Aptera has some questions for you
The Aptera Typ-1 asks a lot of questions of the car-buying public. Are you ready for a flightless bird vehicle? Do you know the difference between the legal crash test requirements of a three-wheeled versus a four-wheeled vehicle? Do you like the new design Oh, and did we mention the 230 mpge of the prototype?
Now, though, the people at the Aptera company have some very specific questions for the members of their email list. An online survey has been set up for people who've expressed an interest in the Aptera and it includes variations of questions like
- How much do you value the Aptera vehicle
- What's holding you back from putting a deposit down
- "Okay, be honest, how closely have you read the Aptera newsletters?"
- What about Aptera is most likely to dissuade your female family members, friends, or colleagues from making the $500 deposit to reserve a production slot? (there is also a male version of this question)
- If gas prices were to exceed $6.00 per gallon, which of the following would be your highest priority?
We can figure why Aptera wants to know the answers to those questions, but much more interesting are two that I've pasted after the jump. Do I smell bonus offer?
- Purchase an existing hybrid vehicle
- Order an Aptera vehicle
- Find alternative means of transportation (i.e. motorcycle, bicycle, etc.)
- Ride-share / car pool to work
- Increase my use of public transportation
- None of these
[Source: Aptera]
Questions from the Aptera survey:
- Assuming equal value, which of the following would be most appealing for you to receive as a gift?
- An electronic gadget (such as a computer, hand-held GPS, iPhone, etc.)
- High-end, custom tailored clothing
- Dinner and a show
- Tickets to a playoff game
- Weekend outdoor adventure vacation package
- We know you may have interests in many of the following types of vacations, but which statement best describes your ideal vacation?
- Guided Touring - where you learn about the key people, events, artifacts, and culture of the local region.
- Outdoor Adventure - such as hiking, skiing, biking, scuba diving, camping, etc.
- Quiet & Restful - such as a week at a spa/retreat, where you can shut off the outside world and decompress from your daily life.
- Social Partying - such as an all-inclusive week at a beach resort - indulging in great food & drink, dancing, attending parties, etc.
- Exotic - traveling to remote parts of the world with unconventional accomodations.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Mike!!ekiM 11:25AM (10/12/2008)
For me, I'm only interested in the Aptera when:
1) It's actually in production.
2) It's sold in my state.
3) Price, can I afford it.
I'm holding off, my next car will have a plug. If Aptera is built, It will be on my list for consideration.
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Snowdog 11:48AM (10/12/2008)
Aptera just won't work for me.
I live in Canada and this might make an ok summer vehicle, I seriously doubt this will work well on snowy roads.
Also I have ZERO interest in a plug in. I live in apartment. So plugging in is out. I am mainly looking for efficiency with existing fuels.
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Sean 12:02PM (10/12/2008)
In regard to plugging in from an apartment complex, this is really something that needs to get worked out in the general infrastructure. It's the same with shopping malls, and parking lots/garages at places of employment. If there were available power stations everywhere then all the concerns about driving distance (except long road trips) would be solved. Especially with renewable energy powering those stations, it would be a global solution!
In regard to crash testing, in my opinion Aptera should design their vehicle to meet car crash test standards. Would make it more expensive i'm sure but would then appeal to a much wider range of people (including families with children.
nads 2:07PM (10/12/2008)
Well, if you have ZERO interest in a plug-in, then this is not for you....even though they are working on a hybrid version you don't sound like an early adopter.
nads 2:42PM (10/12/2008)
With regard to crash testing, we're lucky Aptera is even considering the US market. Look at how many attractive HIGH gas milage cars are regularly coming out there...that we have ZERO chance of ever seeing, thanks to our crash test standards.
And its not like Europe's cars are less safe than ours (they are actually considered safer and more reliable), its just that our current system is designed to protect the big 3 and keep the cost of meeting these standards so ridiculously high that NO foreign automaker (that already isn't here) would ever consider making a serious entry here.
Also, in places where this is going on in sale like California, these things will go so fast the entire year's production is already probably reserved. They don't need to take a financial hit right now by trying to meet 4-wheel vehicle standards just yet. When they decide to mass produce in quantities above 20-30K a year, THEN that might be considered.
Anyone that wouldn't consider one of these cars either has a very large family, buys only mainstream cars everyone else already has, or is an idiot that probably believes Bush is a great president.
BlackbirdHighway 3:18PM (10/12/2008)
IMHO, this is a great new business opportunity; Valet Charging!
For a monthly charge, charging service picks up your car at night while you're snoozing, recharges it, and returns it before you wake up. For extra fee(s), they can even wash and vac it once a week, take it in for service for you, offer you a loaner when yours is in the shop, etc. Maybe even provide you an ICE loaner car when you need to take a long trip.
All it takes is some quantity of BEVs on the road to get it started.
