Aptera prototype can get over 300 mpg
And you thought your car gets good mileage. Accelerated Composites, a new company out in San Diego, released pictures of its new Aptera prototype, a diesel-electric hybrid concept car that can get 330 mpg and go 95 mph. It seems that this small, light vehicle would be good for city driving and the company says it's a two-seater. I'm not sure where the passenger sits. The engine specifications make more sense to me: the 12 hp diesel engine conforms to the California Air Resources Board's strict emissions regulations and the electric system adds 25 hp. Put 'em together and the Aptera can go from 0-60 mph in 11 seconds. The prototype will be making demonstration trips around the U.S. this summer. The company is also repeatedly mentioning the under $20,000 price tag (once the Aptera hits the market) prominently on its website. Not bad for the little rocket, huh?
[Source: Accelerated Composites via Channel4.com]
Related: "A 330 mpg car for everyone"
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Howard Lee Harkness 11:03AM (7/14/2006)
Hmmm... not really enough information, but so far, it's pretty impressive. A hybrid that actually makes sense! At least from what little information is available.
I wonder what conditions are required for the 300mpg+ at 65mph. I'm a bit on the heavy side, and I haul around lots of stuff on a regular basis (a violin, a viola, and a bag full of accessories when I go to the studio to teach, for instance). I would also expect that to impact the acceleration substantially, since all that adds roughly 20% more to the weight of the vehicle.
3-wheeler... I wonder if you have to license it as a motorcycle.
I was a little disappointed in the website -- no actual pictures of the car, just some graphics and some pictures of a skeleton of what might be the car... If I understand the specs, the light weight of this vehicle comes largely from substituting a supercapacitor for batteries. I need to bone up on the latest cazapitor tech, but I suspect that a supercapacitor is not only lighter than a battery, but cheaper and longer-lasting.
If I can really do two week's worth of driving on $3 worth of fuel, this just might be the ticket. I could even hand-brew biodiesel in small batches! For the times I really need to haul something, I could rent a pickup (or just buy a used small pickup for occasional use).
And the novelty factor would make this a really good "wrap" vehicle to advertise my wife's business.
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Howard Lee Harkness 3:29PM (7/15/2006)
Questiongs not answered:
1) What happens to the fuel mileage when you turn on the air conditioner. Er, does it HAVE an a/c? A/c is a necesity in Dallas this time of year. Heat should be easy enough with a 12hp diesel.
2) What happens to the drag when you mount the required license tags front and rear? (and, as already asked, do you have license this thing as a motorcycle?)
3) $20,000 is a nice price point, but are they planning to produce enough of these to satisfy demand at that price? Otherwise, supply/demand will cause the price to go up.
4) How do they plan to market this vehicle?
5) Last, but certainly not least, is this for real?
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Rob 4:28PM (10/02/2007)
I want to know, when full production, will start? Taking orders first before producing the car, seems a bit fishy to me. If in fact they've worked out all of the bugs?? How will the public have access to purchasing the car? How do you change the tires if you get a flat? I still like the Sparrow, as a full electric car. That is what this car should be, a full electric. Fooling about with a diesel/electric hybrid car, still needs the support of the oil producing companies. Don't we need to get off of fossil fuels entirely???? Why bother with hybrids?
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howard 2:48PM (10/22/2007)
1st, in the article it states the A/C is solar powered and operates even when the car is shut down! 2nd, it also states you must register it as a motorcycle in most states and use all motorcycle laws and regulations!
3rd, In 1946 my brother in law, Herb Davis and a group of indivduals built and demonstrated a 3 wheeled car approperatly named the "DAVIS CAR" that carried 5 people and could attain a top speed on an airport runway of 105 mph. 0-60 wasn't in the required specs at that time neither was fuel mileag since gas was around .18-.20 cents per gal. As a demonstration the car was driven at 60mph straight at a solid wall and did a 180 degree turn 25 feet shotr of the wall and headed back to where it started! The main problem as always was the big three auto makers, they cut them off of all necessary items such as electrical componentsn, engines and transmissions and all the other things necessary to produce and market it just like they did Kaiser, Tucker, even the little anphibus "Bobby Car" that was built in San Diego was not put into production because the big three couldn't stand any competition! Oran(splng?) Crosley finally ran out of money and couldn't find any more investors so he also shut down!
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Chris M 4:59PM (10/22/2007)
Hmm, according to the Aptera reservations page, there are two power plant versions:
All electric, approx. 120 mile range, $26,000.
Plug-in gas/electric series hybrid, approx. 300 miles per gallon, $29,900. "EV range" not mentioned.
While the prototype was tested with a diesel engine, making that engine comply with California emissions regs is difficult and expensive, so they are not planning on selling a Diesel version for now.
The initial sales are in California only, though they will spread out if successful. Standard features include solar assisted climate control (yes, AC is standard), car computer with GPS, 180 degree rear view camera with "eyes forward" monitors, front and side air bags, LED interior lighting, RFID key fob, and room for 15 bags of groceries or infant seat behind the driver and passenger seats.
While the "solar assist" for the AC is limited while parked, it might be enough to keep interior temps from going too extreme.
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