futura
01-21-2009, 04:47 PM
http://greenlight.greentechmedia.com/2009/01/21/first-aptera-three-wheeler-rolls-out-the-door-production-begins-in-october-1008/
Michael Kanellos
First Aptera Three Wheeler Rolls Out the Door, Production Begins in October
Today at 5:26 PM
The first pre-production version of the 2e — the three wheeled car designed by Aptera — emerged from the factory today.
Aptera also reiterated that it will try to start selling the car in October. Earlier, it had hoped to release the vehicle in 2008, but had to delay.
The electric car will go 100 miles on a charge and get up to 90 miles an hour. It will also go from zero to 60 in 10 seconds. That’s not going to beat a Tesla Roadster, or even my 2004 Nissan Sentra that I bought from the used car division from Hertz. But for an electric car, the 2e might be somewhat cheap: The lithium-ion battery car will cost between $25,000 and $45,000.
If the company can keep it toward the $25,000 range, we’re talking reasonably priced electric cars.
Aptera buyers, of course, will also get to enjoy the thrill of owning something that wouldn’t look too far out of place being driven by Pan-Am stewardesses to the International Wing of JFK Airport. The car has three wheels and a swoopy, curvaceous design, sort of the way people in the ’60s imagined the future. Shiny gold jumpsuit not included.
The car will first be delivered to customers in California with broader distribution in the U.S. in 2010.
Three-wheeled vehicles don’t have a great history in the U.S. The Dymaxion, coined by wacky futurist Buckminster Fuller, was involved in some high-profile wrecks in the prototype stage. Zap has had very limited success with the Xebra. Perhaps the most successful three-wheeler has been the Big Wheel.
Still, they’re fun to drive. I haven’t been in the Aptera, but I took a spin in the VentureOne from Venture Vehicles in 2007. That three wheeler tilts when you drive. It was a blast and I was only afraid of being mowed down by an SUV once.
http://greenlight.greentechmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/tn_aptera_2e_debut_jpg.jpg
Michael Kanellos
First Aptera Three Wheeler Rolls Out the Door, Production Begins in October
Today at 5:26 PM
The first pre-production version of the 2e — the three wheeled car designed by Aptera — emerged from the factory today.
Aptera also reiterated that it will try to start selling the car in October. Earlier, it had hoped to release the vehicle in 2008, but had to delay.
The electric car will go 100 miles on a charge and get up to 90 miles an hour. It will also go from zero to 60 in 10 seconds. That’s not going to beat a Tesla Roadster, or even my 2004 Nissan Sentra that I bought from the used car division from Hertz. But for an electric car, the 2e might be somewhat cheap: The lithium-ion battery car will cost between $25,000 and $45,000.
If the company can keep it toward the $25,000 range, we’re talking reasonably priced electric cars.
Aptera buyers, of course, will also get to enjoy the thrill of owning something that wouldn’t look too far out of place being driven by Pan-Am stewardesses to the International Wing of JFK Airport. The car has three wheels and a swoopy, curvaceous design, sort of the way people in the ’60s imagined the future. Shiny gold jumpsuit not included.
The car will first be delivered to customers in California with broader distribution in the U.S. in 2010.
Three-wheeled vehicles don’t have a great history in the U.S. The Dymaxion, coined by wacky futurist Buckminster Fuller, was involved in some high-profile wrecks in the prototype stage. Zap has had very limited success with the Xebra. Perhaps the most successful three-wheeler has been the Big Wheel.
Still, they’re fun to drive. I haven’t been in the Aptera, but I took a spin in the VentureOne from Venture Vehicles in 2007. That three wheeler tilts when you drive. It was a blast and I was only afraid of being mowed down by an SUV once.
http://greenlight.greentechmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/tn_aptera_2e_debut_jpg.jpg