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Aptera to phoenix as Aptera USA, plans to deliver in 2013

Domenick Yoney — Thu, 03 May 2012 07:49:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Aptera, USA

Sometimes 1 + 1 ≠ 2. When the Aptera 2e was spotted at the Zap Jonway Beijing Motor Show display, assumptions were made (by us) that the composite-bodied craft was to be reborn as a product of that company. It will not. Oh, it will phoenix alright. And though the chassis will indeed be made by the Jonway Group in China, the vehicle is not directly affiliated with Zap Jonway.

Here's the deal. Aptera USA - they were originally going with Zaptera USA, but changed their minds after seeing the reaction to our previous post - bought up all the old Aptera assets and plan on moving swiftly to bring the three-wheeler to market, perhaps as early as the first quarter of 2013. The completed chassis will be brought to the U.S. from China, where it will have its electric drivetrain and other equipment installed. The new Aptera vehicle is said to be based on the design that participated in the Progressive Automotive X-Prize, known internally as the SO-1.

That configuration, if you'll remember, boasted a 20-kWh battery pack from A123 Systems and put out 110 horsepower (82 kW) and 232 pound-feet of torque using an electric motor from Remy. Its range is thought to be about 114 miles.

The company plans to revive the previous Aptera website and begin a new reservation system, giving former place holders first shot. The price should be in the $25,000 neighborhood and sales will not be restricted to California. Indeed, they want to eventually sell internationally.

Prospective buyers and the curious will get a chance to look over the vehicle in person later this year when the first Aptera showroom opens at the Railroad Square Village in Santa Rosa, CA. An official press release will be issued soon that should clarify the company's intent. We look forward to learning more details and wish the new Aptera every success.

Aptera to phoenix as Aptera USA, plans to deliver in 2013 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 03 May 2012 07:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zaptera! The Aptera 2e resurfaces in China as Zap Jonway product *UPDATE

Domenick Yoney — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:06:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Zap, Aptera, China, USA

You know that feeling you get when, after a few years, you remeet your biggest crush from high school and begin fantasizing about actually hooking up for real, only to be jerked back to harsh reality by the appearance of their present paramour? Well then, that is the emotional roller coaster we expect rabid fans of the Aptera 2e might be experiencing right about now.

You see, that great white flightless bird of electric fancy was just spotted at the Beijing Motor Show by Matthew Ungar, an expat who is somewhat familiar with the car's history. He was intrigued to see it on display in China and so, luckily for us, got the lowdown on its purported future and snapped a bunch a pics to place on his (very cool) blog PRC and Me.

This is where the story gets weird. Apparently, the future builder of the Aptera 2e - likely to be renamed something else - ~~is none other than~~ ~~Zap~~ Zhejiang Jonway. Yes, the same Zap Jonway who competed against Aptera in the Progressive Automotive X-Prize with its own three-wheeler, the Alias. It seems that the company bought the molds for the 2e and plans to build the composite chassis in China, and later, ship those to the U.S. for installation of a drivetrain. Sales are said to begin with the U.S. before expanding internationally, though there are yet no details about specifications or price.

Now, if you're thinking, "Wait, what about the Alias? Are they still going to build that too?", relax. A press release on the company's website points its manufacture beginning the fourth quarter of 2012 saying, "This limited edition production is now planned due to popular demand."

Sadly, we remain skeptical that any of this will come to pass. Besides the company's controversial history, there's this; Zap closed its showroom in Santa Rosa a year ago and, under the terms of a lawsuit resolution with former investor Al Yousuf Group, handed over the deed to this and another property, and promised to repay an additional $1.3 million. Also, from its recently filed 10-4:

ZAP incurred net losses attributable to ZAP of $40.8million, $19.0 million, and $11.3 million for years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively and has had net losses in each quarter since its inception. Jonway incurred net losses of $ 10.2 million and $445,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Hardly inspires confidence in a Zaptera-filled future, does it? Scroll down for the official press release detailing the company's presence at the Beijing Motor Show which, like its financial filing, lacks any specific mention of a certain composite-bodied vehicle formerly known as the Aptera 2e.

