10/12/08 - Popular Mechanics "The breakthrough issue" November 2008 - PM

[G-Jet]

Popular Mechanics has the aptera on the cover! A 2 page article. Looks like they won an award.

G

[Apollo]

I don't see anything at http://www.popularmechanics.com/ . Can you provide a pic or a link?

[G-Jet]

there is a link in the article, but it wouldn't work for me.

I have the issue right here, will try to scan the cover later.

G

[G-Jet]

got the cover scanned.

g

[G-Jet]

not the best scan. don't know how to get the low kb file size required here.

g

[javan]

G-Jet, thanks for the info. I'll be looking for a copy on the magazine rack. Jim

[G-Jet]

you are welcome javan. I just found it today at the bookstore and was surprised to see it.

G

[c0mp13x]

G-Jet found this story on "The Breakthrough Issue" of new Popular Mechanics, Nov 2008, featuring the Aptera on the cover.

http://www.apteraforum.com/showthread.php?t=1691


Popular Mechanics has now posted a nice hi-res shot of the cover on their site and it looks like a good issue to go check out.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/marketing/covers/?fullSize=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia%2Epopularmechanics%2E com%2Fimages%2Fcovers%2F200811%2Ejpg&caption=November%2C%202008

Thanks G-Jet!

http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/covers/200811.jpg

:happy0025:

[iwannaptera]

A combo saw that will change the world???

[KarenRei]

A combo saw that will change the world???

It's a combination saw/cure for cancer.

[iwannaptera]

It's a combination saw/cure for cancer.
I guess I could see that if it were guided by some sort of imaging modality. Is that why you know about it? Does it have some sort of micro-MRI imager attached to it? Place saw near patient to image for tumors. Remove tumor with saw. Easy peazy. That would change the world. Who needs those overpaid oncologists....

[aptera1213]

it will change the world as that saw is self aware and actually quite hostile...if it replicates we are in deep doo doo...

[danieloneil01]

I'll be buying Novembers issue. So when will it come out on news stands?

[G-Jet]

Danieloneil01,

It is on the newsstands now, that is how I found it! I bought it Saturday at a Boarders.

Surprised no one else seems to have found it.

good 2 page picture of steve and chris and the typ1 with a article.

G

[esmith]

Anything interesting/new in the article?

[G-Jet]

Same info except this last paragraph:

"Unlike some other eco-car stratups, Aptera has recruited heavy hitters from the automotive industry, arguably giving the company the know-how to truly transform the roads. "I think as time goes on and everyone accepts the we're in an energy scarce world, cars with shift in styling," Fambro says. "Twenty years from now, we'll look at cars that waste energy the way we look at litter today. They will make us feel weird."

Last paragraph of the article. Go buy the issue and see the cool picture!

G

[garygid]

An Aptera Popular Mechanics Center Fold?

[esmith]

Took a peek in the store.

Two things that catch the eye: Cd 0.15 and the claim that it takes 8 hours to recharge the vehicle.

I do hope that it does not mean that the charger is limited to 110V/15A ....

[garygid]

If a CD of 0.15 (up from 0.11) is accurate, then ... either
the range is less than 120, or the battery size is larger than 10 kWh?

[esmith]

The 120 mile range was mentioned too. Could be that either the cross-section or rolling losses are lower.

[KarenRei]

It could also mean that the DOD is higher.

But honestly, all of these 0.15 claims seem to trace to the same single source; I won't trust it until I hear something more authoritative.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

If the Cd 0.15 figure is with the side mirrors, I would think that is very plausible.

[Ardie3301]

I'm with KarenRei on this.

Have we already forgotten their 300 mpg claim in the Nov 2007 story?

Popular Mechanics is more of a shining example of offering the wild (but plausible) assertion instead of presenting hard facts. Especially if they are still working on a 90 day lead time for their stories.

If I believed everything they wrote, then where's my jet pack?
-- Ardie

[garygid]

If the CD of the original Aptera body-only was about 0.05,
and adding the wheels added 0.06 to get up to 0.11, then
it seems highly unlikely that adding 2 mirrors would add 0.04 more.

