Comments by "N. Bruce Nelson" (@n.brucenelson5920) on "Donut" channel.

  1.  @firemanflorence  There is a 250 mile range model in the works for $25,900.
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  2. Remember that ongoing cost of ownership should be a part of your calculation.
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  3. That wasn't the same vehicle, although it had a similar shaped body. The design of the current vehicle, which has a completely different drive train, size, and construction technique, started in 2019.
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  4. They swing up. There is more clearance than with standard doors that swing out.
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  5. The first is a big yes. The second will vary by local laws.
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  6. Learn how to do some due diligence. The last company Chris Anthony co-founded and took public as CEO is rated a strong buy on the market by every analyst following it. Any startup is risky, but "Kickstarter scams" are not partnered with the world's top automotive suppliers.
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  7.  @diegomarxweiller1814  CPC of Modena Italy, the same company that makes bodies for Lamborghini, Yazaki of Japan, the largest wiring harness supplier, Roush Performance for suspension and other parts, I could go on, but this is all stuff you could have found out for yourself if you weren't so lazy or didn't know how. We are beginning to think that you have no idea how to do your own research or thinking.
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  8.  @diegomarxweiller1814  There are at least three. If you didn't know that, you probably don't even know the name of the company. Hint: they are now a major supplier to Delta Airlines.
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  9. No, you can plug into any available grid power source as well, including a Tesla Supercharger. In fact, it is because of Aptera that the Supercharger system has opened up as NACS to the rest of the industry.
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  10.  @diegomarxweiller1814  You are just showing your extreme ignorance here. Why do you think it is the standard? Chris Anthony included it in the very first prototypes because he looked at all the options and knew it was superior, even though it was proprietary. He asked Elon for permission to use it. Then he created a petition that over 40,000 people signed the company's petition to make Tesla superchargers and plugs the U.S. standard. I was one of them. “We're thrilled about this news and applaud Tesla for allowing and encouraging the EV industry to utilize its superior technology,”
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  11.  @diegomarxweiller1814  LOL Afraid of having your ignorance so publicly exposed? Perhaps you could inform yourself before spouting nonsense. I don't work for Aptera - but I have given them some of my own money. Everything I have done for them has been entirely volunteer.
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  12. I did my due diligence on Elio back in the day. They were an obvious scam to anyone who looked at the company closely. Aptera passes such an inspection.
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  13. Depending on time of year, and the particular day. and location. Might be better to say "up to" ...or at least 13 miles for each hour plugged into a standard 110 VAC outlet.
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  14. Aptera will be tested by a third party to the same FMVSS Part 200 standards that cars are subject to and the results will be published.
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  15.  @allhonesty848  I have around 1/2 million miles on motorcycles, so I have never relied on crash protection to keep me safe (although I certainly used helmets and padding) My first Honda Insight was hit from behind at 65 mph by an SUV and I was uninjured. I replaced it with a similar model. In my judgement, Aptera will be even safer, but I will have more evidence when the crash test results are released. Of course the Aptera is FAR bigger than the Smart Car, with much larger crumple zones. Your comment makes me think you haven't looked into it.
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  16. Production vehicles will have multiple levels of regeneration.
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  17. Pretty sure you shouldn't...
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  18. Depending on the local area it may be called an autocycle. It is certainly its own vehicle, but will be built and safety tested to automotive standards.
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  19.  @airbnbphotography  A fast charger with 50 amps, 400 VDC will charge a 400 mile range battery Aptera to full in about one hour. We will know exactly once the validation testing of the PI vehicles is finished. It is not the fastest, but the range is such that it is certainly practical. You can certainly use an adapter to other cables if you wish, but it would be more bulky and soon all stations will be using the NACS plug as standard. Due to the solar assist and 110 and 220/240 VAC charging capability most users will never need to visit a fast charger in any case. If needed the possibility is there.
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  20.  @airbnbphotography  Yes, the motors are wheel motors. This has the disadvantage of adding unsprung weight.But not an outrageous amount, just over 50 lbs per wheel. The advantages include no drive shaft bearing and additional weight and friction, plus much faster acting traction control that can sense wheel slip and adjust torque 32 times per wheel revolution-or about every 2.5 inches of tread travel.
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  21. It had better - I live in rural Iowa and mine will be seeing a lot of gravel roads. I will report on how it does year round.
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  22. Hidden under the front cowl.
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  23. I live in Iowa and will be getting an early model. I will let you know how it performs there.
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  24. Yes, Chris Anthony is 6'4". We have seen video of journalists as tall as 6'8 sitting in the gamma with head and leg room to spare.
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  25. I will be driving mine year 'round in Iowa, and will report on my experience.
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  26. We just found out that the solar panels will be covered with glass rather than plastic.
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  27. I live in Iowa where we get a lot less solar insolation than California, but solar is still likely to meet most of my daily driving needs except for trips, and it will be welcome for camping. Around 62% of our grid power comes from wind, so occasionally plugging in is less damaging than in many places.
