My Aptera Newsletter

[byplug]

..Just had a lasik procedure so I am testing it by writing my own Aptera Newsletter on the computer without glasses....

I posted the full article on my web here with pictures and article links...
http://www.byplug.com

Took the SO-1 out for a .......ride.......
Here is a picture that I took today, January 27 ....of the SO-1

http://www.byplug.com/aptera_january_27_2011_7.jpg

[palmer_md]

Very nice article. You seem to be the goto guy for Aptera scoops. That is great, congratulations. I'm glad they are still there working on the car, and I hope we can get some more news like this on a more regular basis. Nothing fancy, just "yep, were here and we are working on the car". Your piece is exactly what we needed to break the silence. Keep up the good work.

[Grendal]

Nice article, Byplug. Thanks.

How far along was the S0-2? You actually saw people working on it? That's very exciting news.

Did you ask if the S0-2 improvements were expected to improve efficiency?

Thanks again.

[SEGsby]

Thanks for posting, Byplug. :)

Hope the Lasik Procedure went well, too.

[byplug]

Nice article, Byplug. Thanks.

How far along was the S0-2? You actually saw people working on it? That's very exciting news.

Did you ask if the S0-2 improvements were expected to improve efficiency?

Thanks again.

Thanks for reading.....I did not see people working on the SO-2 today... but it looked like it was getting attention and had a windshield ...and many parts around it.... I did see people working on other vehicles and busy... (and I don't think they knew anyone from the outside was coming because I arrived on a 'sometime in the morning' schedule.)

...from conversations, I had the impression that everything being simplified or small redesigns, even small parts, were with 'weight' in mind.... it is fantastic looking in person (SO-1) and that regen knob is so cool....even talk of a patent there.... the doors had a new recessed interior button and they were easy to close from the seat... I rode in the PP8 and the SO-1 and the SO-1 seems tighter....

...there was some X-Prize conversation explaining some of the events that took place and why... if you go back in time as I have to review the progress...(I have kept archived news articles and opinions from May 09 at byplug.com) there really have been things happening, it just gets such microscopic attention daily that it seems painfully slow from the outside and without something to go on in an 'on time' at least monthly newsletter...each day seems quite frustrating for people who have invested $500 bucks ... for example, in reality, the SO-1 reveal was on April 14th, 2010, less than a year ago... (I went to the event as a press guest of Aptera) and the next day the SO-1 was shipped to the X-Prize...and so on..

Concept cars that come out of the big 3 take years to produce and usually they end up 'not happening' (Cadillac Converj electric) or they are boiled down to something so practical they appear blah....

...I am trying to be objective so without appearing like I have been drinking the Cool Aid, and having been allowed to take an 'inside' look... it lifts your hopes because you see things happening that may not appear to be important or news worthy (interesting) to people working there every day ....

...I suggest that they 'let me in' every three weeks or so and I can find something to be positive about.... the pictures that could have been taken inside would be really impressive to people interested in design and the problems or solutions that go with... even the small details...

...when Aptera gets the money..... they appear ready to ramp quickly....and in contrast, other small electrics just do not seem as 'far along' for the big picture ...

Hey, it is getting close to February 1st, I'm ready to 'go back in' - I'll be the assistant newsletter guy with a deadline .... they just have to say the word.....

[byplug]

Thanks for posting, Byplug. :)

Hope the Lasik Procedure went well, too.

Thanks.... and as a side note for those interested in Lasik...
My surgery was taped for National television on a TV show called "The Doctors" and aired yesterday, Wednesday the 26th on ABC.

web link:
http://www.thedoctorstv.com/main/home_page?init_type=Feature&init_id=3416

...While I contemplated the surgery ...over time, it felt much like the scene from "The Rock" where Nicolas Cage is in the nerve gas chamber and the nerve gas is eating his suit and they want him to stick a needle in his heart.....

..."what?, you want to cut a flap in the cornea of my eye and then burn it with a laser, are you F$^*%^# nuts!!"

...but with technology and aging eyes... reality is what it is... so...l found the best Dr. and after a Valium and half a pain pill found out that it is easier than going to the dentist....

Fantastic, smooth and painless... glasses gone!
Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler (http://www.boxerwachler.com/) in Beverly Hills in my opinion is the 'only' eye guy.
Dr. Boxer Wachler also operated on my Father many years ago when he was at UCLA.

[SlowSRT4]

Interesting. Every time I've thought about Lasik I always remember the Simpsons episode where Ned's eyes fell out 10 years after having the eye surgery. Hopefully that won't happen to you. ;)

Do you know your vision score before and after?

[byplug]

Interesting. Every time I've thought about Lasik I always remember the Simpsons episode where Ned's eyes fell out 10 years after having the eye surgery. Hopefully that won't happen to you. ;)

Do you know your vision score before and after?