[JoeReal]

It is official, Stever Fambro and the Aptera got the recognition award.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/popular-mechanics-recognizes-life-changing-innovations-with-the-2008-breakthrough-awards,581169.shtml

[speculawyer]

If the CD of the original Aptera body-only was about 0.05,
and adding the wheels added 0.06 to get up to 0.11, then
it seems highly unlikely that adding 2 mirrors would add 0.04 more.
They should get rid of the wheels then. :D

[gistmarrs]

Mag-lev! I like the way you think, speculawyer.

[n_dawg]

The 120 mile range was mentioned too. Could be that either the cross-section or rolling losses are lower.

They did say it was the most efficient Aptera yet…

[Reellucky]

Garygid...........Awwwww.......the staples covered the best spots!! :) (How bout that new Fed residential solar rebate!)

[c0mp13x]

http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-470-1108.jpg

APTERA VEHICLES
Innovator: Aptera founders Steve Fambro and Chris Anthony
Automotive Equation: aerodynamic design + lightweight composite-fiber body + real-world experience = a new, ultraefficient automotive category

Original Article: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/research/4286850.html?series=60&page=2&?series=60

Top 10 New World-Changing Innovations of the Year

2008 Breakthrough Awards /// The Innovators

The early 20th century produced a breathtaking succession of innovations—the Wright Flyer, the Model T, the Panama Canal. It was a golden age of engineering. A century hence, observers may well look back at our era in much the same way: Cars are being reimagined from the wheels up. Advances in solar energy show the way past fossil fuels. And space probes explore planets that could become our future homes. These pages salute the innovators who are inventing the future. Welcome to the new golden age.

By Logan Ward and the Editors of Popular Mechanics
Published in the November 2008 issue.

Five years ago, engineer Steve Fambro was working for a biotech company, spending his weekends tinkering with his pickup truck to increase its fuel economy. “I realized it was a losing proposition because of all the weight and drag,” he says. “I thought, ‘What would a vehicle with no drag look like?’” The Aptera Typ-1e, which should be available by the end of 2008, became Fambro’s answer. It could prove revolutionary, opening up a new automotive category of ultra-high-mileage automobiles designed for real-world drivers and—at $30,000—priced for them, too.

The Typ-1e’s drag coefficient is an astounding 0.15, compared to 0.26 for the Toyota Prius, considered an exemplar of aero*dynamic efficiency. (SUVs top 0.40.) According to Fambro, the entire Typ-1e (shown here) produces less drag than the sideview mirrors on a pickup truck.

At just 1500 pounds, the two-seater is lightweight, as well. The body is made of an ultralight composite—Fambro’s partner, Chris Anthony, used the material in wakeboard boats he’d designed—bonded to a metal safety cage. As a three-wheel vehicle, the Typ-1e is exempt from some safety requirements, yet it meets or exceeds crash-test guidelines for conventional cars. The company is launching the all-electric Typ-1e with a 120-mile range and a recharge time of 8 hours. Next year, it plans to follow up with a plug-in hybrid, the Typ-1h, which should get 300 mpg for the first 120 miles and never go less than 130 miles on a gallon of gas. Aptera is also planning a larger vehicle with seating for four.

Unlike some other eco-car startups, Aptera has recruited heavy hitters from the automotive industry, arguably giving the company the know-how to truly transform the roads. “I think as time goes on and everyone accepts that we’re in an energy-scarce world, cars will shift in styling,” Fambro says. “Twenty years from now, we’ll look at cars that waste energy the way we look at litter today. They will make us feel weird.”
**************************************************

http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-nyc-430-1008.jpg

Original Article: http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4287508.html?series=60?series=60

Aptera Electric Car Stops Traffic (Literally) on First Drive in NYC: Gallery

October 15, 2008

NEW YORK — You don’t see this many cameraphones pulled out in this town short of a Britney Spears sighting. We sure as heck haven’t seen as many wide-eyed onlookers for a car here before. “Does it fly?” asked one of the dozens of New Yorkers crammed outside the Hearst Tower tonight as the Aptera Typ-1e electric vehicle pulled up to accept its Breakthrough Award.

