Aptera likely to miss end-of-year delivery date
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Aptera 2e
Well, here it is the end of the year and Christmas is upon us once again. Wouldn't it be a great gift to get a brand-new electric car? For those individuals that have placed deposits with Aptera, which has been working towards a goal of making its first deliveries by the end of 2008, things are not looking promising. Emails have gone out to some people with deposits placed saying that Customer Service has left until the new year, which has got members at Aptera Forum wondering if any of the rest of the crew is still at work. If not, it'd be pretty difficult to get any cars delivered, right?
Rumors are currently circulating that the Steve Fambro, the man behind the Aptera project in the first place, might get the keys to a "production" Aptera as part of a symbolic ceremony, but we're not so sure that should really even count as a delivery. We'll see... there are still a few days left of the year, but we're not holding our breath. We have little reason to doubt that deliveries will in fact take place, but probably not until next year. Thanks to all who tipped in!
Gallery: Aptera 2e
[Source: Aptera Forum]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Throwback 1:48PM (12/24/2008)
"Aptera likely to miss end-of-year delivery date"
Is anyone really surprised? Building a car is not as easy as some arm chair CEOs think.
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Matthijs 1:57PM (12/24/2008)
And the article just missed today's newsletter with the news that the Aptera will be front wheel drive. That is a major improvement that will take time to get ready for production.
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Phil L. 2:30PM (12/24/2008)
Yup, they're moving toward FWD now:
http://aptera.com/newsletter121908/
Wow - this is a huge change for this vehicle. I agree with their reasoning - but I can also imagine a "clean sheet" (their wording) redesign at this level potentially taking several years.
Further FWD thoughts from those who follow Aptera more closely than I do?
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Throwback 2:52PM (12/24/2008)
My question is why FWD at this point? Do they plan to sell in states other than California? Looks like the Volt (assuming GM survives) among others will beat them to market.
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nick 3:28PM (12/24/2008)
Wow, the change to FWD is HUGE. I see why it makes sense for traction,handling, and regen braking, and I would have gone with it from the beginning, but for them to be changing the platform now will take a lot of work. A FWD system is going to be much more complicated than a single belt driven rear wheel.(More expensive too.) The front end will now need drive axles and a differential. It doesn't take much to see that the clean 'open wheel' like suspension is going to have to be drastically modified.(Technically I guess it's closed wheel because of the skirts, but you see what I mean) Working the steering, drive system, and suspension all into one small area is a difficult task.
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Geoff de Ruiter 4:16PM (12/24/2008)
I believe Aptera has already done the switching to front wheel drive as per their photos on their website. If you compare them to the images in this video 3/4 in (http://video.forbes.com/fvn/economy/km_auto1200908) and of older versions/pictures (http://www.aliveandwell.tv/a_images/aptera/ApteraVehicle1Wallpaper%5B1%5D.jpg) you can see the horizontal drive shaft going into the wheel http://www.aptera.com/look.php . The hinge going to the wheel for flexibility is covered with a rubber accordion like seal covering. Hopefully this change was in fact already done and that shipping will start early 2009, i.e. no new engineering to be performed.
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Jim 5:46PM (12/24/2008)
Cool looking car........however, where are the matghing bumper heights? Does it meet ALL the safety standards? And as "Throwback" said I guess it's easier to talk a game than it is to play it out. Building a single car is a lot easier than mass producing one.
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mike 9:07PM (12/24/2008)
Now, how about putting two wheels on the back and calling it a car? Bigger market. Larger trunk. More stability going around corners. Better braking.
Ok, I know as a 3 wheeler it will be considered a motorcycle and not have to meet the safety standards but can't we change the laws to add these very light, high-mileage commuter vehicles into the mix?
I love the design. I hope it is a view of future vehicles.
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Mike Weston 2:25PM (12/25/2008)
I opened their December newsletter hoping to hear about a delivery or at least a mention of when they expected one, but nothing. Disappointing.
But the front axle(s) were noticed a few months ago as I recall, and I saw some speculation that they were going to do front-wheel drive, so they didn't just now decide to change that. So I'm still hopeful that deliveries will start in the next few months and I'll get mine sometime in 2009.
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Jorg 1:52AM (12/26/2008)
Heh, I put my down payment on a Tango in 2005 and on the Tesla in 2006, on the day of intro. Both were expecting delivery in 2007. The Tango shipped in Feb 2008, a wait of almost 2 and a half years; the Tesla shipped in Oct 2008, a wait of over 2 years and 2 months. Both missed their estimated dates by more than a year.
So, I guess on the good side, the Aptera's in good company. Also on the good side, the Tesla had a lot of minor improvements (fit and finish and wear issues), and one major one (new higher-output controller), made because they had the extra time. Let's hope the Aptera folks get some unexpected benefit along the way, too.
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