VIDEO: CNN and MSNBC both feature gas-saving ability of Aptera
The price of gas and the fuel efficiency claims of the Aptera have been attracting some cable news station attention. Both CNN and MSNBC have released new clips of the flightless wonder doing its lightweight and aerodynamic energy-efficient thing.
The MSNBC report starts out with a focus on the Progressive X-Prize and gives a few free glimpses of Tesla Roadsters and other contest entrants. The spotlight is then placed squarely on the oval shoulders of the Aptera Typ-1 with great footage of it speeding along the highway. There's even some in-car coverage. The reporter makes the claim to standers-by that the car can achieve 300 miles per gallon and states one could travel from L.A. to New York on a 10 gallon tank. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof, so we are hoping Aptera decides to give that particular feat a whirl. I offer my professional driving services at this time.
CNN spends a few moments talking with Aptera company principals Steve Fambro and Christopher Anthony, accompanied by various shots of the car whizzing by. They also spend some time showing off the Aptera's use of cameras to replace external side and rear view mirrors. While the CNN clip also makes the L.A. to New York claim, the mileage figure given is 230 mpg instead of 300. Google maps says that it is 2,778 miles between the two coastal cities putting the ability to accomplish the trek on 10 gallons in doubt. Do you think it could make it? Check out the clips after the jump and let us know what you think.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Hulseman 7:52PM (6/05/2008)
As I recall, this car is a plug in rserial hybrid. So range will depend on how often it's plugged in.
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Duodenum 7:38PM (6/05/2008)
PLEASE bring this vehicle to other markets besides California! My commute is 49 miles each way and I'd buy the Aptera in a heartbeat. Come on, make it happen!
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Snowdog 8:05PM (6/05/2008)
Yeah as I recall after the battery goes flat it gets about 135mpg. This is the one thing I really hate about 3rd tier PHEV makers. Ridiculous mileage claims.
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Sean 8:40PM (6/05/2008)
They have an all-electric version good for 120 miles or so and the plug-in serial hybrid, good for about 40 electric-only miles, then gas mileage starting at about 400MPG and decreasing to 120MPG as battery charge is depleted (and the tank is emptied.)
Heck, I'll still take "only" 120MPG! (Especially if I can do all my local commuting electrically!)
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Snowdog 9:01PM (6/05/2008)
An honest 120mpg is absolutely amazing. It's a lot more exciting than a misleading 300mpg that you can't even do for 1 gallon.
I consider that (300mpg) claim a marketing lie. Companies that do this get off on the wrong foot right away IMO.
I encourage Aptera to take the high road and end the misleading claims.
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jake 9:36PM (6/05/2008)
@Sean @Snowdog
Yep, I agree, I'm a lot more impressed by an honest 120mpg number than a bogus 300mpg marketing claim.
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fnc 9:52PM (6/05/2008)
I've seen 255 mpg put forth as mileage achieved by an Aptera equipped with a small very efficient diesel engine (and probably on level ground at a constant relatively low speed). But I'm with the others, a "pure" 130 mpg without electricity to assist is an impressive number for something approaching a 'normal' car. I wonder how long before somebody takes an Aptera across the country just because they can.
The thing that most caught my eye in the videos was the full rear view available across all three screens on the dash. No doubt a necessity in a vehicle with zero rearward visibility, but it's really neat in and of itself.
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Ralph 12:39AM (6/06/2008)
The '300 mpg' claim was quoted by the reporter who doesn't have a clue that this is not a claim for just any mileage you might drive. As stated by Aptera on their site the 300 mpg figure is obtained after the Type 1h (serial hybrid) has driven 120 miles. After 350-400 the mileage is down to 120 mpg and should stay around this figure in normal driving. 120 miles distance was chosen as the farthest commute distance anyone would likely travel. Since there is no agreed upon standard set yet for advertising a serial hybrid's MPG, this was Aptera's solution.
Details here: http://www.aptera.com/details.php
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brian hague 2:17AM (6/06/2008)
How would you like to drive 100 - 200 miles per tank... check the second video... He must be driving a 1973 Buick Electra with the 4BBL...
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griffon 1:40PM (6/06/2008)
I have been super interested in the Aptera for a while but some times I like at the footage the shoot and wonder how much we are not seeing. For example is sure doesn't look like it is going to fit into any normal sized parking spot with those wheel extensions.
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Snowdog 6:59AM (6/06/2008)
Serial is not the question. It is plug in that brings out the marketing lies. The PHEV converters for the Prius engage in the same slimy practice.
So far GM of all companies, actually hasn't engaged in this deceptive marketing with the Volt. Much to their credit.
The standard should be Battery only range, and mpg when the battery range is exhausted.
I would be cheering the amazing efficiency of this vehicle if they played it straight, but instead, they get nothing but my disdain for their slimy marketing practices.
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Snowdog 7:33AM (6/06/2008)
1 Tank of Gas and 30 full electric charges to drive across America would be more like it.
The media isn't to blame entirely for flubbing this one. They likey didn't get the numbers from the web page, but from the Aptera guys, who initially had no explanation of how the "arrived" at the 300mpg figure. Even the current information is essentially bogus.
They show the graph leveling off at 300 MPG (from the initial humorous 1000mgp). Clearly this isn't the case, the graphs will not level off until you with the actual efficiency of the system of 130mpg.
Hopefully the EPA steps in and forces a sensible standard on hucksters pushing ridiculous mileage claims because they can plug in.
