$30,000 Electric Car to be sold in California

[octopus]

Found from digg: http://www.digg.com/gadgets/Aptera_Supe ... Test_Drive

Video of the car in action
http://www.popularmechanics.com/automot ... 37853.html

[Khamsin]

If anyone knows what I'm talking about, try to find a link to the three-wheeled car that was just recently invented... it was designed somewhat similar to this one, but in a fashion that it actually banked into turns much like an airplane... it is damned badass, looks like fun to drive, and I WANT ONE.

Protip: It was featured on that one tv show with the english guy that shows new technology, but can't think of the name for the life of me :/

Top Gear

Isn't there another show like that, but with an australian guy, that used to be "Beyond 2000"?

[Falisa]

That thing would get stolen from any parking lot in this city in an instant. A little less "I'm rich, bitch!" style, please.

Exactly what I was going to say. That thing would get fucked up/stolen within a week of buying it in my town.

[Kiro]

Like that thing doesn't have a crazy security system. With all those solar panels in the roof it could rock out some fuckin'.. 50,000 volt shock to a hand on the door handle that it doesn't recognize as the owner. BLAZZOW.

[Plow]

Really the car is actually pretty damn safe. It has your standard small car safety requirements and more met, and a fairly innovative front impact system.


As far as the big difference in mpg goes, if you watch the vid he mentions that a standard windshield wiper has as much drag as the *entire* car. You probably could in fact get 100+ more mpg out of an old mustang engine. A 1000% increase would not be that unreasonable, although it would take a fair bit of reingineering around the weight and the heat.



Anyway, what's really important about this car is the price-- they're going to be able to sell it for $30,000 with very minimal production numbers. You get GM or Ford mass producing this exact car in the same quantities as an Escort or Cavalier or whatever and you're looking at very similar prices (15k range). Problem is you're looking at GE or someone taking mass amounts of profits away from them until they can figure out how to do it on their own.

[Michaera]

After watching the video, what I don't really understand is... As of the last few years, auto makers have been pushing the fuel efficiency of their vehicles, such that a Camry getting 33 mpg is hot shit. If this company has such an emphasis on aerodynamics, claiming it's largely the shape/drag that contributes to such amazing gas mileage, why is everyone else still pushing out vehicles that look like boxes on wheels? If changing the design of the body and leaving everything else mostlyt he same would make a large impact for little extra cost, like the wiper thing for example, I don't understand why the automakers aren't all over it. Unless they're all tied up with the oil companies or something who don't want them to be -too- efficient.

Doesn't Saab claim to be founded/run by aerospace engineers? This isn't exactly difficult stuff conceptually, I would've thought the idea would've been pioneered before this.

[Charla]

After watching the video, what I don't really understand is... As of the last few years, auto makers have been pushing the fuel efficiency of their vehicles, such that a Camry getting 33 mpg is hot shit. If this company has such an emphasis on aerodynamics, claiming it's largely the shape/drag that contributes to such amazing gas mileage, why is everyone else still pushing out vehicles that look like boxes on wheels? If changing the design of the body and leaving everything else mostlyt he same would make a large impact for little extra cost, like the wiper thing for example, I don't understand why the automakers aren't all over it. Unless they're all tied up with the oil companies or something who don't want them to be -too- efficient.

Doesn't Saab claim to be founded/run by aerospace engineers? This isn't exactly difficult stuff conceptually, I would've thought the idea would've been pioneered before this.

Detroit design guy: Ok, we've got a car that can get 200 MPG and hit 110 in 4 seconds.
Detroit marketing guy: That thing looks like a spaceship! According to our focus groups in Milwaukee, Americans will never buy a car that doesn't look like a box on wheels. Now go make another Pinto.
Design guy: Screw this, I'mm'a go work for a no-name company that only sells in California.

[Plow]

After watching the video, what I don't really understand is... As of the last few years, auto makers have been pushing the fuel efficiency of their vehicles, such that a Camry getting 33 mpg is hot shit. If this company has such an emphasis on aerodynamics, claiming it's largely the shape/drag that contributes to such amazing gas mileage, why is everyone else still pushing out vehicles that look like boxes on wheels? If changing the design of the body and leaving everything else mostlyt he same would make a large impact for little extra cost, like the wiper thing for example, I don't understand why the automakers aren't all over it. Unless they're all tied up with the oil companies or something who don't want them to be -too- efficient.

Doesn't Saab claim to be founded/run by aerospace engineers? This isn't exactly difficult stuff conceptually, I would've thought the idea would've been pioneered before this.

Detroit design guy: Ok, we've got a car that can get 200 MPG and hit 110 in 4 seconds.
Detroit marketing guy: That thing looks like a spaceship! According to our focus groups in Milwaukee, Americans will never buy a car that doesn't look like a box on wheels. Now go make another Pinto.
Design guy: Screw this, I'mm'a go work for a no-name company that only sells in California.

Yeah, that's pretty much the sensible, acceptable answer.


The tinfoil hat crazy conspiracy theory would bring up how anything you do that's bad for big oil is very very bad for you, seeing how they run they entire world and all. And it would probably be more accurate.

[Charla]

Yeah, but my way I get to make fun of the Midwest. And marketing.

Not to mention that other way might start an argument.