300 MPG

[Pat K]

http://www.aptera.com/

[malcolm]

I wonder how it will perform in the snow.  I bet it has total contact patch less than my motorcycle.

[Caleb]

It's only available in California. So I'm guessing snow isn't a consideration.

I love it! Only drawback is that it costs almost $30,000

[Pat K]

It's only available in California. So I'm guessing snow isn't a consideration.

I love it! Only drawback is that it costs almost $30,000

Yes but like every thing if they build a lot of them the price comes down.

[margomaps]

I was prepared to be very skeptical and think that this car sucked.  But, it looks like a lot of thoughtful engineering went into it, and the performance figures look pretty good to me.  A few things still make me very uneasy:

1) Small company trying to offer customer support on something as complex as a vehicle?  Say what you will about car dealership service centers -- at least they exist, and with enough complaining you can usually get the company to capitulate and fix your problem.

2) What kind of warranty will there be for the batteries?  Or for the other parts of the car?

3) Still pretty darn expensive for a fancy motorcycle.

4) Sucks that it will only be available in CA, probably for quite some time.

I almost wonder if the Aptera could be turned from a niche vehicle that's likely to fail, into a much more popular niche vehicle that has a shot at making it big...if Aptera teamed up with a major car manufacturer to make it happen.  Then they could take advantage of the larger company's manufacturing capabilities, finances, dealer network, etc.  Of course the bureaucracy that comes along with a huge company is probably something the founders of Aptera want to avoid at all costs.

[margomaps]

Also, the website claims it would cost "$1-$2" to charge the vehicle overnight.  Somehow that just seems a little off to me.

[malcolm]

Also, the website claims it would cost "$1-$2" to charge the vehicle overnight.  Somehow that just seems a little off to me.

A 10-kilowatt-hour charge would cost about 75 cents at my current power rate.  I suppose things are more expensive in California.

[dalebert]

I've been wondering when single-passenger enclosed vehicles would be an option. It makes sense to me since most people are commuting all the time by themselves. They make up most passengers on the road. It seems like it would make more sense for most of us to own a vehicle like this, if not this particular one, and just rent multi-passenger vehicles for occasions when we need to carpool, maybe even expanding options like the zip cars.

[John Edward Mercier]

The BRP Spyder (though not an enclosed format) follows the same principle. Its currently sold out and the manufacturing line will need to be expanded. Its contact patch is equal to three wheels of an auto... can even run studded snows.
I would suspect if a motorcycle manufacturer could be talked into the  concept it would go.

[KBCraig]

I wonder how it will perform in the snow.  I bet it has total contact patch less than my motorcycle.

The rear rubber is a standard automotive tire, so I doubt it.

[Puke]

That's one ugly conveyance.