Aptera Reboot - Improved

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Snax

I think they are overselling the range and charge reality, but through reddit conversations am at least convinced that it can still be a significant leap forward in efficiency - IF they ever actually deliver one.

Ya think?

Originally they were listing ranges in KMs with 1000km as the max config

Now they traded KM for miles but nothing else has changed


The charge times to be honest don’t really matter and could be accurate.

Big problem is the price and lack of product.

What in effect is an aero 2011 24kw leaf minus the 4th wheel and some weight and safety equipment
is not a $20,000 EV given battery costs are about 1/5 what they were then.

Very unfortunate they didn’t just start selling the things back in 2009.

Realistically a motorcycle launch costs about 1/100 the price of a road going 4 wheeled car, no reason beyond lack of direction that they didn’t launch in the day, still would have failed eventually given the lack of a sustainable 3 wheeled market

but now days given that a 3 wheeled EV can save hundreds (up to about a thousand) bucks of annual taxes maybe this has a place in the market.

Problem is their only strength is efficiency/range per kwhr and their weaknesses are the small battery and comparatively high cost + less incentives for a 3 wheeler.

The base version of this vehicle realistically needs to be in the low 5 digits to gain sales.

Hope I’m wrong since I would buy one just because I can
but never until deliveries are made and reviews occur.

Will know in 3-9 months if “their “ timetable is correct but I’m very skeptical, fool me once right?

[freebeard]

...maybe this has a place in the market.

In it's market sector I can think of two competitors, Arcimoto and Nobe.

[Snax]

Originally Posted by freebeard

In it's market sector I can think of two competitors, Arcimoto and Nobe.

I really would not put the FUV up as competition to the Aptera, as while the FUV is highway capable, it is in no way designed to be very comfortable for that. It's forte is in the city - and probably a LOT more fun for that with the open cockpit design vs. the Aptera cocooning of occupants.

[freebeard]

Arcimoto have the Roadster which competes more directly with Polaris Slingshot. They will eventually solve the door problem. The Nobe has a more retro body-style that doesn't lean into hyper-efficiency.

Isn't 'market sector' broad enough to allow vehicles that don't compete directly?

[Snax]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Isn't 'market sector' broad enough to allow vehicles that don't compete directly?

Niche with their own unique design goals I would say.

I don't think anybody honing in on any of the choices really has to weigh the pros and cons of one vs. the other to any serious degree. It really comes down to needs and wants with clear winners depending upon what those are.

If you just want to lump them all together as '3-wheelers in a somewhat similar price range', then sure, competition, but probably not really for most people. I have zero interest in the Nobe for example. It just does not appeal to me, and as much as I like the design of the Aptera, I do not need the range, so I really could not justify anything but the FUV for my needs with my virtually never travelling more than 30 miles in a day.

They all compete for dollars, but arguably with such a broad a definition, other budget minded 4-wheeled EVs have to be considered as well.

[freebeard]

'Pickup trucks' is another category where you can find various use cases. The Nobe interests me as little as the Elio. As in very.

I like Arcimoto because they can offer five different models on their basic chassis, while Aptera is locked into that Morelli form. That and the local-boy-makes-good aspect with roots in game developers and The Whiteaker. I worked for a Eugene computer game company in the 1980s. Their development process took a decade but it was really smart. Sandy Munro will get them into mass production.

My ideal would be an Arcimoto chassis with Edison2 front inwheel suspension and Aptera-style full pontoon fenders. The Eagle door they showed early on and never perfected. And a sheared, braked and spot welded stainless steel shell for the main body and fenders.

[Isaac Zachary]

My dream car would be a 5 or 6 seat (front bench seat) Aptera style vehicle. I don't care if it's 30" long either.

[freebeard]

[Snax]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

My dream car would be a 5 or 6 seat (front bench seat) Aptera style vehicle. I don't care if it's 30" long either.

Agreed. With an emphasis on range, it's not going to find a lot of buyers who can make do with only 2 seats.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by Snax

Agreed. With an emphasis on range, it's not going to find a lot of buyers who can make do with only 2 seats.

2 seats reminds me of the Smart Car boom back in 2008. But that car was able to sell back then 1 low operating costs during an economic recession and 2 due the car was easy to park. Neither of those would apply to the Aptera, unless they could make it cheap enough and they're ready to sell it right when a major economic recession hits.