Aptera team - excellent video. Great job! One BIG question: at 2:55 mark of the video, you can see the charging receptacle/port as well as the plug. And these are undoubtedly same receptacle/plugs in a Tesla. If you are using them, you'd be the first OEM to use them besides Tesla. Was this a prototype hardware only? Or are you actually planning on using Tesla's supercharger network??? I'm really curious.
Hah hoe! We can't talk about that.
There's also the possibility that they've selected the Tesla port because of its compact size - about half that of a CCS port. I noted that, after deflecting the question (as quoted by Daniel, above) Steve also said that there would be "adaptors" for J1772 and CCS. At present, there's no way to interface a Tesla connector with CCS as the two systems are incompatible: Tesla offers adaptors for J1772 and ChaDeMo, though. Perhaps we'll learn more during Wednesday's tech briefing...
What Wednesday tech briefing? Where and when?
Andris Vaskis
@Andris I've heard it mentioned twice - for 9AM PST - but I don't know if it will be by invitation only. If that's the case, I haven't received an invitation but hope I will!
Sounded to me that QA will be public
Thanks
Tom also picked up on this! https://insideevs.com/news/458607/aptera-using-tesla-charging-technology/
For Europe Aptera should go to CCS anyway just like Tesla did. Other standards are not surviving in Europe.
Matthijs, thanks for the link.
I've known Tom Moloughney (please don't call me Mo-Lo-Nee; it's Mo-Lo-Guh-Nee) since our MINI E "pioneer" days in 2009. He became the East Coast de facto MINI E spokesperson due to his proximity to BMW NA and MINI USA HQ in Woodcliff Lake, NJ. He sure took full advantage of BMW's generosity to his benefit over the years.
It's interesting to note that Tom referenced the identical 2:55 mark - and he posted his article a day later than my post. Coincidence??? I wouldn't put it past Tom to take a shortcut: "cough, cough".
Also... Aren't the controllers on the steering wheel rather similar to those on the Model 3/Model Y?
I thought that too when I saw it. Whole wheel looks substantially similar to a Model 3 one.
I do like the regen paddles on my Bolt. Work well. Intuitive.
I sure hope it will have the Tesla Plug to get my Tesla home charger to fit into it, no conversion needed between them. Why not? I see a Chevy Bolt at the Tesla Linq charger plugged in there in the back destination chargers. The lady gets free electricity while she is at work and uses a conversion plug with a small look to prevent others to unplug her. Point being, other cars can plug in at destination chargers with 8kw chargers or my Tesla Home charger with a 240V Nema 14-50 outlet.
@VegasTeslaRides unless Aptera has a contract with Tesla to use the Superchargers it could be problematic: People don't always pay attention or understand - so I can see Aptera drivers pulling up to Superchargers and wondering why they won't work. Yes it would be great for using Tesla Destination units without needing an adaptor but it would require an adaptor to use Level 2 J1772 EVSE. It could also make problems for charging at CCS DC chargers as Tesla connector pins and CCS connector pins are not compatible and there is not - at present - any sort of adaptor to handle the different communication protocols between DC charger and vehicle.
Personally, I have a J1772 EVSE on my garage wall - so I'd need to use an adaptor to charge an Aptera that has a Tesla port.
But we'll just have to wait and see until Aptera provides more information - maybe at Wednesday's tech briefing!
I see a Tesla center screen, Tesla connectors, I hear about 'lane keeping' and the self-driving tech plus, I suspect that half of us bought Tesla's when we couldn't get an Aptera. I think that in 2020 we expect a lot from our EVs beyond, stop-go-charge and I imagine that a strategic partnership with Tesla to use their tried and tested car-in-a-module tech, would create a solution that was all upside.
Some of us stuck around with GM EVs when the Volt development team did a full court press on MINI E "Pioneers" (BMW/MINI's terminology, not mine) for focus group and market research. I've dealt with Elon and SpaceX too much as a supplier, and stay away from him and his products.
@edju25 I've heard similar stories but as an end user, the results aren't bad. Yes, I was a Pioneer, Electranout, even had i3 #2 in the US but I have to say that getting back to Tesla in the Model 3 was like, 'ah, I'm home again'. (And not just because the passenger door was misaligned!)
I own a Tesla Model 3 now and I am really excited about my Aptera reservation. I'm hoping that you are able to use the Tesla Supercharging network, sounds like this may be in the negotiation stages.
@David Card it's believed that the current plan is for the DC charging speed to be 50 kW - I'm not certain that there are any Superchargers that can work that slowly...
All of the Tesla chargers can charge that slowly as is obvious as the charge takers off to as little as 10kw when it nears the full charge state.
Looking at the interior, steering wheel and screen, I think they just assembled Model 3 parts to create the prototype. No way they can use Tesla plug without partnership. And it will be also not convenient for customers. So far, in the US, Tesla can't DC fast charge outside the Supercharger network. No adaptors so far.
For Europe CCS is the standard even for Tesla.
@devix195 Actually, Tesla can be charged via ChaDeMo - Tesla sells an adaptor...
Of course, I have been a Tesla owner for years. Chademo adaptor is unpractical and Chademo standard is dead.
@devix195 be that as it may but, currently, there are more ChaDeMo charging locations in the US than there are CCS stations. The Leaf is still the second best selling EV (below the Model 3) in the US so, until Nissan changes to CCS, those ChaDeMo chargers are gonna be with us for some time to come.
I agree that CHAdeMO is not the future, but all the charge stations in the US are being built with them in it. So for those of us in the US having it gives us many more places to charge. AND if you ever drag your car over to Europe, it is the ONLY standard you can use that will allow DCFC over there. So I am pretty happy with mine.
Personally I predict that the Tesla plug will continue to be the standard in NA. With Biden talking about putting in a ton of new charger infrastructure, if they don't include Tesla plugs it will be seen as an attack on the most popular electric car so they will likely include those plugs.