E-Rex Launch, Tues Apr 13 in San Jose

[Dolphyn]

This showed up in my mailbox, and I thought some here would be interested in this electrified T-Rex, so I'm passing the information along:
OptaMotive invites you to a launch and naming ceremony of its E. Rex vehicle. The E. Rex is a contender in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize competition. As of March 25th, only 38 of the original 111 teams remain qualified to compete. Representatives from the San Jose Mayor's office, the former Mayor of Palo Alto and the President of the EAASV have been asked to say a few words.

Date: this coming Tuesday April 13th
Time: 10AM
Place: 590 North First Street, San Jose, California

To attend, rsvp to barbara@optamotive.com .
www.optamotive.com
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/.a/6a00d83451e0d569e20120a67032ff970c-pi (http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/10/auto-x-prize-finalist-optamotive-erex.html)

[KarenRei]

OptaMotive? What happened to Campagna?

[SEGsby]

Well, that design screams "SAFE IN SIDE COLLISIONS" and "AWESOME IN RAIN" to me...

[jhm614]

OptaMotive? What happened to Campagna?

They are listed as a partner on the new website...

[10.5]

GX3-ish.
-------

[aptera1213]

GX3-ish.
-------


Never mention that name again :)

gawd that GX3 broke my heart as much as the Aptera has...

funny, I had the GX3 as my laptop wallpaper for over a year...it was replaced by an Aptera image...perhaps my laptop is cursed.

Gavin

[Grendal]

Well, that design screams "SAFE IN SIDE COLLISIONS" and "AWESOME IN RAIN" to me...

And will they never learn - ROLL UP WINDOWS! C'mon people!

:character0018: = a must have with this design.

[KarenRei]

Never mention that name again :)

gawd that GX3 broke my heart as much as the Aptera has...

funny, I had the GX3 as my laptop wallpaper for over a year...it was replaced by an Aptera image...perhaps my laptop is cursed.

Gavin

Gavin,

For the sake of all that is good and pure, PLEASE STOP USING GREAT VEHICLES AS YOUR LAPTOP BACKGROUND!

- Karen

[aptera1213]

....(meekly)...yes ma'am....


on a more positive note...if there is a car you want killed, just ask me and i'll make it my laptop wallpaper for a while. :)

Gavin

[Dolphyn]

At last we know the answer to "Who killed the electric car?"

:)

[butter]

Heh heh.. you all made me chuckle just now.

[Grendal]

....(meekly)...yes ma'am....


on a more positive note...if there is a car you want killed, just ask me and i'll make it my laptop wallpaper for a while. :)

Gavin

Doesn't have to be killed, but... I volunteer PW for your wallpaper. :wavey:

[PatQ562]

(From their web site)

OptaMotive has partnered with Campagna Motors to bring a high efficiency version of its high-performance T-Rex to the Progressive Automotive X-Prize. The stock vehicle is propelled by a 1400cc motorcycle engine, which is to be replaced by an all-electric drive train in the pursuit of improved efficiency.

OptaMotive believes that efficiency can co-exist in a “fun-to-drive” vehicle and believes the market adoption rates will increase dramatically when high-efficiency is readily available in vehicles which consumers “want” to own and drive.

The converted vehicle, project name “Surge” is designed to retain the excellent performance resident in the T-Rex’s DNA while targeting energy efficiency of greater than 150 MPGe.

Target Performance Specifications
Range 100+ miles
0-60 < 10 Seconds
Weight < 2,000 lbs
Economy ~150 MPGe
Power >100 HP

Other Features
System efficiency greater than 90% from battery to drive shaft
Lithium-Based Battery solution for high energy density
Zero Emissions

This spec shows how difficult it is to fulfill the Aptera vision. Good grief, look at the weight, for a practically open vehicle with no weather protection (and major Cd given all the wind-grabbing features). Even the gas-powered model weighs over 1100 lbs and it's just fiberglass panels over a steel tube frame with the street showing through the openings for the steering rods and front suspension. Compared to Aptera this thing is a joke. Humorous though.

Pat Q

[gistmarrs]

These specs are really odd. Doesn't the 10 second 0-60 look really slow? A 1.4l engine should move that thing from 0-60 in less than 6 seconds. The 150 MPGe looks high to me. The Cd has got to be horrible.

Someone makes a kit that converts the t-rex into a fully enclosed vehicle, that might improve the Cd a bunch, but it would add weight. I don't know, I guess it's just not for me.

[Matthijs]

....(meekly)...yes ma'am....


on a more positive note...if there is a car you want killed, just ask me and i'll make it my laptop wallpaper for a while. :)

Gavin

http://www.automotorblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/nissan-juke-1.jpg

[aptera1213]

Well I do use my laptop quite a bit (less since I got my iPad), so I really can't use a picture that will make me physically ill...

So no I can't use that Juke photo :)

Gavin

[SlowSRT4]

iPad FTW, OS 4 announcement today. :love0030:

[palmer_md]

on a more positive note...if there is a car you want killed, just ask me and i'll make it my laptop wallpaper for a while. :)

Gavin

Whatever you do don't use this car.

http://www.daughtersoftiresias.org/images/Aptera/8-4aptera2eRevH%20%28reduced%29.jpg

[aptera1213]

iPad FTW, OS 4 announcement today. :love0030:


os 4 announcement today was the bomb...multitasking, folders, unified inbox, open attachments with apps...etc etc...so many great advancements to the best "mini-laptop" phone out there.

Gavin

[SlowSRT4]

os 4 announcement today was the bomb...multitasking, folders, unified inbox, open attachments with apps...etc etc...so many great advancements to the best "mini-laptop" phone out there.

Gavin
My cousin loves the Game Center inclusion, he was just telling me a couple weeks ago they should add something like Xbox Live to the iPhone (he has a 3GS and is incredibly thrilled with this update).

The multitasking sounds great, I knew they would come up with a good approach to it in time. Backgrounding things like Pandora, Skype, or uploading files/pictures in the background. The OS automatically handles it so you don't have to manually shut down apps yourself, which helps battery life and performance. Sweet. :tongue0006:

[PatQ562]

These specs are really odd. Doesn't the 10 second 0-60 look really slow? A 1.4l engine should move that thing from 0-60 in less than 6 seconds. The 150 MPGe looks high to me. The Cd has got to be horrible.

The specs are for the "E" version, as just announced. I assume the ICE version does indeed fly down the road. I agree, if the E-Rex version really gets 150MPGe, the Aptera should do MUCH better.

Pat Q

[Dolphyn]

The E-Rex, and "Ziggy", a champion battle-bot made by the same company, will be featured at the May 14 meeting of the Electric Auto Association, Silicon Valley Chapter, in Palo Alto. OptaMotive founder Michael Worry will be speaking. Enjoy!

Details: http://www.eaasv.org/meetings.html