4/13/08 - Aptera CEO: we have "more mainstream" designs in the works - abg.com

[Dubito]

On Auto Blog Green they reference Steve Fambro:
"Fambro talked about the two types of cars they plan on making, the fully electric "Aptera Local" (120 mile range) and the series hybrid "Aptera Everywhere" (600-800 mile range) which will be available late next year."

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/03/13/aptera-ceo-we-have-more-mainstream-designs-in-the-works/


But when you jump to the referred video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj718vRrYGM

at about 1:10 Steve Fambro says “later on, next year, we plan on rolling out the plug-in series hybrid. Aptera Everywhere is what we call it.”

There’ll surely be delays, but do you think Steve is saying Q4 of 2009 for the Type-1h? Is it my optimism or is he saying, “later on, sometime next year.”

[gg222]

I've looked at all the videos and pictures and can't see where the reverse knob/button is.

[palmer_md]

The shifter is in between the two seats. If you look at the tour of the Aptera video you will see it (very quickly) at the 2:00 minute point of the video. I've attached a photo here to look at.

Michael

[gg222]

Thanks Michael

[Chupacabra]

That thing looks cheesy, like an old 80s washing machine with its dials about to pop off. Lol, hopefully they refine some of these things.

[futura]

I agree it looks cheesy. More significantly, I think it's not intuitive.
Putting the car into forward or reverse should involve a forward/reverse motion with tactile feedback (switch-click or cam type feel). Easy enough to change. I hope they work through as many of the human interface issues as possible for the Typ-1. If not, I'll deal with it.:)
Cheers.

[Dubito]

Thanks type-1e buyers for working out all the kinks before the type-1h apteras arrive.~

[3-4-me]

The shifter is in between the two seats. If you look at the tour of the Aptera video you will see it (very quickly) at the 2:00 minute point of the video. I've attached a photo here to look at.

Michael

Nice pull on the photo Michael.
I agree the knob could use a little refinement(at least R-P-D,instead of P-R-D)I might prefer a lever, or push buttons, but I'll make it work.
On another note, Is that the power button right below?
It looks a little vunerable to inadvertent shut down:confused:

[3-4-me]

Thanks type-1e buyers for working out all the kinks before the type-1h apteras arrive.~
Alas, a silver lining to waiting on a "h":D

[Chupacabra]

Thanks type-1e buyers for working out all the kinks before the type-1h apteras arrive.~

Lol, I kinda agree, but there will be all new problems with the Typ-1H haha. The Typ-2 guys will be saying the same thing about us :)

[LQUAN]

You guys are right about the cheesy looking gear shift rotating knob. I know that space is tight inside this car, but that tiny cheesy knob is ridiculous. If space is too tight, I'd rather go with the steering column shifter.

And the power button location...I can picture my 1 year old son who loves to play inside my car stepping on the on the power button while I am near by with the bluetooth keyless unit. Since the engine doesn't make noise when you start it, I would never know that it is on. If my son happen to move the gear shifter and jumping on the accelerator pedal, that is it for the car and anything in front or back of it (most likely our house or my neighboor's house). Not to mention my wife will kill me if anything happen to our son. The power button should go on the dash board, Steve, don't make the same mistake like Saab.

[KarenRei]

Yeah... that could be bad. :P

Heck, depending on how sensitive it is, our parrot, who we leave loose in our car when we're going on trips with him (rather than confine him to some cage where he'd be lonely and call out for us over and over), might even be able to trigger it. Or even change gears while we're driving if that gearshift knob turns too easily.

But hey, that's why you have prototypes -- to get feedback and see how well different ideas work. :)

[Matthijs]

fmPiKWWOcAw

[palmer_md]

I don't really see anything wrong with it. It is a bit unusual, but so is the whole car. I think you will get used to its operation. I deal with industrial controls for a living, and those rotary switches have a nice feel if you use the right one with proper dentents for the positions.

I do agree that park should be in the middle and then reverse toward the driver and forward away from the driver.

As far as turning the car off when driving down the road on a road trip, this is easily solved by interlocking the on/off button with the selector switch in park. I have to believe that Aptera already thought of this.

