Aptera for Some “Wingless Flight”
The Aptera Typ-1 looks like it’s about to be airborne for good reason.
The electric vehicle’s engineers worked hard to make it one of the lightest and most aerodynamic cars ever built. Not surprising, “Aptera” in Greek means “wingless flight.”
“…At highway speeds, 60 percent of the [car’s] energy goes to push air out of the way,” Aptera CEO Steve Fambro told Wired magazine.
Fambro brought on board designer Jason Hill of Eleven, LLC, who previously designed the Smart Fortwo and Porsche Carrera GT.
What the team came up with turns heads at nearly every street corner.
The Typ-1 has three wheels. The small 50-kilowatt electric motor powers the single rear wheel, while the two front wheels steer. It can go 0 to 60 in about 10 seconds, with a top speed of 85 mph.
The Carlsbad, Calif. company hasn’t yet announced what kinds of batteries will be used, but lithium-ion are likely. The electric version will have a 120-mile range, which should be ample for commuting.
The car has room for two adults and an infant or toddler and weighs just 1,500 pounds. The molded body panels can be put together by three people.
Automotive X Prize
Aptera has applied to participate in the Automotive X Prize, which has a $10 million purse. The winning vehicle must get at least 100 mpg and have greenhouse gas emissions of less than 200 grams per mile.
The X Prize’s emissions standard for electric vehicles is actually more rigorous because it’s based on the average emissions from coal-heavy power plants that supply the electricity grid. Electric cars must get 133 mpg to pass.
Aptera company tests at the Arizona Proving Grounds were very encouraging, though. The Typ-1 got an amazing 340 mpg and emitted just 78 grams of greenhouse gases per mile, clearly beating the competition cut-offs.
Still, some auto enthusiasts see inherent public relations problems for Aptera.
"The market for three-wheel vehicles has been slim to none, and I don't see that changing in a significant way anytime soon," Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal, said in USA Today.
Many three-wheeled cars, like the Aptera, are legally classified as motorcycles, which have less stringent safety requirements.
But Aptera has committed itself to meet or exceed all specifications for passenger cars.
The company is also quick to point out that the vehicle is pretty roomy. The rear can fit 15 grocery bags, two golf club bags or two seven-foot surf boards.
(Plus, since it’s considered a motorcycle, the Aptera can travel in the carpool lane in California with just the driver.)
The Hybrid
The Typ-1 electric will have a cousin with up to five times the range.
The plug-in hybrid has an efficient gasoline generator (recharging the battery) that allows for a 600-mile range. The first 40-60 miles are all electric, and tests have shown that it too can get more than 300 miles per gallon for the first 100 miles of driving.
Both versions have solar cells on the roof, which power fans when the vehicle is parked. The fans maintain a constant temperature inside the car.
For now, the Aptera will only be available in the color white--to keep the car cooler in summer and easier to see at night.
Another energy efficient feature are the exterior and interior LED lights.
The car can be charged in two to four hours using a 110-volt outlet. The company estimates charging will cost less than $2.
The all-electric Typ-1 will be for sale in November for $26,900. The hybrid should be available in late 2009 for $29,900.
Already nearly 1,000 California customers have reserved an Aptera on the company’s Web site. Seventy percent of these orders have been for the hybrid, according to CEO Fambro. Reservations require a $500 refundable deposit and are first come, first served.
Aptera will begin selling its vehicles in other parts of the nation when a customer service network is established.
The Automotive X Prize will conclude in 2010 with a 1,000-mile competition on race tracks and in city traffic.
The electric vehicle’s engineers worked hard to make it one of the lightest and most aerodynamic cars ever built. Not surprising, “Aptera” in Greek means “wingless flight.”
“…At highway speeds, 60 percent of the [car’s] energy goes to push air out of the way,” Aptera CEO Steve Fambro told Wired magazine.
Fambro brought on board designer Jason Hill of Eleven, LLC, who previously designed the Smart Fortwo and Porsche Carrera GT.
What the team came up with turns heads at nearly every street corner.
The Typ-1 has three wheels. The small 50-kilowatt electric motor powers the single rear wheel, while the two front wheels steer. It can go 0 to 60 in about 10 seconds, with a top speed of 85 mph.
