7/28/08 - Aptera Electric Car Closer to Production After Cash Infusion - gas2.org

[Matthijs]

http://gas2.org/2008/07/28/aptera-electric-car-closer-to-production-after-cash-infusion/

For example, the Typ-1 PHEV can drive 40 miles on electric power alone, but as soon as you get over that threshold, you start using fuel. As such, on a 50 mile trip the Typ-1 PHEV would have a fuel economy of 1000 miles per gallon. As you drive further the battery energy is depleted and the engine is turned on with increasing frequency, which uses more and more fuel. The result is that on a 75 mile trip, the fuel economy of the Typ-1 PHEV is around 400 miles per gallon and on a trip of 120 miles, fuel economy is around 300 miles per gallon.
After 350-400 miles at highway speeds the fuel economy settles in at around 130 MPG, where it stays until it is charged up again. See the graph to the right for more detail. Aptera has chosen the 300 mpg/120 mile range number because they say that a 120 mile range covers the typical daily driving needs of 99% of the US population.


Finally a report that gives a good insight in the energy consumption of the Aptera. :)

[Apt3448]

That is the first good description I've seen on a larger blog. WHat surprises me is that they are still talking about 3300 reservations. I have seen this number in other recent posts as well. The quote from Steve seems to suggests this is recent info. I am wondering if perhaps there are that many cancelations? Perhaps out of staters? Perhaps people who urgently need the $500 back to fill up their guzzlers?

Obviously, the reservation numbers we get are not updated when an earlier number cancels. So Gary's graph must be an overstatement of sorts. But here at the forum we are close to 3900, and I find it hard to believe some 600 people withdrew. Then again, it would make my number look a lot better :)

[Matthijs]

That is the first good description I've seen on a larger blog. WHat surprises me is that they are still talking about 3300 reservations. I have seen this number in other recent posts as well. The quote from Steve seems to suggests this is recent info. I am wondering if perhaps there are that many cancelations? Perhaps out of staters? Perhaps people who urgently need the $500 back to fill up their guzzlers?

Obviously, the reservation numbers we get are not updated when an earlier number cancels. So Gary's graph must be an overstatement of sorts. But here at the forum we are close to 3900, and I find it hard to believe some 600 people withdrew. Then again, it would make my number look a lot better :)
I think those numbers are coming from Aptera's PR and marketing firm they hired. There must be some time gap in the information they are providing to the press and what we have here on the forum.

http://www.szpr.com/index.html (http://www.szpr.com/index.html)

[Apt3448]

I think those numbers are coming from Aptera's PR and marketing firm they hired. There must be some time gap in the information they are providing to the press and what we have here on the forum.
And the link you give mentions 'FRESH insightful communications' in their sales tag?! Are they :indifferent0008: ??

[customdavid]

Actually the report on energy consumption is straight of the website in the Vehicle Details/Performance section. Good information, but nothing new.

Personally, I was more pleased to see an infusion of funds for the project, but was concerned about the suggestion that H1 (or is it PHEV) is not expected for 12 mo. after the EV. If this is correct and the current estimates of 30% electric are correct. Let's just go with the 3,300 estimate (which I agree with Rob, seems low), but just for a number, let's use it. That would mean that the expected production of the EV is 990 (3300 * 30%). This means that the first year production will be less than 1,000 (and that is assuming that everyone of those completes the sale and does not drop out).

Also, it looks like first delivery of the 1E's is not till December '08, so good luck on seeing any of the 1H's before 2010. (That is what I have on order). I'm hoping that part of the delay is first production jitters and bugs. Once they get those worked out the the early adopters will start to receive a few on the street this year. By the time that the 1E's are finishing production that things will jump and we start to see several hundred coming out of the factory each month and then a few thousand.

Kind of wondering if I should order the 1E and then pay to have it converted to hybrid (JK).

[A1phaGeek]

This article made the front page of Digg.com:
http://digg.com/environment/Aptera_Electric_Car_Closer_to_Production_After_Cas h_Infusion

[Dolphyn]

That is the first good description I've seen on a larger blog. WHat surprises me is that they are still talking about 3300 reservations.
Aptera accepted hundreds of reservations before making the decision to restrict initial sales to California. The out-of-state reservations have been cancelled by Aptera. So, it makes sense to think that hundreds of reservations have been cancelled.