No, the Aptera doesn’t fly, but it can hit 120 miles per gallon right now, and it’s headed for production this fall. We already took the first Aptera test drive last December, so we let our Jalopnik buddy Ray Wert sit shotgun for a trip around the block as the aerodynamically awesome car, on its first trip to the East Coast, made its way around the corner to tonight’s Breakthrough Conference and Awards Presentation, where other winners in alternative energy—as well as space, appropriate technology and much more—are already wowing the crowds. Even legendary astronaut and PM editorial advisory board member Buzz Aldrin walked away impressed. See his and the Big Apple’s reaction with the gallery at left, and stay tuned for much more live coverage right here. —Matt Sullivan
Steve Fambro and Chris Anthony finished their weekend in NY winning the Popular Mechanics Breakthough Award for 2008. Pretty nice weekend for the guys...

http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-nyc-1-1008.jpg

More pics: http://www.popularmechanics.com/content/imageview.cfm?img=http%3A//media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-nyc-2-1008.jpg&caption=Aptera%20Typ-1e

http://www.popularmechanics.com/content/imageview.cfm?img=http%3A//media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-nyc-3-1008.jpg&caption=Aptera%20Typ-1e

:happy0025:

[iwannaptera]

http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-nyc-1-1008.jpg

More pics: http://www.popularmechanics.com/content/imageview.cfm?img=http%3A//media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-nyc-2-1008.jpg&caption=Aptera%20Typ-1e

http://www.popularmechanics.com/content/imageview.cfm?img=http%3A//media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-nyc-3-1008.jpg&caption=Aptera%20Typ-1e

:happy0025:

Well, I guess they did ship the darn thing all the way to NY....

[garygid]

Notice that the "inside" picture of the Mk-1 appears to be inside
the new "factory" in Vista, CA. The truck door in the background
is probably 15 feet tall, so the roof is 25 to 30 feet high.
The racks on the right look like those that could be used to hold
and warehouse parts. So, it looks like Aptera has "space".

I was sure wrong about them shipping an Aptera to NYC. :happy0025:

[garygid]

Yes, the traditional trouble with a center-fold ... the binding.

The new law removing the $2000 cap on the 30% solar PV system
tax credit for residential installations ... is REALLY great.
Apparently, my PV system's installation is stalled for some reason,
and I am told it might take 3 months to get it completed,
inspected, and then legally commissioned for operation.

In the mean time I am looking at ways to monitor the output.

[n_dawg]

Yep, CA plate 69817. It's the same old Mk-1 all right.

[c0mp13x]

Additional NY Images added on 10/16: http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4287508.html?series=60?series=60

http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-garage-2-1008.jpg

http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-garage-600-1008.jpg

http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-garage-3-1008.jpg

http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-garage-5-1008.jpg

[c0mp13x]

Additional NY Images added on 10/16: http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4287508.html?series=60?series=60

http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-garage-4-1008.jpg

http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-nyc-2-1008.jpg

http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/aptera-nyc-3-1008.jpg

:happy0025:

[JimmyDreams]

QUICK!

Someone in New York, go measure that bike lane so we can analyze the width of the wheels!!!


LOL

JimmyD

[Matthijs]

The Typ-1e’s drag coefficient is an astounding 0.15, compared to 0.26 for the Toyota Prius, considered an exemplar of aero*dynamic efficiency. (SUVs top 0.40.) According to Fambro, the entire Typ-1e (shown here) produces less drag than the sideview mirrors on a pickup truck.


It seems they made a typo on the drag coefficient. Or is that new info?

[c0mp13x]

It seems they made a typo on the drag coefficient. Or is that new info?
There is some speculation that the new drag coefficient figure (0.15) may be related to the newsletter photo that includes mirrors, a shark fin and possibly a reduced ride height (creating more under vehicle turbulence).

The 0.15 figure has now show up on 2 recent articles about the Typ-1.

:happy0025:

[KarenRei]

Agreed. I'm starting to think it's official.

[customdavid]

Great, what a stupid rule! I found links to the full cover plus lots of pics at popular mechanics site and this site won't let me post the links because I have not posted enough messages here!

Arrrggghhh!!!!

To find the cover, go to Popular Mechanics site, click on "Cover" small link near the top, then in the gallery look at Nov 2008.

Then click (back on the make page) the Automotive link on left, scroll down, there is a story on the Aptera with numerous links to more detail (also lots of pics)

Enjoy, sorry I can not post links directly, hopefully one of you can follow these directions and post on my behalf.

David

[Telchar]

Poo. That's a good 40% higher than before. I hope it's not the new number.

[n_dawg]

er, this page (http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4287508.html?series=60)? Or this one (http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/research/4286850.html?series=60&page=2&?series=60)?

[KarenRei]

http://sustainabledesignupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/aptera-in-nyc.jpg