So, does anybody know how many gallons of gas this thing will hold?

[leevil]

Hey All,
#1446 Typ-1h here!!!

...how many gallons of gas this thing will hold? I've seen it written that it could get up to 300-330 miles per gallon and that it could go for 600-800 miles, does that mean it will only hold 1-2 gallons of gas??? Also, i know you could run it strictly on electric power, but is the reverse true? Could you use it strictly with gas and never plug it in, but just get drastically reduced mileage? On another note, I'm really hoping we'll have some kind of choice for interior colors. I'm not a huge fan of the mustard tan and would like some kind of grey or light grey.

[thimel]

To answer your second question, you can drive the hybrid without ever plugging it in. The Aptera web-site says you will get about 130 mpg when driving long distances.

[KarenRei]

300-330 mpg would be for a relatively short driving distance, with electricity still offsetting the gasoline. Obviously, the further you go, the less the percent of your energy that comes from electricity and the more the percent from gasoline. mpg drops and ultimately approaches 130mpg.

Gas tank is 5 gallons.

[garygid]

If the tank is 5 gallons, a range of 130 x 5 = 650 miles is a lot.
But, realize that some of the driving will get a lot less mileage,
since it will not be level driving, and not be at the optimum speed.

At 6.2 pounds per gallon of gas, and counting some extra weight
for the tank, the gas and tank might be 40 to 50 pounds?

But, even 5 gal x 100 mpg = 500 miles would be a very good range.
It will be interesting to see what mileage we really get in
cross country driving.

Perhaps a small "gaggle" of Typ-1h's should "flock" together for a
cross-country "awareness" adventure trip later next year
(of course, only after I get mine)?

Do these things float?
If not, where do they "leak"?

[KarenRei]

Well, in theory, hopefully, the mileage numbers are EPA driving cycle rated, which *would* include non-level terrain. Also, I'm not sure why the big concerns about non-level terrain; it doesn't affect hybrids as much as it does normal gas/diesel vehicles

No, they wouldn't float. Look at the closeup shot on the front page of the Aptera (picture rotates; reload until you get it), for example. You can see that the panel connections aren't seamless. Also, the pictures of the drive mechanism reveal that it's open. Also, there's the air intake for the AC and the output vents in the back.

I want to take *Typ-1e*s across country ;) It'd take a lot more planning, plus better charging options, but one could in theory go from RV park to RV park, so long as you call in advance to make sure you could charge there for 1 to 2 1/2 hours (depending on whether they have 30A or 50A outlets). Wouldn't that be neat -- coast to coast without a drop of gas? Using about $30 of electricity? :) About the same amount of electricity as you'd save by not running your light bulbs/TVs/etc at home for the time you'd be gone (let alone turning down the AC in your house)?