My idea was to leave the L7e class by the 4 wheels and to change into the normal car class, but not to damage the design too much by the double wheels in the back.
Considering that we have almost no range anxiety in Europe -- like in the USA -- I think that a 25kWh version would be popular here. I myself would even settle for a 15kWh version.
Weight and range would be quite sufficient for most Europeans.
No range Anxiety in Europe ? It all depends where you leave in Europe. Here In France we do have a range anxiety. I ordered a 60 kWh Aptera (965 km) so I will not be dependent upon the chargers. One trip with no charging so no range anxiery at all ! A 40 kWh battery ( 640 km) would be enough too because you can charge while you pause (biological needs eating, peing and resting). But charging is getting more and more expensive in France and I prefer to charge independently home from my solar pannels, it will be way cheaper.
I wrote ALMOST no range anxiety. Some 90% of all cars here are driven very short trips on a daily basis.
In Sweden for instance (a rather lengthy country) the average driving distance per year is 15 000km. That means that half of all cars here drives less than 300km per week. For longer distances we usually take the bus, tram or train..
And there the journey ends at the Kraftfahrt Bundesamt (Federal Motor Transport Authority), the Approval Authority and the Technischer Überwachung Verein (Technical Inspection Association).
Lots of great points being made (12kWh beats 2020 eGolf's 123mi, more than triple the US average 40mi daily drive), but:
I still want a narrow/short version! Many of my local streets are "Euro-width", with barely space for my narrow car to pass with a wide one coming the other way. Also long parking spots are rare. It doesn't help efficiency to have to drive around 10 blocks just to find a big enough space.
@Adimchi Onyenadum From reading all this I agree, but that worries me. I really think to be successful, they will need a worldwide market. Depite the successful U.S. pre-orders, I still don't think the majority of buyers in the U.S would consider the Aptera. Still not in an Electric mindset!!
An European version would be possible by the following modifications. No modification of the baisis body, no modification of the wheels with the integrated electric drive:
A. Offset of the axle by 2 cm / 0.78 in
B. Shortening of the wheel cover each side so that just the wheel is covered
C. Shortening of the axle legs by 2 cm / 0.78 in each side
I have no idea about engineering. I belong to a completely different field. Please can you explain the effects your proposed modifications may have on the vehicle's drag and its aerodynamic behaviour generally. Remember that is the big bet of the whole Aptera project.
Those "axle legs" are actually critical-length suspension links, requiring a big redesign, so probably easier to make a slightly narrower central frame, or possibly just slightly inboard mounting points.
My idea was to leave the L7e class by the 4 wheels and to change into the normal car class, but not to damage the design too much by the double wheels in the back.
Maybe it is possible to shorten the nose and tail?🤔
https://www.electricbee.co/tesla-opens-first-supercharger-to-the-public/
Why should a 4-wheeled Aptera not be longer than 4 m
Considering that we have almost no range anxiety in Europe -- like in the USA -- I think that a 25kWh version would be popular here. I myself would even settle for a 15kWh version.
Weight and range would be quite sufficient for most Europeans.
No range Anxiety in Europe ? It all depends where you leave in Europe. Here In France we do have a range anxiety. I ordered a 60 kWh Aptera (965 km) so I will not be dependent upon the chargers. One trip with no charging so no range anxiery at all ! A 40 kWh battery ( 640 km) would be enough too because you can charge while you pause (biological needs eating, peing and resting). But charging is getting more and more expensive in France and I prefer to charge independently home from my solar pannels, it will be way cheaper.
I wrote ALMOST no range anxiety. Some 90% of all cars here are driven very short trips on a daily basis.
In Sweden for instance (a rather lengthy country) the average driving distance per year is 15 000km. That means that half of all cars here drives less than 300km per week. For longer distances we usually take the bus, tram or train..
YMMV of course...
It depends how you use this autocycle.
If you drive to work p.e. 15 mile everyday and avoid social contacts in public transportation 25 kWh is enough.
But maybe you are retired and like to travel around you should have a larger battery.
But, neighbors, more important is to get one approved in Europe, SOON!
Maybe it can get approved in the UK, looking to lead the world into green pastures and find a brexit back door to the EU via Ireland;)
And there the journey ends at the Kraftfahrt Bundesamt (Federal Motor Transport Authority), the Approval Authority and the Technischer Überwachung Verein (Technical Inspection Association).
what do you mean by "ends" ? What did they tell you ?
Lots of great points being made (12kWh beats 2020 eGolf's 123mi, more than triple the US average 40mi daily drive), but:
I still want a narrow/short version! Many of my local streets are "Euro-width", with barely space for my narrow car to pass with a wide one coming the other way. Also long parking spots are rare. It doesn't help efficiency to have to drive around 10 blocks just to find a big enough space.
I'm afraid we'll have to wait a few more weeks.
But Aptera will find a solution!
Hopefully. But something tells me that Europe is not their priority now.
@Adimchi Onyenadum We are discussing the bacon, but the egg is not yet laid. 😁
@Adimchi Onyenadum From reading all this I agree, but that worries me. I really think to be successful, they will need a worldwide market. Depite the successful U.S. pre-orders, I still don't think the majority of buyers in the U.S would consider the Aptera. Still not in an Electric mindset!!
Well if this is allowed in Europe and is even wider (230cm) than an Aptera should also be possible.
Type approval issued by Kraftfahrt Bundesamt class M1, N1 etc.
https://www.kba.de/DE/Typgenehmigung/Typgenehmigungen/Typgenehmigungserteilung/Liste_Typgenehmigungen/liste_typgenehmigungen_pdf.pdf;jsessionid=AB5D0C8F861140792B181FFF9BCBB67A.live11292?__blob=publicationFile&v=12
https://www.kba.de/DE/Typgenehmigung/Typgenehmigungen/Typgenehmigungserteilung/Spezielle_Genehmigungen/Auslaufende_Serien/aag_Formular_rtf.rtf?__blob=publicationFile&v=18
The only way we can get our hands on a US-Aptera. We buy a used
small plow that we put in the garage. At the KBA we apply for a type approval M1 as an agricultural vehicle with plow.
During a traffic control we are just on the way to the field. 😁
Truly hilarious! With such innovated and motivated people here, I have revived my hopes of acquiring my Aptera at least in 2022😁
Another possibility is a US version reduced by a factor of 1.125, then we have a Euro version.
Europeans seem to be a little thinner, it is an option.
Although, I would like to go for the original.
Can't you reduce the distance between the front wheels and build a steerable rear wheel like the Unitrak UD12?
An European version would be possible by the following modifications. No modification of the baisis body, no modification of the wheels with the integrated electric drive:
A. Offset of the axle by 2 cm / 0.78 in
B. Shortening of the wheel cover each side so that just the wheel is covered
C. Shortening of the axle legs by 2 cm / 0.78 in each side
I have no idea about engineering. I belong to a completely different field. Please can you explain the effects your proposed modifications may have on the vehicle's drag and its aerodynamic behaviour generally. Remember that is the big bet of the whole Aptera project.
Those "axle legs" are actually critical-length suspension links, requiring a big redesign, so probably easier to make a slightly narrower central frame, or possibly just slightly inboard mounting points.