a heated front windshield without any heating element lines. Most of the windshield was electrified. I don't know what technology was used, but this was in the late 1980s.
Putting my vote in for a cold weather package, including heated seats and front & back glass. Don't need a heated steering wheel.