*UPDATE: We've received word that the Aptera wasn't bought by Zap Jonway, though Zhejiang Jonway Group will construct the chassis in China for Zaptera U.S.A..

Continue reading Zaptera! The Aptera 2e resurfaces in China as Zap Jonway product *UPDATE

Zaptera! The Aptera 2e resurfaces in China as Zap Jonway product *UPDATE originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aptera's assets going to the auction block next week

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:04:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, Aptera

One of the more unusual pieces of electric vehicle history may just be an Aptera foosball table. If you're interested in acquiring it, then head on over to the Heritage Global Partners website or to a location in Carlsbad, CA next week with your money ready.

HGP is managing the liquidation sale for Aptera Motors and has announced that whatever's left of the formerly futuristic vehicle company will be sold online on December 20 and 21. In a statement, HGP managing partner Kirk Dove said that, "The majority of Aptera's equipment available for auction was purchased in 2010 and is nearly new." You can see pictures and a list of what's going to be up for auction here. Sadly, the foosball table isn't branded with the Aptera name, as far as we can tell. For the more practical among you, there are things like welders and a Dimension BST 1200 Model Former, an industrial trailer and a Komatsu 3,000-pound forklift. There's also an entire flock of computer towers. We assume the data will be wiped before the sale, but imagine if it wasn't. Who wants to start their own dreamy car company?

The auction will be open to the public and an on-site preview happens December 19th. This should put to rest any last rumors that things were trashed on Aptera's last day. The fall from promises of the future to liquidating assets sure was fast, wasn't it?

Continue reading Aptera's assets going to the auction block next week

Aptera's assets going to the auction block next week originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What really happened on Aptera's last day: smiles, not destruction

Sebastian Blanco — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:39:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Aptera

Remember those Aptera-destroying videos that we thought were maybe filmed on the day the company closed up shop but then turned out to be months old? Here's some more context about them and information about what really happened on Aptera's last day.

Marques McCammon, Aptera Motors's former CMO, contacted AutoblogGreen to set the record straight and sent over the picture you see above (click it to enlarge). It was taken on the last day, McCammon says, adding:

This is what the team really looked like on the day that we closed. ... We had been planning to do a group picture for weeks, but we kept postponing it support of investor meetings and strategy sessions. On Friday, when we told the team that we were closing one of the fabricators, suggested that we go through with the picture for old time's sake.

The car is in the background because several of the engineers requested the opportunity to drive it one more time before it was assigned to the liquidators. The liquidators agreed and after a few hot laps around the building, the team took this picture.

He also told us that the employees, "walked out of there with dignity and poise" after learning the company was shutting down. "The notion that we were trying to destroy assets of the company is ridiculous," he said. "There was no instance of our guys going crazy. That's simply not true."

Continue reading What really happened on Aptera's last day: smiles, not destruction

What really happened on Aptera's last day: smiles, not destruction originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aptera employees smash vehicles after company closes? *UPDATE

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:53:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Aptera, Videos

Four videos have surfaced showing what is understood to be the destructive aftermath following news of Aptera's closure last week. Without knowing for certain what's happening, the videos appear to depict employees (or former employees) laughing as they trash prototype bodyshells of the three-wheeled, hyper-efficient vehicle.

Using a forklift, the people in the videos crush a bodyshell against the wall, drop on from on high and then put it into a dumpster. At the end of the first video, someone says, "None of this shit ends up on YouTube." In another, an off-screen voice asks, "How much do you think these videos are worth?" Well, now that they're publicly available, not much, but at the very least, these videos suggest that the shells were pretty sturdy. That's worth something, right?

This all has the potential to go from bad to worse very quickly. Steve Fambro, Former Chief Technical Officer and co-founder of Aptera, wrote on the Aptera forum that, "There is no viable or logical reason for this to have been done, only to prevent the founders from ever seeing their functioning works again."

Earlier, Aptera co-founder Chris Anthony wrote on the Aptera forum that the overall plan for the company once it went out of business was to put the assets into:

a trust with a very well respected Managed Liquidation Company. Their responsibility is to maximize the value of the remaining assets for the benefit of debt and share holders. There are no employees at Aptera and no Board of Directors. Everything that is Aptera, in terms of assets and IP, are now held by the Managed Liquidation Company.

This process to establish how the liquidation will occur has begun, but will take several weeks to be fully defined. Eventually, the assets will be auctioned off to the highest bidder to do with what they choose.

It is the responsibility of the managed liquidation company to protect Aptera's assets and maximize their value now. They were there when the doors were closed and hold the only access to these assets now.

Nothing will be destroyed, taken away, or otherwise impacted in a way that value will be decreased.

We're not sure how these videos change that statement, but you can watch them all after the jump.

*UPDATE: Aptera informs us these are old videos. Full explanation after the jump.

Continue reading Aptera employees smash vehicles after company closes? *UPDATE

Aptera employees smash vehicles after company closes? *UPDATE originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aptera pulls the plug

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:06:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Aptera

Just over a month ago, Aptera was promising rebirth with Aptera 2.0. The promise will not be kept. Today, the company announced it is closing its doors, effective immediately.

In an email to supporters, president and CEO Paul Wilbur wrote, "We are out of resources." His letter (available in full after the jump) reveals many details about the behind-the-scenes at the EV start-up, including DOE discussions about development of a plug-in Camry-like sedan. The company was talking to the DOE because it was asking for an ATVM (Advance Technology Vehicle Manufacturing) loan. Aptera was recently given a Conditional Commitment Letter for a $150 million loan but could not find the required matching funds to actually collect the money, even though Aptera was still raising money this summer.

Speaking of money, this news raises a host of questions, including what happens to the people who put down deposits on an Aptera 2e. Also, will some of the intellectual property that the company developed find a new home elsewhere? Wilbur's letter seems to indicate that is a possibility:

We remain confident, even as this chapter closes, that Aptera has contributed tech new technologies to build a future for more efficient driving. Through the dedicated staff at Aptera, our board and suppliers we have touched this future. All that remains is for someone to grab it. We still believe it will happen.

Continue reading Aptera pulls the plug

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Keep watching, Aptera 2.0 is coming

Eric Loveday — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:53:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Aptera

There seems to be something a brewin' over at Aptera Motors.

Gone is Aptera Motors' former website that displayed info on the automaker's oft-delayed three-wheeled electric 2e. In its place is a lone, non-working homepage with few details aside from this mission statement:

Aptera: The Combination of amazing aerodynamics and advance composites means the coming of a new generation of energy efficient vehicles that will change what we expect from our cars. Keep watching. 2.0 is coming!

We assume 2.0 refers to a site redesign, but nobody will say for sure. Aptera spokesman Marques McCammon simply told Green Car Reports:

All is well in start-up world. Yes, there is something new coming to the web. I would call it a better reflection of how our business is developing. I can't say much more than that at this point. As you can imagine, there is no one more eager to talk about Aptera than I am, but all things in their time.

So, we don't know what it is, but we do know that Aptera 2.0 is coming.

Keep watching, Aptera 2.0 is coming originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Aptera plays a role in the Solyndra political battle

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:56:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, Aptera, USA

One of the many, many contentious issues that make up the ongoing pointless battles between the Democrats and Republicans in Washington, D.C. is the Solyndra case, about how the now-bankrupt solar-power company got loan guarantees. Republicans say the Obama Administration pushed the loans through in a less-than-honest manner. The Administration and the DOE say everything was aboveboard.

One of the Republican Representative leading the charge against Obama is Darrell Issa, who announced yesterday that he will soon launch an investigation into the Solyndra situation with the oh-so-subtle title "How Obama's Green-Energy Agenda is Killing Jobs." Speaking on C-SPAN this week, Issa said, "There's been this attitude that somehow the government can weigh-in with loan guarantees and money and pick specific company winners and losers. We see that as a backdoor, easy way to end up with corruption in government."

