Plug-In Hybrid Aptera 2e Gets More Than 300 MPG
Aerodynamic Shape and Weight Help the Aptera Be More Efficient
Jul 14, 2009
The electric Aptera 2e averages 120 miles before requiring a recharge and the plug-in hybrid version allegedly gets more than 300 miles per gallon. These vehicles are designed to have less drag, making them more positive products in the race to be more sustainable.
Dreams of Efficient Transportation
Frustrated with his daily commute, Aptera co-founder Steve Fambro used his time stuck in traffic to consider more efficient ways of getting around, more specifically, how to get into the carpool lane. Fambro dreamed of breezing past traffic in a vehicle safe enough to protect his family, yet efficient enough to stop continually feeding the gas pump, according to the Aptera.com “About Us” page.
The goal was to create a driveable, stable, and safe vehicle comparable to an automobile, but with higher energy efficiency and lower weight, according to Susan Carpenter in the January 2, 2008 Los Angeles Times article “Three-Wheelers Have Designs on Sportiness, Safety.”
Aptera 2e Features
Both the all-electric and the plug-in hybrid get most of their efficiency from the vehicle shape. Rather than using a rectangle as a design start, Aptera considered birds in flight, resulting in a bird-body like shape. They are lighter than other vehicles, weighing between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds, according to the Aptera.com “FAQs” page. The Aptera 2e also has three wheels, which classifies it as a motorcycle, making it eligible for carpool lanes. The carpet and seat material is recycled, originating from plastic bottles and cups, and the fabrics throughout use natural dyes.
According to Miguel Llanos in the November 21, 2007 MSNBC.com article “Jetson-like Electric Vehicle in Works,” the vehicle can run 120 miles before needing a recharge and is designed to charge overnight using a 110v outlet. Llanos also notes that there are two front seats for adults and room for a carseat in the back, which is also spacious enough for “15 bags of groceries or two full-size golf bags.”
The vehicle uses solar cells embedded in the roof to power the air conditioning and heating system, will fit in a standard one-car garage, and includes GPS navigation, CD/MP3/DVD player, vehicle diagnostic system, and LED interior and exterior lighting.
Safety Factors of the Aptera
Aptera claims the vehicle, equipped with driver and passenger air bags, can take the weight of two elephants on the roof with barely a dent because the body structure consists of an “impact-resistant exterior that is lighter than steel but three times as strong.” Another safety feature claimed by Aptera is that the front end incorporates “race car technology,” absorbing and deflecting crash energy away from the cabin.
There is a rear vision system providing the driver with 180-degree vision displayed on a screen in the dashboard area. A recent change in this system, according to the November 19, 2008 Aptera Newsletter, consolidated three body-mounted cameras into one camera on the roof, giving the driver an unobstructed view of the rear of the vehicle and reducing the drag that the three original cameras created.
The vehicle has yet to be crash tested, but their “FAQ” page says their “vehicles are designed to meet or exceed current commuter vehicle safety standards.” Although initial sales and distribution is limited to California residents, this has not slowed down the 1,300 vehicles Aptera has presold, according to Anne Underwood in the April 14, 2008 Newseek article “10 Fixes For the Planet.” The all-electric Aptera 2e is scheduled to go into production in late 2009, and the plug-in electric Aptera is schedule for production in 2010, according to the Aptera website.
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