300-mpg Electric Aptera Ready for 2008 Production

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4232400.html

November 20, 2007
300-mpg, Electric Aptera Typ-1 Ready for 2008 Production, Not Jetsons Remake: First Look

The Aptera Typ-1 might look like something straight out of George Jetson's garage, but it’s a real car. And it’s a real look at our possible future when it comes to emissions-free transportation. We recently sat down with Aptera CEO Steve Fambro to get a better idea of this all-electric three-wheeler’s production realities. According to Fambro, the two-speed Typ-1 will weigh in at less than 1500 pounds (even with solar panels and LEDs inside) and go 120 miles on a single 110-volt charge—and it’s coming to market next year (you can make your reservation now).

Fambro, an engineer by trade, initially found his inspiration for Aptera in the sleek 2003 Volkswagen 1-liter concept car, a vehicle that VW claimed could deliver 235 mpg. “I was amazed at how the car could get such great range from aerodynamics and low weight,” he says. “For our car, we studied every angle to create the lowest-drag vehicle possible while keeping passengers in a traditional side-by-side configuration.”

The Typ-1 only takes a few hours to fully charge the 10-kilowatt lithium-ion battery packs, which aren’t made up of individual cells as in, say, the Tesla Roadster. The exact chemistry for the Aptera packs are (predictably) not for public consumption, but we do know that the batteries make up about a quarter of the cost to build this car.

Since it’s a three-wheeler, the Typ-1 can be classified as a motorcycle here on U.S. roads. And while Aptera doesn’t have to adhere to the same safety regulations as regular automobiles, Fambro says his design team has made safety a priority, using advanced computer modeling to perform virtual crash tests throughout the Typ-1 build. A 45-in. front crumple zone combines with side-impact beams, redirecting crash energy from the front. “The cage, which is a steel frame with a variety of composite panels, creates a powerful passenger safety cell,” Fambro insists. What’s more, any crash would probably see cars slide under the high-sitting main compartment of the Typ-1 and head straight for the tires, which Fambro tells us are designed to absorb significant impact.

Aptera’s electric vehicle will come with an airbag, but instead of your typical front airbag, it’s in the seatbelt—a design very common to aircraft. The belt looks and operates like a standard one, but the airbag is stored in the lap-belt portion of the seatbelt, deploying up and away from the seat occupant. This affords passengers of all sizes critical protection to the head, neck and torso in the event of a crash.

Inside, the Aptera team replaced standard rearview mirrors with embedded cameras that display a 180-degree rear view on the instrument panel. Solar cells mounted under the roof operate an “always-on” climate control system, ensuring the interior never gets too hot or too cold. The three-wheeler also has energy-saving LED interior and exterior lighting, plus enough cargo room for 15 grocery bags—or two sets of golf clubs.

A second Aptera model will roll out shortly after the all-electric Typ-1—the Aptera Hybrid. This plug-in vehicle will use an electric drivetrain assisted by a small, fuel-efficient gasoline engine coming from a European motor manufacturer. The hybrid is said to achieve a driving range anywhere from 120 to 300 mpg equivalent. We can’t wait for our turn behind the wheel of either car, so stay tuned. —Brittany Marquis