Jack H 5:12PM (10/12/2008)
@nads
All the safety ratings have nothing to do with "protecting the big three". They are losing their rear-ends over those standards just like the other car companies. Those standards are a result of a system that is run by trial lawyers. We like to sue each other, companies, and anyone else we can find. So every car maker, toy maker, home builder, clothes maker, you name it....they all have to deal with it and goods cost more here. When you take into account things like cars where we regularly have serious wrecks with injury and our love of all things legal/lawyers...then you're going to have lots of regulations.
Have you ever noticed that the "Big 3" seem to do just fine over seas and make great profits there? How bout GM/Holden in Australia? Doing great. Ford in Europe? Doing great.
We like to blame "the big 3" for all things evil but face it guys, it's just as much about our desire to have the right to sue anyone that we want, any time we want. Hey, it's a choice we seem to make over and over here in the US. We don't have the guts/intelligence to track which politicians vote that way and get them out of office.
How can you attribute that to some car company in Detroit? I'm missing something and willing to listen if you can explain it to me with some facts to back it up.
Now, I'll be VERY happy to admit that the Big 3 have some serious problems that are self inflicted. Short sightedness on gas mileage and cranking out big SUV's, "not invented here" syndrome (Wow, do they have that problem), lobbying for laws on things like corn-ethanol and flex fuel and passing them off as green rather than doing something to really improve, etc.
I'm more than willing to say these guys suck eggs, but let's put the blame where it belongs on each problem vs. just blaming "them" for everything. And don't forget, they have the UAW to contend with which is like running the Olympic 100meters with a 500lb bear on your back! LOL
nads 1:26AM (10/13/2008)
"Jack H" I'm talking about safety ratings, and you're going off with this nasty name calling. Whats your problem? Not everybody sees the world you do so get over yourself. I see you've edited your comment a couple times already so I know your going to change it again after I post this. GET.A.LIFE. Nobody is going to take someone seriously who spams nasty personal insults without provocation
Snowdog 7:40AM (10/13/2008)
You can edit comments? How do you do that?
tankd0g 11:16AM (10/13/2008)
Anyone who wouldn't buy one of these cars values his life and also wouldn't ride a death trap like a motorcycle.
Brn 3:35PM (10/13/2008)
nads writes: "I'm talking about safety ratings, and you're going off with this nasty name calling. Whats your problem? "
Have you looked at your own post that he was responding to?
"Anyone that wouldn't consider one of these cars either has a very large family, buys only mainstream cars everyone else already has, or is an idiot that probably believes Bush is a great president."
People that don't agree with you are idiots? Then you toss politics into it? Mainstream cars are by default a bad thing?
You're not talking safety ratings. You're looking to blindly slam the big 3 and insult anyone that disagrees with you.
Get off your high horse.
david.garay 2:01PM (8/11/2009)
Well, if you can get over the plug-in thing the snow performance might be ok. They have excellent torque at low speeds. You should check out the Tango (snow plow) video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhGCLnAPG88
why not the LS2LS7? 11:49AM (10/12/2008)
Answers to questions:
No, I wouldn't buy your stupid bird-looking deathtrap. And yes, I do know that a 3-wheeler like this only has to be as safe as a motorcycle to be sold instead of as safe as even the crappiest car.
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nads 2:08PM (10/12/2008)
What an a$$hole. This car looks very distinct and attractive. I also wouldn't hesitate to drive in one if I had a choice betweeen this and a small GM car.
Maybe when GM stock hits 2cents, Aptera can buy them out and then you won't have a choice. :)
Sebastian 2:21AM (10/13/2008)
@nads - let's lay off the name calling, ok? thanks.
tankd0g 11:16AM (10/13/2008)
Yes nads, attractive equals safe. Can I interest you in a diamond studded airbag?
my nads, check em 2:17PM (10/12/2008)
"1) It's actually in production."
By the end of this year.
"2) It's sold in my state."
Do you live in California?
"3) Price, can I afford it."
For the electric $27,000, and $30,000 for the hybrid.
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tankd0g 11:16AM (10/13/2008)
So,
1. no
2. no
3. no
paulwesterberg 12:32PM (10/13/2008)
I can afford it, but I live in wisconsin where we got 100 inches of snow last year. The aptera is probably plenty safe in socal but the single rear wheel drive design doesn't sound like a good idea on icy roads.
In the next 2 years Im looking to replace our family cars with:
1. fully electric commuter - limited range.
2. plug in hybrid or extended range electric for longer trips. If it can charge to 80% within 1-2 hours I think we could use it for all our long trips as long as we can buy plug time somewhere.
estimated yearly fuel savings 3-5k.
meme 2:24PM (10/12/2008)
"In regard to crash testing, in my opinion Aptera should design their vehicle to meet car crash test standards. Would make it more expensive i'm sure but would then appeal to a much wider range of people (including families with children."
Aptera *IS* dsigned to meet car crash test standards. They have stated the whole time that it has been one of their primary goals to exceed car standards. It's already gotten over double the door and roof crush strength results, they've been computer simulating crashes since the beginning, and if you'll check their website's job offerings list, they're currently hiring two people (one engineer and one manager) to conduct physical crash tests.
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