It was something around 20/200...
...the next morning with some goo still in my eyes was about 20/25.
..much clearer even now and supposed to get better over the next 3 months..

My Dad had it done longer ago than Ned's operation... and his are 'still in'..

[NeilBlanchard]

That looks like the unit that was at the X-Prize -- is it?

[aptera1213]

Congrats on the ride. Sounds like fun.

Gavin

[plainar]

Glad you got a fun testdrive byplug. I did want to hear of reservation holders getting test drives. Anyone else on the special invite list? This is byplug's third special invite from MM. It's starting to feel a little impartial. Newsletters by byplug would be nice, except then what will they need MM for? I actually like hearing updates from someone other than MM.

[Apt3448]

Congrats on the LASIK. And what a nice way of demonstrating the results! So thanks for the nice posting. Just good to hear they are still there and working on stuff. Yours' is the best (and only) news we have had in a while. THANKS! And by all means keep doing this with some frequency.

Considering the availability and looks of the alternatives, I will keep driving my existing vehicle 'till death do us part, and keep my reservation for the Aptera. Worst case scenario: I get my money back. Otherwise, I'm guessing my place in line has improved considerably. :)

[BryanSR]

Thanks for the indepth post & REAL APTERA NEWS!!!!!

[JustWilliam]

Congratulations Byplug! Nicely done.

[dfbvt]

The best (and the only) news I've heard about my $500 investment in quite awhile! Thanks Byplug!!!

Dave Bowles

[Adreitz]

Thanks for reading.....I did not see people working on the SO-2 today... but it looked like it was getting attention and had a windshield ...and many parts around it.... I did see people working on other vehicles and busy... (and I don't think they knew anyone from the outside was coming because I arrived on a 'sometime in the morning' schedule.)


byplug, thanks for your article. It's nice to see some news, and a test drive review is always fun.

Just a couple questions.

Did anyone actually confirm to you explicitly that a particular body you saw was the SO-2 (rather than a second SO-1 build)? Could you identify it positively or negatively as the body seen in the background of the Discovery Channel video I reposted on here a few weeks ago? That body being the SO-2 was a bit of speculation on my part. The body in that video had windows and one seat, but no doors or drivetrain. If you think it is the same, do you notice any additions between what was shown in the video and what you saw?

I remember reading a test drive review (or maybe it was a video) soon after the X-Prize where the passenger stated that the suspension changes made for the competition made it feel stiff, like a sport setup that transmits a lot of road vibration. Did you notice anything like this?

Take a peek inside of that road log? ;)

How does the acceleration feel under normal vehicle launch (that is, not gunning the accelerator and wasting tons of energy)? I have a sedan that, though getting a bit old, apparently has a decent amount of horsepower. I try to never exceed 2000 RPM to improve efficiency, though, so launches can be on the slow side (0-60 in maybe 20s or so). I just want to know that the Aptera will be at least as good without dumping efficiency out the window. I'm sure I could do 0-60 in 10s if I revved to 6000 RPM, but my mileage would kill.

Aaron

Two more things: Did we ever nail down whether the proper terminology is "SO-1" or "S0-1"? Also, do you have any idea what kind of 0-60 times were used during the X-Prize to get those kinds of efficiency numbers? Performance stats always seem kind of disingenuous to me as you'll always see things like "50 mpg, 0-60 in 10s", but there is no way you'll get both at the same time.

[CyberBill]

Two more things: Did we ever nail down whether the proper terminology is "SO-1" or "S0-1"? Also, do you have any idea what kind of 0-60 times were used during the X-Prize to get those kinds of efficiency numbers? Performance stats always seem kind of disingenuous to me as you'll always see things like "50 mpg, 0-60 in 10s", but there is no way you'll get both at the same time. [/Edit]

Its S-Oh-One SO-1, not S0-1 (S-Zero-One). I confirmed this about a year ago at an event, I was talking to someone and asked what it stood for... Unfortunately I promptly forgot what that was. :P

MPG ratings don't take into account 0-60 times, because most of the time when you're driving a car you're not doing 0-60, you're cruising or doing 0-20 in stop and go traffic. I don't think its disingenuous at all - its obvious that you can drive a car efficiently or inefficiently based on how much of a lead foot you are. And this is obviously true for EVs as well as ICEs and Hybrids.

[SlowSRT4]

MPG ratings don't take into account 0-60 times, because most of the time when you're driving a car you're not doing 0-60, you're cruising or doing 0-20 in stop and go traffic. I don't think its disingenuous at all - its obvious that you can drive a car efficiently or inefficiently based on how much of a lead foot you are. And this is obviously true for EVs as well as ICEs and Hybrids.
In addition, the EPA fuel economy ratings are conservative, and can be matched even with heavier acceleration and use of accessories.