Aptera on Fox News

[SoApteran]

Did anybody see Aptera on Fox News this morning? There was a couple minute piece, pretty well done too, around 8:30 and the anchor said they'll be doing more all day. 9:30 for the next one I think?

[KarenRei]

I couldn't hear the report -- there was a fat lady singing in my living room, trying to alert me to the flock of pigs flying as the sun rose in the west. ;)

Fox News covering the Aptera... with a good report? Really? Wow.

[greenguy]

Thanks SoApteran, I just read your blog and ran in to tune in Fox and saw the film clip. It's great to see more coverage on the tube. They did say more stories later to come.:aptera: :love0002: :jumping0007:

[Brian]

They are going to take the "$100 sledge hammer challenge" in a little while.

[Brian]

Fox News covering the Aptera... with a good report? Really? Wow.


Why wouldn't they?

[greenguy]

the answer is obvious...she is a CNN left wing liberal.

[speculawyer]

Why wouldn't they?
Fox caters to a right wing view. The Aptera is not something they would generally be interested in . . . except to mock it it. The channel is home to climate change deniers.

[greenguy]

I doubt if ANYONE is so stupid to deny that the Earth's climate is going through
changes...this planet has been going through climate changes before the dinosaurs became extinct.

Fox gave the Aptera a terrific report.

[evmavin]

I think the sledge hammer thing may come back to bite them, that does not equal safety in design and it needs to be positioned better.

[DonC]

the answer is obvious...she is a CNN left wing liberal.
A CNN liberal is probably what most would call a moderate. I could understand if you had said an MSNBC liberal because yes, MSNBC more or less the mirrors the bias at Fox News. But CNN. That's quite a stretch.

In any event, it's great to see positive coverage of the Aptera. There is convergence on the question of oil dependency. Many on the left see oil consumption as an environmental issue. Many on the right see it as a national security issue. So while both sides have different reasons, both can agree on solutions.

[Brian]

Fox gave the Aptera a terrific report.


Yes they did and the Fox guy that was driving the car didn't run over any baby seal' s , amazing! :rolleyes:

[mmalc]

I doubt if ANYONE is so stupid to deny that the Earth's climate is going through changes...this planet has been going through climate changes before the dinosaurs became extinct.
Oh, so for at least 6000 years then...

From Fox's Green page (http://green.foxnews.com/):
In answer to the (granted rather poorly phrased, but I think everyone understands the sentiment) question

"Is Global Warming Real?"

222

At least Fox did mention Aptera before:
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2009Jan13/0,4670,AutoShowStartups,00.html

[SEGsby]

While no NeoCon would publicly yell at a car dealership, "How many Polar Bears can I drown by driving this H1 around?", I think there has been a radical change against a completely pro-oil stand by the media, since 9/11. And certainly more so, since last September-- when the stock markets crashed hard and oil was insanely priced.

Issues of National Security, Economic Stability, and even perhaps, an interest in employing our own people by working on alternatives to Foreign Oil, are certainly of interest to the far and middle Right these days. I mean, who's going to pay for all the political & financial mistakes that have been made over the last 8 years? Right?

So, seeing Fox's traditionally pro-oil / negative alternatives stance change with the times, is nothing unexpected. But it's nice to see them finally catching up with the rest of the global culture...

The Aptera perfectly fits the current criteria for NeoCons (who don't generally have a green bone in their body) at this point in history:

It is American Designed & Built.
It uses domestic electricity to power it, and you can drive it on the highways.
It is not priced like the Tesla, so it is not as market restricted as to who can own one.
The radical aerodynamic style promotes the idea that America still has a technological lead in modern transportation.
Even if you're so conservative that you don't like/understand/trust Hybrids or EVs, the GASOLINE version gets 100 MPG. How can you NOT like, understand or respect that? :aptera:

The fact that the Aptera is hyper efficient and makes driving a more sustainable proposition, no matter the power-source-- is just icing on the cake. Again, it's really nice to see everyone finally wanting the same things. :love0014:

[mmalc]

And certainly more so, since last September-- when the stock markets crashed hard and oil was insanely priced.
(Emphasis added.)

I think that's the only part I'd disagree with, the suggestion that oil was insanely priced...

In other respects, yes, it's a convenient convergence that Aptera should have appeal to all parts of the political spectrum, even though for different reasons. At least for people who think about it. There's unfortunately still the segment of the population which is interested only in the size of their vehicle and how well it will fare in a collision with others. These are the people for whom the sledgehammer test is appropriate...