As far as kids in the car are concerned, dont leave the key fob in the car and you'll be ok. If you left the key fob in the car and the kid happened to turn it on and then happened to turn the dial and then happened to push the accelerator pedal. Pretty far fetched, but it will happen to someone at some point (Murphy's Law). You can't design around every possible scenerio. All you can do is work to eliminate the obvious ones. The solution to this one is that you have to have the key fob in the car to turn it on, and if they chose the rotary switch with somewhat strong denent positions, so that it cannot be bumped from one position to another, it should suffice.

I can't wait to get my hands on that rotary switch. Demonstrator vehicles can't be ready too soon for me.

Michael

[KarenRei]

I'm just thrilled that they've raised the latest round of funding. Translation: barring unforseen delays or cost overruns, this is going to happen. And I'm more than happy about this fact. :)

By the way -- on topic, for those who haven't seen it:

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

[futura]

Ok. Aptera states the windows will open but haven't really shown us their approach. I don't know why has bothered me, but I tried to decide what sort of window "opening" I like best. Others have posted some ideas about this already. Based on the fact that it's such a low drag design I'd hate to lose some of that with the standard approach where the glass is not flush with the surface when rolled up. That little bit of indentation has to be more drag than the windshield wiper example. So, the obvious choice for me is to make it like a sunroof (see photo 1) which with a fancier mechanism rolls back (down in our case) into the body buts sits nice and flush when closed.
Looking at the photos though it seems if Aptera tried this they'd either have to change the door construction (less glass, more door) or not have the window roll down all the way. My preference is to have it roll down all the way since I like resting my arm on the car window frame (at low speed of course :cool: ).
Photo2 is my quickie attempt to see how much glass we'd lose to have it roll down the "sunroof way", all the way. I'm OK with this mod as far as looks. How about others here; prefer not to change a thing and accept a window that only partially rolls down? Or mod the door (time is running out to make body design changes)?
Cheers
35

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[Matthijs]

I'm just thrilled that they've raised the latest round of funding. Translation: barring unforseen delays or cost overruns, this is going to happen. And I'm more than happy about this fact. :)

By the way -- on topic, for those who haven't seen it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmPiKWWOcAw
My posts must be invisible or something cause I posted it 2 hours earlier. (Yesterday 10:28 PM). :D

[KarenRei]

My posts must be invisible or something

Actually, you're not far off; I don't see vids posted with the youtube tags in this browser. Your post wasn't invis, but your video was :)

[Matthijs]

Actually, you're not far off; I don't see vids posted with the youtube tags in this browser. Your post wasn't invis, but your video was :)

I'll put an extra link under every post with the youtube tags next time. Usability may increase I hope. :D

PS May I ask witch browser you are using? thx. :)

[KarenRei]

This is an old version of Konqeror, which is a relative of Safari (the standard Mac browser). So picture this as an old Mac (even though it's not).

[garygid]

It you approach the car and your ID card is detected,
can the kid inside the car press the green button,
shift into F or R, press the accelerator pedal and ... crash?

Seems like one needs a step that is more than the
proximity of the ID chip (that unlocks the doors) to
allow the vehicle to be driven.

Maybe a user-settable code entered on the screen, and
perhaps a Valet code (limited distance driving allowed) as well?
Cheers, Gary

[palmer_md]

The same thing is true for the Toyota Prius. I have a Prius and if the keys are in the car and you push one button and then bump one lever the car will begin to move. A child could easily do this.

garygid and lquan : Both of you are concerned about sanding near the car with the key fob while the kids are in the car. This is not a problem. The key fob will not work unless the keys are inside the car. In my prius you cannot start the car if the person with the keys is standing next to the car, but if the keys are in the car it can be started. I'm sure the Aptera will work the same. RFID will not work over large distances. The only difference is that RFID might transmit thru composite better than thru the metal doors of a Prius. This might allow it to work standing very close to the car unless Aptera positions the RFID sensors in a unique way to limit their sensing location to the drivers seat.

Michael

[GCustom]

The same thing is true for the Toyota Prius. I have a Prius and if the keys are in the car and you push one button and then bump one lever the car will begin to move. A child could easily do this.

garygid and lquan : Both of you are concerned about sanding near the car with the key fob while the kids are in the car. This is not a problem. The key fob will not work unless the keys are inside the car. In my prius you cannot start the car if the person with the keys is standing next to the car, but if the keys are in the car it can be started. I'm sure the Aptera will work the same. RFID will not work over large distances. The only difference is that RFID might transmit thru composite better than thru the metal doors of a Prius. This might allow it to work standing very close to the car unless Aptera positions the RFID sensors in a unique way to limit their sensing location to the drivers seat.

Michael

You forgot to mention that while pushing one button you have to be pressing the brake. The same while simply bumping one lever.

I've had numerous adults unable to start my car or if they got it started not be able to get it out of gear.
Even more worrysome is that I've had about 5 close calls where people don't know how to get it back out of gear or turn it off.

I also don't let children in the driver's seat ever, especially if the key is near the interior sensors.

[palmer_md]

Thank you,

your right, and I am sure Aptera can include the same interlocks.

Michael

[garygid]

The twist knob for the Rev, Neutral, Fwd pictured above
can be made robust, and still have the same "look".
I like it, and there is no need for the "conventional" stick.

1. I would prefer that it not stick up above the surface around it.

2. Also, it might be more user friendly if the labeling was moved
90 degrees counterclockwise, so "F" was forward, and "R" was
toward the rear.

3. Does this control need the brake pressed to activate (for safety)?

4. Does it also need a "Park" or "Lock" position.

5. What takes the place of an "Emergency" or "Parking" break?

Rolling away after parking on a hill will not do, and it looks
like one cannot put a wheel against the curb (if there is one)
without damaging the wheel skirt.

Maybe somebody knows what is planned?
Cheers, Gary

[n_dawg]

Wouldn't a shift lever be overly complicated in this application? After all, it's just an electrical switch. Why tie yourself to the mechanical limitations of the past?

[Aptera #1159]

It you approach the car and your ID card is detected,
can the kid inside the car press the green button,
shift into F or R, press the accelerator pedal and ... crash?

Seems like one needs a step that is more than the
proximity of the ID chip (that unlocks the doors) to
allow the vehicle to be driven.

Maybe a user-settable code entered on the screen, and
perhaps a Valet code (limited distance driving allowed) as well?
Cheers, Gary

You always have the best ideas. There has not been one I have disagreed with.
Please get a job at Aptera.

[gg222]

Ok, I have a dumb question. I know the car can be registered in California. Say I want to drive my hybrid in each of the 49 states (I'll skip Hawaii for now). Will it ok to do so, or will I be driving an illegal vehicle in some states?

[LQUAN]

You can drive your Aptera to anywhere in the US. If one state registered your vehicle, the other states will honor it's registration. Now, if you bought an Aptera in CA and move to another state, you may have to check to see if your new state will register your Aptera.

For example, you can drive an ICE car bought and registered in Kansas to CA for a visit, but if you want to register it in CA, you may have to upgrade your smog system. ICE cars in CA must have 2 catalytic converters. Some states I know only requires 1. The law may have changed to required all cars sold in the US to have 2 catalytic converters.

[KarenRei]

In general, CA has the strictest safety and emissions standards in the US, so if it can be registered in CA, it can be registered anywhere. Also, if I'm not mistaken, there are 18 states that follow the CA emissions guidelines exactly. But you'll want to check for your particular state to make sure.

[Dolphyn]

But, don't some states require rear-view mirrors? I'm not sure about this.

[garygid]

CA DMV Code:

26709. (a) Every motor vehicle registered in a foreign jurisdiction and
every motorcycle subject to registration in this state
shall be equipped with a mirror so located as to
reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance
of at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle.

So, it appears that one "mirror" is required for Aptera.
Question is, will the DMV accept the Aptera's "high tech" TV "mirrors"?

Presumably, Aptera is dealing with (has dealt with) that (and other
similar questions, like HOV lane operation) in getting their certification
to be a manufacturer of these "motorcycle" vehicles.

Will other states then accept the CA decision?
Good question.

[Dilekz]

I hope they won't add "REAL" mirrors.... the camera's are great!
Here in europe it's legal to have such camera's. Atleast that is what i have heard from some auto show on the TV here...

I just like the aptera how it is... at this point :)