The Carlsbad, Calif. company hasn’t yet announced what kinds of batteries will be used, but lithium-ion are likely. The electric version will have a 120-mile range, which should be ample for commuting.
The car has room for two adults and an infant or toddler and weighs just 1,500 pounds. The molded body panels can be put together by three people.
Automotive X Prize
Aptera has applied to participate in the Automotive X Prize, which has a $10 million purse. The winning vehicle must get at least 100 mpg and have greenhouse gas emissions of less than 200 grams per mile.
The X Prize’s emissions standard for electric vehicles is actually more rigorous because it’s based on the average emissions from coal-heavy power plants that supply the electricity grid. Electric cars must get 133 mpg to pass.
Aptera company tests at the Arizona Proving Grounds were very encouraging, though. The Typ-1 got an amazing 340 mpg and emitted just 78 grams of greenhouse gases per mile, clearly beating the competition cut-offs.
Still, some auto enthusiasts see inherent public relations problems for Aptera.
"The market for three-wheel vehicles has been slim to none, and I don't see that changing in a significant way anytime soon," Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal, said in USA Today.
Many three-wheeled cars, like the Aptera, are legally classified as motorcycles, which have less stringent safety requirements.
But Aptera has committed itself to meet or exceed all specifications for passenger cars.
The company is also quick to point out that the vehicle is pretty roomy. The rear can fit 15 grocery bags, two golf club bags or two seven-foot surf boards.
(Plus, since it’s considered a motorcycle, the Aptera can travel in the carpool lane in California with just the driver.)
The Hybrid
The Typ-1 electric will have a cousin with up to five times the range.
The plug-in hybrid has an efficient gasoline generator (recharging the battery) that allows for a 600-mile range. The first 40-60 miles are all electric, and tests have shown that it too can get more than 300 miles per gallon for the first 100 miles of driving.
Both versions have solar cells on the roof, which power fans when the vehicle is parked. The fans maintain a constant temperature inside the car.
For now, the Aptera will only be available in the color white--to keep the car cooler in summer and easier to see at night.
Another energy efficient feature are the exterior and interior LED lights.
The car can be charged in two to four hours using a 110-volt outlet. The company estimates charging will cost less than $2.
The all-electric Typ-1 will be for sale in November for $26,900. The hybrid should be available in late 2009 for $29,900.
Already nearly 1,000 California customers have reserved an Aptera on the company’s Web site. Seventy percent of these orders have been for the hybrid, according to CEO Fambro. Reservations require a $500 refundable deposit and are first come, first served.
Aptera will begin selling its vehicles in other parts of the nation when a customer service network is established.
The Automotive X Prize will conclude in 2010 with a 1,000-mile competition on race tracks and in city traffic.
Comment
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Comment by David A. Kates on December 25, 2008 at 4:53pm
- I understand your angst. They still say that the EV will be available in 2009 and the plug-in hybrid in 2010. But with the state of the global economy, I wouldn't count on seeing it in Spain anytime soon.
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Comment by Tony Elliott on December 24, 2008 at 6:46am -
As can be seen, I am a senior citizen, living in Spain, with an itch I cannot scratch!!
If the Aptera is restricted to California citizens only, until a national network is formed, how long before Europe gets a bite of the cherry??
I can only hope that one day I could realize a dream, if I keep taking the pillls!!
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Comment by Jerome T. Hohn on September 9, 2008 at 8:59pm - I forgot the "for."
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Comment by Jerome T. Hohn on September 9, 2008 at 8:58pm
- Sell it $10,000 and I'll buy three; otherwise, forget it!
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- Thanks Eric. I contacted CEO Steve Fambro. He said they now have 996 California customers. 70 percent of these orders have been for the hybrid. Aptera returned about 355 deposits from customers outside California. (The company wants to perfect its customer service in California before expanding.) So the total number of reservations is around 1,350. I can't wait to see them on the road in Los Angeles!
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Comment by Eric Boyd on March 10, 2008 at 2:37pm -
Great interviews. Aptera has a lot more than 400 reservations now though - last time I heard, it was 830! They don't announce this, but every so often someone will blog about their recent reservation, and give their number :-)
For more information, check out my page on the Aptera: X Prize Cars: Aptera Typ-1h
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Comment by AlternativeEnergy.com on March 10, 2008 at 12:34pm
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