[SEGsby]

When you look at the production costs for taking a single barrel of oil out of the ground in Saudi Arabia-- the actual per unit cost is about One US Dollar.

So, I stand by my description of the per barrel price of oil on the global market in early September of 2008.

[mmalc]

I think we may be talking at crossed-purposes.

I certainly agree that the profit margin is... high. However in terms of inducing the population to start thinking about fuel efficiency and dependence on oil etc. etc. I think the price was quite reasonable. It certainly had a desired effect...

(And as ever, compare European prices etc.)

[SEGsby]

I think we completely agree that the EFFECT was desirable in terms of waking folks up to the idea of maybe... not using so much oil. Yes. :jumping0001:

[jsnable]

The video is now up at foxnews.com. As others have said, very favorable!

Jay

[Apt3448]

Eh, back to the thread..., if I may? I found the first (?) video, too. Is it just me or are we seeing a media blitz from Aptera? And Rather than showing up in the most likely places, they are showing up in less likely places, such as FOX, Road and track. Aptera going mainstream? Perhaps they are looking for a broader fan base. And interestingly, they get very nice reviews. As Aptera is finalizing the 2e, it seems to me they are trying to get a new wave of depositors, and that should help them to plan productions quota. All good stuff, glad to see they are confident.

[mmalc]

Eh, back to the thread..., if I may? I found the first (?) video, too. Is it just me or are we seeing a media blitz from Aptera? And Rather than showing up in the most likely places, they are showing up in less likely places, such as FOX, Road and track. Aptera going mainstream? Perhaps they are looking for a broader fan base.
I think this does actually tie back to the previous discussion.
Precisely as SEGsby mentioned, there is a lot to the Aptera that will appeal to those who aren't necessarily interested in green issues (at least, ecological green...).

One of the other threads here discusses vanity plates. If I were to go in that direction, the one I'd been mulling over is "patrapt" -- a weak portmanteau of "patria" (fatherland -- as in "dolce et decorum est, pro patria mori", something that various people largely on the right of the political spectrum here seem to assert) and "apt" (umm, apt -- and Aptera).

So Fox et al. are "likely" places for Aptera, but not necessarily from a "green" perspective.

[BryanSR]

I JUST saw the Aptera piece on Fox news here @ 7:20 EST (via satellite in GA.). It WAS a POSITIVE piece which was VERY STRANGE to hear on Fox... I thought they might begin to MOCK it @ any given moment but I was glad they didn't. My daughter saw it & began yelling for me to come & see my FAVORITE STRANGE LOOKING CAR... She thinks I am NUTS, BUT that is OK. I KNOW I AM!!!!!! LOL :jumping0001:
Her & her Husband are living here in Preperation for My Wife & I to move to Oceanside, CA. so I can be closer to the Aptera Corp. >>>> JK :jumping0007:

[Matthijs]

Man those doors have a very solid "Clunk" sound! Love that. Also you can see very well that those wheel pants are pretty tight too the body when making a turn.

[DonC]

The video is now up at foxnews.com. As others have said, very favorable!

Jay
Couldn't find it. Do you have a link?
EDIT: Got it. There is one in the Video section.

[KarenRei]

My mother saw the piece on Fox, called me on the phone, and sounded almost as excited about the car as I am. She was talking about how crazy my little cousins (elementary school-age) are going to go when I pick them up at school or drop them off at their friends' houses in it; they'll instantly become the most popular kids in school. And my mother loved the idea of having my oil CEO father driving it to work one day ;)

[jstdadd]

Fox caters to a right wing view. The Aptera is not something they would generally be interested in . . . except to mock it it. The channel is home to climate change deniers.

I cater to a right-wing view. I am AN APTERA CHEERLEADER! :jumping0001: . Good technology is magnetic; I'm probably one of the greenest guys you could ever meet. Do you have a lot of experience with Fox News mocking good technology?

[jstdadd]

My mother saw the piece on Fox, called me on the phone, and sounded almost as excited about the car as I am. She was talking about how crazy my little cousins (elementary school-age) are going to go when I pick them up at school or drop them off at their friends' houses in it; they'll instantly become the most popular kids in school. And my mother loved the idea of having my oil CEO father driving it to work one day ;)

Aww, how are you gonna decide who gets to ride with you each time? Unless you turn them over the keys, er, fob, er whatever you need to drive it. That's a cute vision of kids going nutz over an Aptera. Your father driving it to work really works for me!:thumbsup:

Karen, I'm sure this is not lost on you - energy companies are likely to be huge players in alternative energy and, therefore alternative energy vehicles. They have the money and interest in continuing business to pursue the new energy technologies.

