I read about some folks concern, in a city environment, that when parked the front wheels may be vulnerable to a strike by a passing or adjacent parking vehicle... Maybe these “half-baked ideas” could lead to solutions ... “if this is an issue at all”....
When parked place a simple ( day or night reflective) traffic cone on the ground adjacent to the vehicle, behind the wheels(s) near the tail
Any collapsible type cone would be compact and light and easier to store
If you need to go with with something electric ( battery powered) outdoor device there are numerous battery powered solar charged and USB plug in lights, strobes and audible gizmos
I personal would not want to annoy people with annoying stuff
I wouldn’t want to have anything on the vehicle permanently that would impact its beautiful aerodynamic finish.
The amazing look of an Aptera will make people ”take note”!
Reflective surface area/s not visible in daylight.
That is why “traffic cones”are bright colored and used “ to alert“ in road side construction, accidents situations etc..
I think for quite awhile it will be safe because the Aptera will be surrounded by people checking it out. 😁
I would like to see a feature where the drl's could be used as parking lights. So the wheel pants will be visible in the dark. Or I would put glow in the dark wrap on the pants so they will be visible without a lightsource.
I think I'd want a removable visual alert that extends up to SUV/truck eye height, that's also large enough to be detectable by its proximity sensors. Maybe something like the pic below, with the base cut off & replaced by some sort of pin to go in a socket on the top of the wheel covers.
Thanks for bringing this up, Len.
There is a paint that when a small voltage is applied to it it glows in dark comes in multiple colors . might this solve problem?
I think the main problem is the wheels protrude well past the body that all drivers are used to coming close to, and those wheels being so low as to be out of sight to an SUV/truck pulling in to park by you, maybe worst on your left. Lighting up anything that low probably won't help much since it's still out of sight. You also need something that shows well in daylight.
I suggested “ to Aptera” a bright colored clip on warning bar (
I personally would not have bulky stuff rattle aroundin my cargo area. So is not collapsible/small I would be reluctant to use. Hopefully not too much of a big deal looking at the overall shape???
My tall cylindrical idea could be made to telescope down to the size of a tall soda can & fit in a cup holder or other small space (under seat?).
The "clip on warning bar" could be built in, retracting in/out of the tail, maybe a thin rod with a flag, like a bike flag but horizontal.
Possible combination of those ideas: Bike-style flag, telescoping up from the wheel covers like a retractable antenna. Twist to wrap/unwrap the flag to fit into it's storage tube.
It must be an issue with other trikes, so there might already be a better solution out there.
Maybe simply backing into parking-lot spots would help.
Not sure if placing cones around your car every time you park is something people are going to want to do. Cones might get stollen etc. I do think there is a chance of a front wheel getting clipped by passing buses and trucks. I really hope this doesn't become an actual major problem. We have to see what comes from real world testing.
I fear we may be worrying unnecessarily: The front wheel pants don't extend beyond the body like airplane wings - they are well within the footprint of many 4-wheeled vehicles. When measurements include side mirrors, Aptera is more narrow than most pick-up trucks and many SUVs - the two most popular vehicle types on US roads!
@Len A Ford F-150 is 96.8" from side mirror to side mirror...
I think getting the car painted a neon blue or neon green will help. Just get the wheels wrapped with you favorite visible alert color. You can even just wrap to outside surface and not have to get distracted by it from inside the cab. But really I think you are over thinking the issue. They aren't invisible or made of glass.
They do look a little vulnerable sticking out and being low. Hopefully it's not an issue. Maybe Aptera could build into the fender some kind of pop up flag?
@Gordon Niessen ...although invisible glass wheels would be REALLY SWEET! 😃
For the vast majority of us who don't need anywhere near Aptera's minimum 250 miles of range, these slightly-higher-drag* "hot-rod" fenders would be cheaper to replace if damaged, but also less damage-prone in the first place:
* "Much" higher when compared to just the fully-faired wheels, but not so much higher overall vehicle drag.
The Aptera is 88 inches wide. The Ford F150 is 79 inches wide.
@caseymccarty A Ford F150's BODY is 79 inches wide: With standard side mirrors, though, it's 96.8" wide - wider if you have towing mirrors...
@Kerbe #12705 I've lost a mirror or two too, Gosh Darn it. A wheel assembly not so many. I was just really surprised as it doesn't, at first glances, appear to be so wide. I'm especially concerned about scenarios in the dark.
The up side is that the cabin must be almost as wide as a F150. If I weren't 76 I might be able to think of one or two things that cargo area could be used for besides cargo.
Let's face it; The most striking design to come alone since the EV1 or Baker Electric for that matter.
wheel covers should be flexible plastic so they tend to bend rather than break when hit by cars but are only stiff enough to resist bending to wind resistance so it fulfills it aerodynamic purpose
I'm pretty sure Aptera said they are flexible plastic, but that may not help against curbs when parallel parking, or even when touching that curb if a truck driver doesn't see it: