Aptera newsletter reveals production interior, doesn't answer all questions [UPDATED w/IMAGE]
by Sebastian Blanco on Jul 28th 2009 at 12:48PM 
The newsletter that was promised from Aptera HQ has been released. The news from the missive is a tiny sneak peek of the interior of the production version of the 2e (above) and that a new Aptera e-store will open at the end of this month. The store won't sell you any cars, yet, but you will be able to get branded water bottles, hats and the like. So there's that.
As for the interior, Aptera is saying that the design of the production version came about after "clinical research on all vehicle details, which uncovered a number of issues that could have been potential 'dissatisfiers' in our original designs." The issues included not enough space (the production version is now 10 percent bigger all around), perception of space (people thought it was too dark, so now there is a center console infotainment system called Eva that lights up the cabin and helps define the space. All the company is saying now is that Eva "likely has twice the computing power of any machine in your house," which sounds exciting. There are also three drive states and a new seat construction that will be used in the production vehicle.
Some of the issues that were been raised by the Aptera fanbase in recent months – questions about the windows, the real life range – were not addressed in the newsletter. Will it be enough to quiet things down?
UPDATE: see a larger image of the interior rendering here.
Gallery: Aptera
[Source: Aptera]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
meme 1:05PM (7/28/2009)
"All the news" -- really? Did you completely miss this?
"The Acceleration at Aptera
F = M x A (Fun = Motion x Aptera)
Most drivers associate sports cars with driving fun, which usually means brisk acceleration, powerful braking and nimble, crisp handling. Not surprising to us, the same things that make a good sports car are generally found in a very efficient vehicle -- like the Aptera 2e.
For anybody who's taken a physics class, remember that Force = Mass x Acceleration (F = M x A). To find acceleration, divide force by mass, which means acceleration is proportional to the force needed to move the mass. More simply, acceleration is a matter of power to weight, and the Aptera 2e's power to weight ratio verges on sports car numbers, much better than most hybrid or economy cars, so it really scoots!
And acceleration isn't just about moving forward. Braking is essentially a matter of deceleration, and lateral acceleration speaks to handling. The smaller and lower the mass of the vehicle, the quicker it's slowed during braking and the more nimble it becomes when flicked side to side. So the strong, lightweight design of the Aptera composite chassis, combined with the dense battery weight sitting low in the vehicle's belly, means better braking and handling that will (and has) embarrassed a lot of other cars.
By the way, the Aptera 2e's aerodynamic shape doesn't just increase its range; it's a key to de-limiting high-speed performance. The top speeds of most performance cars are ultimately restricted by their inability to slip through the air, needing vast amounts of power to overcome the wall of air they're fighting. But the 2e doesn't fight; it slices - right through the air. And while Aptera NEVER condones unsafe driving on public roads, its low-drag-shape allows it to exceed 100 mph with only 23 HP and break 200 mph with just 150 HP. I can't confirm or deny that either of those has been done. All I can say is: this is a FUN vehicle to drive!"
Oh, and someone asked Steve what the "tune your..." thing that they omitted was: it's regen. You can tune the amount of regen the vehicle does when you let off the accelerator -- a feature people had long been clamoring for.
I'm not sure what "questions about the windows" you feel there have been clamor for, apart from when we'll get to see them. And range doesn't seem to be a big topic on the forum recently; the major increase in pack size and Jay Leno stating that unlike with most EVs, the company's figures seemed conservative when he drove it seems to have put that to bed, at least for now. Actually, the biggest debate on the forum recently is what is the ground clearance going to be like.
Also, one more note about the newsletter: note that they still say they're on track to release later this year.
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Scatter 1:18PM (7/28/2009)
meme, why would you want less than the maximum regen?
CaramelZappa 1:20PM (7/28/2009)
I think it's kind of odd for them to start comparing it to a sports car. The theory behind it having brisk accelleration is true, and it is after all an electric motor so it has plenty of torque. But I find it odd that they're going to talk so much about acceleration without producing a 0-60 time.
"I can't confirm or deny that either of those has been done. All I can say is: this is a FUN vehicle to drive!"
Sounds like it's just a calculation. Does the Aptera even have 150hp?
As for being nimble and handling well, I'm sure the shape helps, but wouldn't having only one rear wheel (and less grip) be not so great for handling?
I really think they're better off selling it as a green, efficient, commuter/city car. If they're going to try to sell it as a sports car they need to be able to back up their claims with some real evidence.
GenKhan2 3:55PM (7/31/2009)
200mph in an Aptera? Holy instant death Batman! If it could go that fast they might as well put wings on it and sell it as an airplane.
FitFan 1:14PM (7/28/2009)
"likely has twice the computing power of any machine in your house"
I seriously doubt that claim, but I'm looking forward to the details.