[KarenRei]

Aww, how are you gonna decide who gets to ride with you each time?

They're lil'uns; they could easily fit two in the front seat at once. :) I wouldn't take them on any fast roads like that, but I wouldn't need to -- just neighborhood streets. Alternatively, I could take them one at a time.

Your father driving it to work really works for me!:thumbsup:

I'll definitely take pictures and videos ;)

Karen, I'm sure this is not lost on you - energy companies are likely to be huge players in alternative energy and, therefore alternative energy vehicles. They have the money and interest in continuing business to pursue the new energy technologies.

Not lost on me at all. The management just needs to be convinced that there's a future in it... and gee, how could I possibly help aid in bringing that about.... *wink, wink* ;)

Honestly, I'm looking at a lot of the options and not thinking, "oh, wouldn't that be neat for me to have," but "wouldn't that be neat to show people when I'm demoing the vehicle everywhere". I strongly look at my purchase not only as a way to help green my transportation, but to encourage others to do likewise.

[jstdadd]

I am thinking about putting fact sheets in the windows of the Aptera when it is parked. Maybe get a bumper sticker with something like:

"It cost me $1 to go to work and back today. How about you?"

There is a local Smart car group here locally, and several members have posted vehicle fact sheets in the car windows. I wonder if I could cheap-up a kiosk device that looky-loos could use a touch-screen technology to read facts through the window? Maybe a projection device like a heads-up display, but in reverse (shine it on the inside of a window for projection for a person on the outside.)

[KarenRei]

There is a local Smart car group here locally, and several members have posted vehicle fact sheets in the car windows. I wonder if I could cheap-up a kiosk device that looky-loos could use a touch-screen technology to read facts through the window? Maybe a projection device like a heads-up display, but in reverse (shine it on the inside of a window for projection for a person on the outside.)

Not a bad idea; there are lots of USB projectors out there. You'd probably still need some sort of translucent material to hang over the window, though.

Another option for a digital display would be an LCD picture frame. Not really sure if there are advantages to that over just a flyer, but it'd probably draw more eyes. As though the car alone didn't. ;)

[jstdadd]

Yeah, I like the LCD picture frame - it can be separately powered and is easy to update the content - I bought my daughter one that can be updated wirelessly - perfect for what I'm thinking. I just need an externally controlled input device. Touch-sensitive or location sensitive would be good.

EDIT: Maybe the Itech Virtual Keyboard: http://palmaddict.typepad.com/palmaddicts/2006/05/review_of_itech.html

The USB projector still requires an image source, but uses a fair amount of power. Don't want power wasted on my green vehicle!

P.S. - you said 'car', throw a buck in the pizza fund!

[KarenRei]

Drat.... ;)

[Mr Aptera]

Stop ragging on FOX and accept that they're the best.

That is, besides Drudge Report.

[hill]

Here's the vid, pasted from youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TltQzUPCPks

To both political sides ... the right & left leaning posters that freak, & automatically have to push their 'view', consider this, eco/green loving tree huggers love the aptera because it keeps the environment in better shape ... while neocons love the aptera because it gets the U.S. away from our addiction of 60% imported oil, from countries that want to destroy us, leaving more oil for the 'war-machine' & defense of the U.S.A. Ex CIA director makes that statement all the time. That said, can both side agree to disagree agreeably? :love0014:


enjoy the vid

[KarenRei]

Stop ragging on FOX and accept that they're the best.

That is, besides Drudge Report.

Hey, you forgot NewsMax.com. They're even better. Of course, they don't hold a candle to FreeRepublic.com. Now there's some good reporting!

[snidely]

I am a news junkie - paper and TV. On occasion, for diversion, will turn to FNC to raise my blood pressure by viewing Murdoch's view of the world.
The short bit they did on this product, while not informative as to specifics, did, at least inform the public about one firm working on a product that the main auto builders should be doing.
Unfortunately, the short "news" segment by FNC was more like an informercial. No real details about how the product works.

