I was thinking about this and wondered if the aptera could use an automatic carwash. Specifically would the back wheel roll through or would it get stuck.
It will definitely want more frequent washes. Without a concealed-from-view undercarriage like a regular car, all that road dirt will surely show.
That actually has me thinking I might want a custom wrap after all; one that will be colorful on top, but dark and drab on the bottom to make the inevitable dirt accumulation less conspicuous between washings.
Three wheel cars are definitely not designed for most automatic car washes. I guess if you can find one with a smooth slab floor it could work but honestly most car wash machines miss spots on regular shaped cars.
Interesting... yeah, I guess it would depend on the mechanics of the specific car wash. I don't think I would be brave enough to take an Aptera to an automated carwash -- some of them have the wheel-catcher devices, and some use the cloth strips to slap the car's body -- and being a first-gen car, I wouldn't trust that all the parts and pieces are as protected as perhaps they should be. Keep in mind there's that separation between the body and the front wheels, too -- could things get stuck in the frame parts between body and wheels? I would plan on manual washing or at best the high-pressure car wash wands you control manually.
I think we will be washing it by hand!
You never put any half decent car through an automatic car wash!
It will definitely want more frequent washes. Without a concealed-from-view undercarriage like a regular car, all that road dirt will surely show.
That actually has me thinking I might want a custom wrap after all; one that will be colorful on top, but dark and drab on the bottom to make the inevitable dirt accumulation less conspicuous between washings.
Three wheel cars are definitely not designed for most automatic car washes. I guess if you can find one with a smooth slab floor it could work but honestly most car wash machines miss spots on regular shaped cars.
@nfuhriman Perhaps only the "touchless" type in which the vehicle remains stationary...
Yes, I agree, also the brushes could be hard on the solar cells...
@Robert Garry They're embedded in and covered with the same resin used for the rest of the body - they aren't exposed.
Interesting... yeah, I guess it would depend on the mechanics of the specific car wash. I don't think I would be brave enough to take an Aptera to an automated carwash -- some of them have the wheel-catcher devices, and some use the cloth strips to slap the car's body -- and being a first-gen car, I wouldn't trust that all the parts and pieces are as protected as perhaps they should be. Keep in mind there's that separation between the body and the front wheels, too -- could things get stuck in the frame parts between body and wheels? I would plan on manual washing or at best the high-pressure car wash wands you control manually.
With the savings from not having bought a Tesla, one can pay the most skilled manual car-washer to frequently personally wash your Aptera. 😆