Well... Issa is not some sort of blameless pol who is against all federal support for green tech companies. Bloomberg has a story today about how Issa, in early 2010, was stongly in favor of an Energy Department loan for Aptera Motors. "Awarding this opportunity to Aptera Motors will greatly assist a leading developer of electric vehicles in my district," he wrote to DOE Secretary Steven Chu. Aptera never did receive the loan it requested. Issa also wrote to the DOE to support battery maker Quallion in 2009.

In a sort of response to the issue at hand, Rep John Dingell gave a speech today calling on Congress to not end the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing loan program. The headline on the presser about the speech? "Republicans must not walk into the most important issue America faces with their eyes completely closed." Read the text and see the video after the jump.

*UPDATE: Then there's this.

Continue reading How Aptera plays a role in the Solyndra political battle

How Aptera plays a role in the Solyndra political battle originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aptera moving to Midwest to produce 2e

Mark Sumner — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Aptera

Aptera may have recently refunded all deposits, but that doesn't mean the company itself is gone. Following up on recent news that it is looking at facilities outside of California, Aptera today announced that it has settled on one of four possible states, all in the Midwest, as possible new locations for a manufacturing facility: Michigan, Indiana, Ohio or Wisconsin. The company is now studying these sites and negotiating with local officials to select the location for the factory that will crank out the highly aerodynamic (but not currently available for reservation) 2e.

The company headquarters are not moving and will remain in Carlsbad, CA. The production plans, too, are apparently still on track. Aptera vice president Dave Oakley stated that the company expects to employ around 1,500 people, though how those employees would be split between the headquarters and the Midwest facility isn't clear.

Despite the change of locations for manufacturing, Aptera's web site continues to indicate that only Californians need apply when it comes to the first batch of vehicles. No date is currently listed for availability.

Continue reading Aptera moving to Midwest to produce 2e

Aptera moving to Midwest to produce 2e originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aptera refunding deposits

Sebastian Blanco — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:51:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Aptera

Aptera 2e - Click above for high-res image gallery

There was good news and bad news out of the Aptera camp last month. The good: The company raised another $2.25 million. The bad: Reservations are now no longer being accepted. We just got word that the bad news is stacking up: Aptera is refunding deposits for the ultra-aerodynamic, three-wheeled electric vehicle (or planned hybrid version). In an email to supporters, Aptera says it is returning every deposit made thus far, according to Green Car Reports. The email reads, in part:

Our path to production has been longer than anticipated, which has complicated our reservation administration to the point that we have decided to return your deposit. ... [Our credit-card processing system] is designed for transactions to be completed in a six-month window. Since most of Aptera's deposits have been in reserve for more than six months, maintenance of the account has become problematic for our credit card processor and administratively cumbersome for Aptera.

Apparently, anyone who put in a deposit will now be added to a "newly created VIP database" and that, "As our production date approaches, we will use the database to direct you to your local retailer so you can be among the first to own an Aptera vehicle." The Aptera website doesn't have any of this news update, but it does still say "Reserve yours today!" without a working link. So...

Aptera refunding deposits originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Down, but not out: Aptera raises much-needed $2.25 million

Eric Loveday — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:49:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Aptera, USA

2010 Aptera 2e - Click above for high-res image gallery

Reserving an Aptera 2e is, at this point in time, not an option, but that doesn't necessarily mean that Aptera itself is out of the game.

According to GigaOM, the three-wheeled electric automaker is not bankrupt and, in fact, just raised $2.25 million of a planned $3 million by selling securities in its latest effort to get more funds. This ain't no hoax, as Aptera's Form D filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission verifies the number.

$2.25 million is a start, but the big question is whether it will be enough? Well, back in February, Aptera's newsletter emphasized that the automaker was still seeking a Department of Energy (DOE) loan to fund manufacturing of the 2e and sort of stated that without a major influx of cash, production of the 2e will remain on hold.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

[Source: Reuters]

Down, but not out: Aptera raises much-needed $2.25 million originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looking to reserve an Aptera 2e? Sorry for the inconvenience, but you can't

Eric Loveday — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Aptera

2010 Aptera 2e - Click above for high-res image gallery

Remember Aptera? Well, after the automaker's 2e struggled at last year's Automotive X-Prize competition, Aptera went silent. That is, until the automaker announced its intentions to relocate. After that announcement, Aptera returned to hush mode. Why? Well, it seems financial difficulties could be a brewin' over at Aptera.