So I went to the company's web site. They intentionally say on the site that they will disclose technical details (like what batteries will be used) at a later date. I am surprised that since Google is a major investor that the web site isn't more professional.

In recent years there have been several start-ups trying to come up with an alternative product like this. Most have failed. This company may make it since they seem to have some deep pockets.
They claim any deposits made will be put into escrow. However, it appears the only way to make a deposit is to pay funds directly to the company (not an escrow) via credit card. (We in Ca. are well aware of the failure rate of hi-tech start-ups.)

Sorry to come across so negative. I have long been a firm believer there is a big market for cars that are green w. limited range. In most 2 car families, the 2nd car is just used to go to work and/or store and/or school. Most of these trips are under 25 miles rt.

...mike

[APTERA 2356]

There has been some detective work done in this forum and your money is indeed held in escrow.
Several people have changed their minds and asked for a refund, to my knowledge everyone who has asked for a refund has received one in 10 days or less.

I believe Wells Fargo holds the escrow. But don't quote me on that

[KarenRei]

Yes, it is Wells Fargo. I think we have the account number around here somewhere.

And yes, Aptera's website is lousy. It's not done in-house; it's contracted out to Saxony Creative. Their mailing list suffers similarly. They do great work in-house, but things like this aren't done in-house. As they expand, this will change.

[ciege]

FOX sure got someones attention..........clicking on the link for the story on the Aptera takes about 3 mins to get into.............tried again....can't fetch it at all

[speculawyer]

Hey, you forgot NewsMax.com. They're even better. Of course, they don't hold a candle to FreeRepublic.com. Now there's some good reporting!
:sign0020:

[jstdadd]

Hey, you forgot NewsMax.com. They're even better. Of course, they don't hold a candle to FreeRepublic.com. Now there's some good reporting!

Spoken by a Daily Kos blogger, no less!

Hey, you know, opinion is where you get it. From Matthews' 'thrill running up my leg' to Olberman's licking Obamas shoes, there is none better than MSNBC!

Why don't we move this mud-wrestling match to the "off-topic" threads? This is a technical section of the forum, there is no more news to be had in this train of replies!:animal0017: <-- I think he looks like a crab, so mark me "Crabby!"

http://www.astropitch.com/dkos/

But, hey, Karen is by far the most logical lib I've had the pleasure to correspond with and I am happy to call her a 'virtual friend'. I just get crabby when people throw daggers over the fence. Time for me to go back to cheerleading practice.

[KarenRei]

And honestly, I was mostly just being silly. I actually have an account on FreeRepublic and stop by once in a blue moon. And while some times I use it just for fun (acting like an extreme right winger to see how many people agree with me), I sometimes have serious conversations on there. The political right isn't full of idiots (they have their share, but no more than the left); it's just a different worldview.

[jstdadd]

Does anybody know anything about the second Fox video, the hammer test?

[ciege]

No.....but I sure can't wait to see that one.

[snidely]

They showed the "reporter" wielding a sledgehammer banging the roof of a car's shell. It looked like a sledgehammer, but could have been made out of hard rubber, since the head appeared to be dark black in color.
In any case, if it were a normal car roof, it definitely would have been dented by the hard whacks that were made.
I put "reporter" in quotes because he def. was acting (in the two diff segments i saw) like he was participating in an infomercial.
I couldn't find any clips on the FNC site. THAT is the sort of thing that should be posted on the Aptera site. FREE publicity.

===
They should make it clear, when you make a deposit, that the money goes directly into an escrow acct. at W.F.

=====
I didn't realize that there are so many companies going after the $10M "X" prize for a "green" car ready to go. I think only 6 or 7 have a chance out of the (60?) that have entered. I know of a couple that already folded.

...mike

[KarenRei]

Aptera considers themselves a shoo-in to take the prize in the Alternative category. I don't think they're being particularly overoptimistic. Alternative category is only worth $2.5m, but the bigger issue is the prestige associated with such a win.

[mmalc]

Aptera considers themselves a shoo-in to take the prize in the Alternative category.
Hmm, I didn't get the impression they were being quite that presumptuous? I certainly agree they have good grounds for optimism, but...

[mmalc]

They should make it clear, when you make a deposit, that the money goes directly into an escrow acct. at W.F.

https://www.aptera.com/reserve.php


2. A deposit of $500

A fully refundable $500 deposit that is held in an escrow account...

[snidely]

[tps://aptera.com/reserve.php[/url]


2. A deposit of $500

A fully refundable $500 deposit that is held in an escrow account...

