I live in upstate NY - about 2 hours from Albany and 2 hours from NYC. We can have VERY cold days and nights. We also have snow - sometimes lots of snow and ice. I have concerns about heating and its affect on range, proper winter performance and how it preforms in snow storms. Do we know anything about what the winter performance will be like? Are there videos posted on YouTube? I did look but couldn't find anything. As this might very well be my primary car, it does need to meet all of the criteria that a full time, primary vehicle would have to meet.
The Aptera Forum
Excellent point...What are the HVAC energy requirements and performance targets and how would it address deep snow...the wheel coverings? Would they fall victim? Would they have to be replaced with a winter version when the tires get switched to snows?
Would you drive a motor cycle or a trike in the snow and cold weather? Although you maybe able to do something, sometimes it's better not too. They can call this a car but I don't expect it to do everything a car can. I use to live in NH and there were many times I couldn't even use a car. I would not expect this trike to be better. Maybe you put skis on the front and real wheel drive with a studded tire?
excxellant points but it's not a jeep and it doesn't pretend to be one
I didn't mean to imply that I wanted to go overlanding - although they do have an off road package. The primary concern for me and I suspect other people who would be willing to try this vehicle - which is priced quite well - is can it be my only car. Many people can only afford one car. One that can theoretically might meet most of your regular commuting / daily run needs without plug-in charging, is quite compelling.
There's a good snow discussion elsewhere on this same forum (click here).
As for range, the smallest Aptera battery would still go about 125 miles in -15F.
That "HALF of EPA spec" cold range is a real-world estimate is based on my own EV's 87 mile spec, & a video by a guy trying to show how bad it was in the cold, going 70mph in -15F with 70F cabin heat, recirculate off, & arriving at his 45-mile destination with an anxiety-free buffer.
It helps a LOT if you pre-warm the battery by charging, which is pretty easy with the onboard timer or your phone app. Same goes for pre-conditioning the cabin while on charge, which is nice just for comfort anyway.
Aptera says they regret the 1st-gen may have the same inefficient type of cabin heater as mine, which takes about 1kW to keep the cabin warm when it's around freezing out, after about 5 minutes to warm it up with 6kW (0.5kWh, or 0.2% of the smallest Aptera battery)
Also, remember that air-density (and drag) rises in cold weather. And you're more likely to encounter wet roads and debris (snow or gravel) which raises rolling resistance. It's not just cold batteries being less responsive and cabins needing heating.
The Aptera should be a champ in the cold, honestly.
Right. Air density was of course included in the -15F vid's half-range test, but the roads were pretty clear, so maybe choose one of Aptera's 3 higher ranges, for unploughed roadtrips.
I think the question is less ice handling and more how it deals with snow/slush. I mainly drive a small hatch (Pontiac Vibe) and in snow/slush handling changes especially compared to a large SUV. This may be different from New York but living in Northern Wisconsin and Western Michigan for much of my life you have to be able to travel when it snows. Light dustings are one thing but larger accumulation and major snows are another. I still can make it to work on main roads but lane changes or hitting the snow/slush if you lose the track of previous tires will jostle you around. Same thing happens if you change lanes even with a few inches of snow on the highway.
How will the Aptera handle this due to the light weight? Will there be enough clearance/traction for fresh snows of on unplowed roads? Will the 3rd wheel be problematic on partially traveled roads where inches of snow/slush can remain between the tire tracks formed by other vehicles using the roads prior to plowing? This leaves the back wheel constantly traveling in the multiple inches of snow/slush unlike a standard 4 wheeled auto. Will the front wheels pull the Aptera forward effectively in these conditions or will the snow/slush interaction with the back wheel cause fishtailing?
As mentioned by others above, I'm not sure a 3 wheeler is a single vehicle option for those living in snowy parts of the country unless you can be selective with when you travel to avoid unplowed roads.
I drive a Mirage currently, and it only weighs about 900 kg, so not far off from what the Aptera weighs (around 800 kg), I doubt the 100 kg difference would make much of a difference in the Aptera.
The Mirage is also a pretty narrow car (with skinny wheels), so it usually doesn't travel in other car's tracks most of the time... it seems to handles fine in slush, as long as you have Winter Tires on and drive for the conditions (it has EBD, ABS and Traction Control as well).
I'm guessing having winter tires on the Aptera would hit the range a bit, just like it does on all cars (and EVs).
Highway speeds with slush would be tricky... but I'm guessing that's probably true for most vehicles.
You've raised a good point that I haven't noticed before* (on the older winter thread) about the center rear wheel. Having driven in a lot of different snow conditions in the Pacific Northwest, if I had to bet one way or the other, I'd put my money on it being better, as opposed to worse. In a 4-wheel car all 4 wheels are often constantly hitting the edges of the other car's tracks. The center wheel could eliminate that effect on the rear. Unfortunately we'll likely have to await a review from a helpful northerner who already has one on order for next winter.
The rest of your issues about clearance & weight & the like are being covered elsewhere on this same forum (click here).
*EDIT: I stand corrected. This same topic had just been brought up on the original winter thread linked above. I missed it due to no email alert.