Our buds over at All Cars Electric checked in on Aptera and discovered the automaker is no longer accepting reservations for the 2e. Well, at least not at this point in time. Aptera's 2e reservation page currently offers a pretty ominous message:

This page is temporarily unavailable. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Why? Well, ACE says an unnamed Aptera employee claims "there's an issue with the Wells Fargo escrow account at the moment, so we're unable to accept reservations" and that Aptera is undergoing a restructuring, so the site will soon be modified to reflect these changes.

The folks over at ACE reached out to Aptera for official comment on the situation, but did not received a response from the automaker. Seems a bit fishy, doesn't it?

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

[Source: All Cars Electric]

Looking to reserve an Aptera 2e? Sorry for the inconvenience, but you can't originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aptera seeking manucfacturing facility outside of California

Eric Loveday — Fri, 20 May 2011 10:04:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Aptera, USA

2010 Aptera 2e - Click above for high-res image gallery

Remember Aptera? Well, after the 2e's struggles at last year's Automotive X-Prize competition, Aptera went silent. Now, in Aptera's latest newsletter, the automaker's intentions to relocate have surfaced.

According to the newsletter, Aptera is trying to secure a manufacturing facility outside of California. This means that the automaker's ambitious plans to produce 88 2es a day in San Diego County will have to be scrapped. Aptera spokesman Marques McCammon told Sign on San Diego that:

The economics of the facility we have, we don't think make sense. In fact, we have received some very generous multi-million-dollar incentive proposals from other states. These vast potential savings, coupled with lower structural costs - such as labor, real estate, energy and logistics - would support our goals to keep our vehicles as affordable as possible. We've worked to find similar savings in our North County [San Diego] plans to offset these structural costs without increasing the price of our vehicles, but the potential is stronger elsewhere.

For now, Aptera's headquarters, research and development center and sales division will remain in Carlsbad, CA. Here's the kicker: Aptera says that no factory will be built ~~until~~ unless its loan from the Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing programs comes through. Essentially, Aptera is still saying, we needs money. Without cash, Aptera's future looks bleak. You can read the newsletter after the jump.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

[Source: Aptera, Sign on San Diego]

Continue reading Aptera seeking manucfacturing facility outside of California

Aptera seeking manucfacturing facility outside of California originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 20 May 2011 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aptera: We need government money to bring vehicle to market

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Aptera

What's been happening at Aptera? The hyper-aerodynamic vehicle company is still moving forward, just not as fast as the original plans called for (remember when the car was supposed to be available in ~~2009~~ 2010?). In the company's latest email newsletter, much space is dedicated to explaining where thing stand with the request for money from the Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing loan program (still waiting to hear back), the development and design of the 2-series vehicles (still testing) and why Aptera hasn't sold any vehicles yet (still waiting, see ATVMLP). Here's a choice quote:

A friend asked me today, "Why don't you simply use a smaller amount of money to force some vehicles out the door and into the marketplace?" My response was, "What are you willing to give up?" At a lower investment, vehicle manufacture is much more manual in nature, so the cost of every vehicle increases significantly. (This assumes, of course, that you want quality to stay the same, because testing for durability, reliability and quality has a cost.) When you can purchase components in volume, that cost gets spread out and shared. But when you build only a few, the cost of quality drives up the price.
So to those who ask what's happening in the halls of Aptera, the answer is that we are working to secure the capital necessary to deliver the volume and quality to move the market. We would obviously love to accelerate the process, but the government has to make sure they complete their comprehensive evaluation and we have to let the process run its course.

Basically, Aptera is saying, we needs money, whether from the government or some other major investor. Without that, the wingless bird might forever remain out of reach. You can read more from the newsletter after the jump.