Not to nit-pick - I had seen that page. Nothing on it indicates who the escrow holder is. In a r.e. transaction, the money goes straight into an escrow account - not the principal. In this case, it appears the funds, at least originally, go to the seller. The seller seems to have complete control over the funds - since it says the request for return of funds must be made to the seller. (Not the escrow holder.)
I can see where it might be worthwhile to "gamble" $500 - if only to prove there is a market for this type of product. I would consider doing so.


...mike

[mmalc]

Not to nit-pick - I had seen that page. Nothing on it indicates who the escrow holder is. In a r.e. transaction, the money goes straight into an escrow account - not the principal. In this case, it appears the funds, at least originally, go to the seller. The seller seems to have complete control over the funds - since it says the request for return of funds must be made to the seller. (Not the escrow holder.)
I can see where it might be worthwhile to "gamble" $500 - if only to prove there is a market for this type of product. I would consider doing so.
Not to nit-pick, it usually helps if you provide some context for others to say what you have and haven't seen...

If you feel that some might be more "reassured" with the information that the funds are held by Wells Fargo, then I'd suggest that you send a message to Aptera asking that the site make that clear.

As for "gambling", that's really just trolling so I'll simply point out that the escrow issue has been discussed ad nauseam and enough people have reported successfully receiving their funds on request.

[snidely]

As for "gambling", that's really just trolling so I'll simply point out that the escrow issue has been discussed ad nauseam and enough people have reported successfully receiving their funds on request.

Sorry, I'm a newbie here and did try to read some of the back threads here. I didn't realize this had been the subject of previous discussions.

...mike

[KarenRei]

Hmm, I didn't get the impression they were being quite that presumptuous? I certainly agree they have good grounds for optimism, but...

From the EVCast interview:

Ryan: And how strong of a contender are you guys for the Automotive X-Prize?

Marques: Oh, there's no other competitor. (laughter) I mean, you might as well stop with us.

Bo: (more laughter) That's the attitude!

Ryan: Aptera was my prediction, wasn't it though? (laughter).

Bo: It was. Well, best of luck to you guys. And when is that award? At the end of this year or the end of next year? 2009, 2010?

Marques: The competition starts in 2009.

Bo: It starts 2009.

Marques: Yep.

[mmalc]

From the EVCast interview:
When I heard it, I didn't think they were being particularly serious (laughter). I do hope they're not generally being earnest about this.
I think they stand very good chance, and I think they have every reason to be and exhibit cautious optimism (or lighthearted confidence, as I think was the case here) but the trouble with appearing cocky is that if something happens -- plans go awry, or a hitherto unpromising competitor suddenly comes up with the goods -- you suddenly end up looking rather silly...

Do I remember someone saying that, with the X-Prize, "everyone's a winner"? That showed a little more decorum.

[Ricky Ray]

Where is the options PDF? I want to download it.:apterarear:

[NmGfan]

I am thinking about putting fact sheets in the windows of the Aptera when it is parked. Maybe get a bumper sticker with something like:

"It cost me $1 to go to work and back today. How about you?"

Get ready to have big fun with your vehicle being a center of attention. Your idea sounds great.

The folks at Myers Motors sent about a thousand "info-cards" with my NmG. I had to put them in the windshield for most of the first year and gave them to people that wanted more information. Later I just handed them out to the curious visitors with more than a few questions. It's great fun to answer the questions and pose for pictures as well as let folks have their picture taken in my EV. All the little people are really excited about electric vehicles and would love to ride in one...
:happy0025:

[speculawyer]

All the little people are really excited about electric vehicles and would love to ride in one...
:happy0025:
The 'little people'? :) Midgets?

[NmGfan]

Little People = Kids = Children (you know, pre-adolecent humans)

:happy0025:

[Skeat]

I am thinking about putting fact sheets in the windows of the Aptera when it is parked. Maybe get a bumper sticker with something like:

"It cost me $1 to go to work and back today. How about you?"


I just wanted to toss this in here. I'm getting a sticker made to say

"My Aptera can kick your Pri-ass ©2008"

Also who cares Fox, CNN, MSNBC, AP, The ONION! Everyone should not take the news so seriously. Take it for what it is, Someone is getting paid to report one way or another and they all have their own interest to promote Remember that saying "Don't believe everything you read.", that rule also goes for what you watch too.