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CaramelZappa 1:24PM (7/28/2009)
It really doesn't make sense. The most intensive thing a car computer is likely do is play HD video and that's kind of a stretch. If they really have twice the computing power of my home-made gaming rig, then they're sucking up a lot of power that could be used to propel the car another few miles. All the car computer really needs to do is range estimates and gps, neither of which require much more computing power than your mobile phone.
tump 3:51PM (7/28/2009)
Well, your homemade gaming rig isn't average. Average is closer to a 3-4 year old low cost PC with built-in graphics. And it would be fair for them to make that "likely" claim (they're probably right).
gulags 1:19PM (7/28/2009)
Ugh, "infotainment"? This is the crap that I'm sick of. I don't need a car with a computer that is "twice as powerful as the one in my house." Give me my electric car with the same interface, gauges, and indicators as my petrol car. Seriously, what does this need to show? Charge remaining, estimated range, speed. LED-lit caution and information indicators, for whatever the equivalent of "check engine" would be. All the entertainment I need is a radio/CD-MP3 with an aux jack.
Somewhere along the line, they lost sight of the KISS principle. The potentially-affordable, quirky cruiser will give way to another toy for the wealthy that only sees use up and down the PCH on weekends.
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GoodCheer 6:49PM (7/28/2009)
I agree. I would not trade all the fancy BS they've incorporated for the year+ delay in release that it has caused.
But then we are in the minority, and I think (as somebody below has stated) it is the fancy gee-gaws that sell vehicles in America.
RAN 1:27PM (7/28/2009)
Scatter, sometimes it's better to coast than it is to have regen, as I believe coasting is more efficient. Also, you can still have full regen when you use the brake pedal... they're talking about adjusting the amount you get when you let off the accelerator pedal.
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markw 1:28PM (7/28/2009)
blah - blah - blah - 3D simulations of a plastic interior that will never see the light of day - where is the beef? - oh - on track for later this year - ya sure? In the meantime, the rest of the world is building (and selling) real products.
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polo 4:11PM (7/28/2009)
Actually there are quite a few small alternate vehicle companies that don't have much more than animations and have been around for just as long as Aptera. Obviously you don't have the slightest idea about what it takes to launch your own business, let alone one in the automotive business.
meme 1:37PM (7/28/2009)
Scatter: Coasting. Many people (myself included) want the vehicle to coast when you let off the accelerator and regen when you press the brake (i.e., maximum efficiency). A large minority on the forum disagreed. An adjustable amount of regen on the accelerator is the perfect compromise.
CaramelZappa: The last 0-60 time we were given was from TED, and was at just under 8 seconds. Ther've been some announced improvements in the powertrain since then, but we don't know if they were present in that vehicle or added since then. As for handling, it has the cornering radius of a Porsche Boxter. It has a wide front track and low CG near the front wheels. Road and Track has studied three wheelers, and found that tadpole trikes like the 2e are just as stable as four-wheelers if the CG is close to the front wheels. Except that they have a lower moment of inertia, and so have a faster yaw response time.
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Scatter 1:52PM (7/28/2009)
Gotcha, cheers
CaramelZappa 1:54PM (7/28/2009)
Thanks for the info.
Dave R 1:56PM (7/28/2009)
"As for handling, it has the cornering radius of a Porsche Boxter."
Cornering radius has little to do with handling.
Until they release skidpad numbers and get a real driving test near the limits of the adhesion where one can evaluate oversteer and understeer, there really is no point in trying to compare the Aptera to a Porsche.
jstdadd 2:34PM (7/28/2009)
I am on the wait list to get an Aptera - I for one would not pay extra for a computing option. Leather seats, yes. 200mph top speed, yes ;-) If I could get 150hp and still get 100 miles of range, I might put a couple thousand $$ in for that. It would be awesome if I could refit it with a bigger electric motor, or select torque curves; for instance, 0-60 in 4 seconds and 100mph top speed...it would make getting on the freeway so much more interesting!
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polo 4:15PM (7/28/2009)
It will probably come standard. You have the regen system, the solar panel rooftop, a feedback system to relay charge/range to the driver, and a number of other features that will need good computing power. Its not like they're trying to build a gaming rig in your driving seat, it all ties back into the driving experience. If you just want a battery with wheels you could probably make your own.
polo 4:17PM (7/28/2009)
The "infotainment system" will probably come standard. You have the regen system, the solar panel rooftop, a feedback system to relay charge/range to the driver, and a number of other features that will need good computing power and need to be presented in a way thats easy and "fun" for the driver.. Its not like they're trying to build a gaming rig in your driving seat, it all ties back into the driving experience. If you just want a battery with wheels you could probably make your own.
Thunderbuck 11:00AM (7/29/2009)
Hmmmm... selectable torque curves... perhaps tied to GPS? If the computer knows you're on an on-ramp, for example, it programs the motor controller for max accel, but cuts it when you're in a shopping center parking lot? Hmm?
Just throwing it out there...