[Source: Aptera]

Continue reading Aptera: We need government money to bring vehicle to market

Aptera: We need government money to bring vehicle to market originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engineer: Aptera 2e is designed for production, not winning the $2.5m X-Prize

Eric Loveday — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:03:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Daily, Aptera

Automotive X Prize Shakedown Stage showing Aptera 2e in action

Aptera did not capture victory in Alternative Side-by-Side Class at the 2010 X-Prize - that honor went to the Li-Ion Motors Wave II, as did the $2.5 million prize purse that was set aside for the class winner. Typically, winners are winners and losers are, well, losers. But that's not how Aptera views its defeat. Aptera chief engineer, Tom Reichenbach, maintains that the three-wheeled battery-powered 2e lost by design. Say what?

Reichenbach explains that Aptera is focused on readying the 2e for production and not winning some competition. In short, Reichenbach states that the Aptera 2e fell short of claiming victory simply because the vehicle's battery pack was designed to meet production targets and was not specifically engineered to pass the final stage of the X-Prize competition. Furthermore, Aptera had no interest in fitting a competition-specific battery into the 2e just for the sake of taking home the prize, something we think might have been a good choice just for the publicity of wining. Aptera may claim that winning wasn't its goal, but then why else even enter the competition? We know it was unintentional, but we've yet to see a production vehicle fling open its door while maneuvering around cones. Maybe competition isn't all bad.

[Source: Fox News]

Engineer: Aptera 2e is designed for production, not winning the $2.5m X-Prize originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aptera used Six Sigma process to develop 2e's new lighter, stronger composite material

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Aptera

With Aptera's 2e electric vehicle headed into the lab for final validation testing in the Automotive X-Prize's side-by-side class (against only four other vehicles), the company's latest newsletter is looking to the recent past and the future. Sure, there's the obligatory X-Prize update, but the more interesting bits of information come from an interview with Dave Oakley, Aptera's VP of Manufacturing.

Apparently, Aptera used the somewhat controversial Six Sigma method to optimize the new composite material on the 2e. Oakley said the original material on the 2e wasn't perfect in both appearance and consistency. He told his in-house writer:

We applied Six Sigma to optimize the materials we started with, which led us to change those materials to make them more production-worthy... The new material is made of sandwich core construction, which is a combination of several dry reinforced materials molded together using a resin. This construction gives us a material with a form similar to an I-beam running the length of the surface. The result is a material that is three to four times as strong as steel, yet the body is so lightweight a couple of people can lift it.

Another benefit, Oakley said, is lower cost, which is always a good thing. Read the entire piece after the jump.

[Source: Aptera]

Continue reading Aptera used Six Sigma process to develop 2e's new lighter, stronger composite material

Aptera used Six Sigma process to develop 2e's new lighter, stronger composite material originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aptera fixes infamous opening door safety issue by simply recessing a button

Eric Loveday — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Aptera

Automotive X Prize Shakedown Stage showing Aptera 2e in action

It's that time of month again when Aptera releases its latest newsletter. This one focuses on a hilarious yet embarrassing event that occurred during the Automotive X Prize Shakedown Stage last month. Perhaps appropriately termed, the Shakedown Stage nearly shook the door right off of the Aptera 2e, or so it appeared. Aptera has announced a fix for this door-swinging-open-for-no-apparent-reason problem that plagued the team during the competition. According to Aptera, the opening door can be attributed to poor design of the release mechanism and driver carelessness. Aptera has redesigned the release mechanism by recessing the push button into the door panel so that it cannot be inadvertently hit any more. Now that's ingenuity at work. As Aptera stated:

This is a rather embarrassing way to learn a lesson on design, but we learned nonetheless...The good news is the team has redesigned the door trim panels so this shouldn't happen again.

Aptera is also focusing on removing additional weight from the latest 2e prototype. The "notably overweight" prototype performed poorly during the X Prize's accident avoidance test, indicating that something was still wrong with the vehicle. Aptera hopes to work out any remaining issues and finalize a production-intent design soon, as any more setbacks seem sure to delay the launch yet again.

