Chuck Squatriglia for Autopia:
We won’t see a production model for another couple of months. It will be a little more square when viewed from the front, a concession made to increase interior room and allow the windows to roll down. That’s a smart move, because the car we drove could be called “cozy” and the windows don’t open.The engineers have reworked the battery pack, which is located in a sealed compartment under the seats, to move it forward and shift the center of gravity toward the front. Wilbur says the production car carries 70 percent of its weight on the front wheels, which “is excellent for traction and handling.” They also brought the front wheels eight inches closer to the body and raised the ride height a bit.
Despite the tweaks, the car became more aerodynamic, and Wilbur says the production car will have a drag coefficient of 0.15. That will make the 2e the most aerodynamic production car in history, topping even the General Motors EV1.
Previously:
- Aptera can't get subsidy money because the 2e has three wheels …
- Spy photos of the Aptera 2e plug-in car – Boing Boing Gadgets
- Aptera Hybrid Making Cameo in the Star Trek Movie? – Boing Boing …
- Aptera Three-Wheeled Electric Car May Reach Production – Boing …
- Aptera's Steve Fambro Interviewed About Three-Wheeled Egg Car …
- PopMech Gets First Drive of the Aptera Electric Car – Boing Boing …
That will make the 2e the most aerodynamic production car in history – It is not a car. That is the magic of the 3rd wheel. It is perhaps the most aerodynamic motorcycle and its crash survivability is pretty good for a motorcycle, but it is not a car and does not play by the safety and sturdiness rules of cars.
According to Aptera it meets all Federal crash test standards for a car. Whether that’s true or not is a question, but that is their claim.
Awhile back, I realized the 2e is the first electric vehicle that really gives me a peek into what it must have been like to see pictures of the Model T in a still largely horse-driven world.
It looks strange and bizarre today, but that’s just today.
Heh, wasn’t there an article here about the Aptera team going to Washington to try to convince Congress that the classification of “car” should be changed so that they qualify for federal subsidies? I don’t think they would do that if they weren’t sure they could pass the federal safety regulations…
Heh, wasn’t there an article here about the Aptera team going to Washington to try to convince Congress that the classification of “car” should be changed so that they qualify for federal subsidies? I don’t think they would do that if they weren’t sure they could pass the federal safety regulations…
Oh, and about sturdiness… I don’t know about you, but I can’t take a sledge hammer to the roof of my car.
Ahhh, but that’s a mallet and not a sledge! (heh)
I have no reason to doubt it would pass crash tests, I just mean it hasn’t actually been tested by the appropriate people yet.
Cars are supposed to crumple.
If the aptera doesn’t cromple at all, that’s bad. It means the passangers will be forced to endure the full force of impact.
A good car will crumple enormously, to reduce the impact on the passangers.
Again, the 2e is claimed to have a shock-absorbing impact zone in the front (this is good). But having the roof crumple (which is what was being test in the sledge hammer video) is bad. If/when a car rolls over, I’d prefer that the roof *not* crumple, thankyouverymuch.
I want one!
Come to the UK, Aptera! Come! I have moneys for you!
oh my god I can’t wait. Aptera is incredible.