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Ralph 8:54AM (6/06/2008)
I personally think that Aptera has chosen a satisfactory method to advertise the car's mileage since no standard currently exists. I look at it this way. They could have stated that the car gets "1000 mpg at 70 miles of travel", which may be a true statement, but would be seen by the public as complete BS. Or they could have said "120 mpg after 350 miles+ of travel", and while this may also be true the vast majority of people commuting with this car would certainly see a much higher mileage figure. They had to pick some number to use without understating the car's potential to the customer to attract interest and possible sales.
The unfortunate part is that the media will constantly use this '300 mpg' figure since they don't have the time/inclination/expertise to explain in detail how this number was derived.
A standard for determining plug-in serial hybrid mileage claims is sorely needed.
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Lad 9:21AM (6/06/2008)
I can accept the mileage figures as marketing hype; but, what bothers me is how easy it would be for one to hook one of those extended front tire pods on something and go completely out of control. Or, have someone knock one off because they are so low and extend way out from the body. Give me four wheels enclosed by the body for safety sake. It's dangerous out there.
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psece 10:39AM (6/06/2008)
If this was put on the EPA cycle, it would get over 1000 mpg since the test isn't that long and they test tail pipe emissions to arrive at the MPG.
Let's face it, the reporters are stupid and just believe anything they are told. Hell, we do the same.
This is new technology and there is no standard test. What do you guys think a standard test should be? 1000 miles Highway and 300 city? I wonder how long that would take.....
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Zeph 11:55AM (6/06/2008)
C'mon people, you have a viehicle that is orders of magnitude more efficient than anything currently mass produced and comercially available and you're bitching about numbers? It has variable mileage depending on charge, whats hard to understand?
The reality of the aptera is you could commute on electricity for a fraction of the current cost and go long range on hybrid for a larger fraction of current cost. It is a great short term solution before cars go either hydrogen or full electric or both.
Plus the aerodynamics alone are a clue to why current cars have such bad mileage. Looking mean and macho is one thing, but when you're broke because of it, well, you're looking mean, macho and dumbass.
If the aptera, or some other affordable ecocar, were available here I would buy it in a heartbeat.
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meme 1:19PM (6/06/2008)
To address a few points:
1) By Aptera's website, it's 60mph pure electric (infinite mpg) (calculating based on pack size and range, about 83Wh/mi at 55mph and 143Wh/mi at 80mph), then 130mpg in charge-sustaining mode.
2) I'm a big Aptera proponent, and this is one of two issues that I fault them for: for not correcting media misconceptions about mileage figures soon enough. The other issue is the lack of any announced support yet for faster charging (they seem to be trying to jam the Typ-1e into being "local-only" transportation).
3) That said, their website is quite clear on what its mileage is actually like, so part of the problem has to lie with the media here:
http://www.aptera.com/details.php
"So why pick a number at 120 miles? Well, it's more than double of most available plug-in hybrid ranges that achieve over 100 MPG. It's three times the distance of the typical American daily commute. It's a meaningful distance that represents the driving needs of 99% of Americans on a daily basis. Sure, it's asymptotic, after 350-400 miles it eventually plummets to around 130 MPG at highway speeds where it will stay all day until you plug it back in and charge it up."
4) The wheel pods are no more at risk than those on a Prowler, and I've never heard of a Prowler getting "hooked". Putting a bit of a thin metal shell around the front (I.e., a more conventional car shape), while it may make them "look" safer, is actually doing little to *make* them safer. Strength comes from the frame, not the skin, both in an Aptera and in a conventional car. These are tubular steel struts, not tinker toys; they're no more likely to bend than any other frame element in an accident.
For a good read on the difference between perceived safety and actual safety, here's a great read (mirror of a New Yorker article, "How the S.U.V. ran over automotive safety."):
http://gladwell.com/2004/2004_01_12_a_suv.html
5) The Aptera is about 7 feet wide -- about the same width as a Hummer (a foot narrower than a typical RV). It's a little longer than my Saturn and a couple inches taller, too (it's not a small car by any stretch). So, while you certainly wouldn't be fitting in a compact car space, and would have to be more careful pulling into a normal space (like an SUV driver has to), it'll still fit fine.
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Scott 12:37PM (6/06/2008)
I've been following the Aptera story for well over a year now, and there have certainly been several legitimate attempts by Aptera to explain the mileage numbers. As was said before, it's just not as easy to put in your headline the paragraph long description... go for eye catching instead...
Anyway, I know that you couldn't drive it from coast to coast on one tank of gas (without a ridiculous number of charging stops), but I am betting that you could carry enough gas with you to do it; somewhere around 20-25 gallons extra, assuming a few hotel stops where you top off the charge system as well. That's only about 200 pounds extra (with storage), which certainly seems within the capabilities of the vehicle. Top off the tank every half day or so from the carried gas, and off you go! (I don't know about you, but I'd have to stop to use the bathroom a few times along the way anyway!) Sure, you could stop at a gas station instead, but the novelty of doing it this way would be something!
In fact, if mine comes in on time, (and proves out ok), I may try just that to go visit the New York City kickoff to the x-prize contest. D'ya think Aptera would cover my gas? :)
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meme 1:24PM (6/06/2008)
Erm, 60 miles range, not 60mph. :P
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Griffon 1:29PM (6/06/2008)
Lol I'm not sure only as wide as a hummer is a good marketing angle and probable why there are not a lot of side by side shots or pictures of it parking :). something that big for 2 people is a bit hard to take but really is will live and die by the test drive IMO. I still want one though. My Hybrid SUV (highlander hybrid, the barely green suv) can pull into most compact spots better then my passat. BUt neither is 7 feet wide.
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