[Source: Aptera]

Continue reading Aptera fixes infamous opening door safety issue by simply recessing a button

Aptera fixes infamous opening door safety issue by simply recessing a button originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aptera 2e needed 40 attempts to clear Automotive X-Prize's accident avoidance test

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Automotive X-Prize, Aptera

The Aptera 2e has been driven on roads before, but the team from California can't be too pleased with the results of the first accident avoidance test yesterday: the vehicle needed 40 tries before passing, which might explain why the 2e was missing from the big press conference in Lansing.

The test requires the vehicles to drive at a minimum speed of 45 miles per hour and changes lanes "to the left and then back to the right without using throttle or braking to control the vehicle," as Consumer Reports writes. Cars like the modified Prius from American HyPower, the sedan from Illuminati Motor Works and the Edison2 Very Light Car all passed the test without much difficulty. Aptera, though, needed to do a lot of tweaking after consistently hitting a cone or not being fast enough through at least 28 attempts on day one. The next day, after another dozen close passes, the vehicle made it through the course.

We'll get our own look at the testing going on at the Michigan International Speedway next week and ask the Aptera team what they learned during this "reality check." Let's hope things are smoother for the rest of the teams.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Aptera 2e needed 40 attempts to clear Automotive X-Prize's accident avoidance test originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greenlings: Who will be the main players in the electric vehicle space?

Domenick Yoney — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:44:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Chevrolet, GM, Mitsubishi, Tesla Motors, Aptera, Th!nk (Think), USA, Fisker, BYD, Greenlings, Coda Automotive

2012 Renault Fluence Z.E.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are about to arrive in big numbers in the streets of America and, if you haven't already, you will soon experience your first sighting. Maybe not next month and maybe not this summer, but rest assured, sometime in the next 18 months it is very likely you will spot your first Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf (or Brammo Enertia or Navistar Modec or ...). Then it will happen again. And again. As oil becomes more expensive and batteries and other EV tech becomes better and cheaper, electric motoring will become an integral part of the mobility landscape.

With the re-introduction of this alternative drivetrain (a lot of EVs existed in the early 20th Century) many new companies, as well as the traditional manufacturers, will be fighting it out for a piece of this growing pie. While it's impossible to accurately predict the eventual size of the pastry or who will seize which slice, the near-term situation is becoming increasingly clear. If you're wondering how your early-adopter neighbor (or yourself) might be rollin' in the next year or two, skip with us past the break and take a look at what's coming up.

Continue reading Greenlings: Who will be the main players in the electric vehicle space?

Greenlings: Who will be the main players in the electric vehicle space? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aptera claims 2e will have 200-mile range with new Remy International electric motors

Eric Loveday — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:16:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Daily, Aptera

Aptera 2e - Click above for high-res image gallery

Recent stories about Aptera Motors have been rife with controversy. Who can forget the words of company chief executive officer Paul Wilbur as he mentioned the possibility of production of the 2e moving overseas, a statement he later corrected (sort of). This time around though its nothing but good news coming in as Aptera has named Remy International Inc. as its electric motor supplier for the 2e, a move indicating that they company is one step closer to finally producing the highly anticipated vehicle.

The good news doesn't end there. Remy announced some remarkable specs for the 2e that don't quite jive with Aptera's own numbers. Utilizing the Remy HVH250 electric motor, the company claims the lightweight trike will hit 60 miles per hour in less than 10 seconds with a top speed of 90 mph. The ultra-aerodynamic 2e will be one capable long-distance cruiser with a range of nearly 200 miles, a number matched by few electric vehicles.

We know that Aptera doubters will still remain skeptical that the 2e will ever reach production. But if it does, the specs are remarkable and a true indication that lightweight, aerodynamic designs benefit electric vehicles in all areas of performance. Follow after the jump for the full release. Thanks goes out to Neil, again!

Gallery: Aptera 2e

[Source: Remy International, Inc.]

Continue reading Aptera claims 2e will have 200-mile range with new Remy International electric motors

Aptera claims 2e will have 200-mile range with new Remy International electric motors originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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