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  28. Walking is good. It might even increase the oxygen flow to your brain enough to improve your thinking to the point you change your mind.
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  29. Plenty of room in back. You can even order a pet kit.
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  30. The first Apterae will be delivered from Southern California, and they will have mobile repair people located there. Since Aptera is a right to repair, company, any independent repair shop can be used or you can do such work yourself. Aptera plans 24 hour parts turn around, and repair procedures will often be accessible through QR codes. I have checked with my local shops in Iowa, and they can't wait to work on it.
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  31.  @StageRight123  I live in Iowa. I expect the AWD model will be very good in snow with the proper tires because of a superior traction control system that can sense slip and adjust torque every 2.5" of tread travel. It has already proven it can run on ski slopes in Switzerland with the snow over the bottom of the wheel pants.
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  32. Wonderful! My wife and I rode in Luna with Daniel Morris driving. You can be proud of your work.
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  33. Four states require a motorcycle license to operate Aptera at present: Alaska, Georgia, South Dakota, and Washington. This is changing.
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  34. It is not only aerodynamic from the front, but also other directions. There is downforce built into the shape and it is more stable than most slab sided vehicles on the road, even those with 4 wheels.
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  35. Aptera's second vehicle is likely to be a 4 wheel, 5 passenger sedan.
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  36. Why would I want to drive around a Model 3 that uses 2.5 times the power of Aptera if Aptera meets my needs?
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  37. Probably won't happen. In some of these states, you can;t even roll a dresser bike through the area that it is required to turn in with the wheel at lock. They provide a small bike that the test must be taken on.
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  38. It was done so they don't compress too much air between the wheel pods and the body. It is the best way to reduce air resistance - critical to the performance.
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  39.  @AkbarNurPribadi  That would increase the frontal area, and thus greatly increase the wind resistance. Of course you are correct that the extra width in front also gives more stability. Having three wheels reduces rolling resistance, weight, and cost, compared to 4. Since the goal is to build the most efficient vehicle for the job, a whole series of factors come into play.
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  40. The company, Aptera Corp. was only founded in 2019 and design work begun. Do your research. It is possible that customer vehicles could start shipping by the end of next summer, depending on how funding goes and the results of the validation testing of the initial production intent vehicles, including crash testing.
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  41.  @emptyshirt  I certainly hope they do!
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  42. With over 32 sq. ft. of cargo space, should be little issue.
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  43. Actually, this fear is not correct. I have ridden in one. There is plenty of room between each front tire and the trailing rear tire in the center - almost 4 ft, to make straddling potholes and debris usually possible. In addition there is no low hanging air dam to be damaged as there is on many Japanese small cars, including my present one. Aptera is even better at this.
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  44. Aptera can be charged at a rate of 13 MPH range gain plugged into a standard 110VAC outlet, or around 400 miles per hour plugged into a Tesla Supercharger.
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  45.  @joesmith201212  You apparently aren't aware that the configuration of the controllers makes a large difference in how a panel can charge. Conventional roof top panels can lose much of their output from the shadow of a power line for instance. That is not the case with the Aptera controllers. You should actually investigate before making uninformed statements.
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  46. The first is a matter of taste, and will likely be addressed by the aftermarket. I was concerned about the window myself, but found it wasn't the issue I expected in the prototype I rode in. I had to think about it to even notice it. I am withholding judgement until I have a chance to experience a production vehicle because the dimensions have changed from the prototype I rode in,, and I think the line will be thinner. It may depend on the height of the driver, but I think it will be OK for most.
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  47.  @ALE5six1  $25,900 was the announced base price for the original planned 2WD solar hood 250 mile range model. I am beginning to think that they may only do full solar models going forwards. While inflation has been on going, battery prices have dropped considerably, and the per body cost of the CPC bodies is likely to be much lower than the old vacuum resin infusion prices and have less waste. I don't think we will have a better idea until they are near production, and the 250 mile (or so) range models are still a ways off. I think 1000 mile range vehicles will surely be well over $ 50K unless battery prices continue to go down rapidly (which may happen).
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  48.  @ALE5six1  I appreciate your interest. No, Elio Motors vibe is not a good thing. They were a scam. 3 wheels provides a major reduction of rolling resistance, and is especially important at lower speeds. Air resistance is the major power loss at highway speeds, so both are important. 3 wheels also lowers weight and cost. Even though it is not required by law, Aptera will be submitted to the same FMVSS crash testing as other cars and the results will be published. We have already seen video of the beta prototype passing the moose test - something that many vehicles on US roads can't do.
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  49. Falsehood. The company was only created in 2019, and the design was essentially finished in December of 2022.
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  50. Chris Anthony, one of the co-founders, is 6'4" . People up to around 6'8" should find it fairly comfortable.
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