Jason Hill & Aptera in LA Times

[futura]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-sunprofile27apr27,1,1801828.story
Talks a little about his other gigs with a brief "pom-pom" from Fambro.
Cheers

[c0mp13x]

Nice read, thanks futura.
Hill incorporated carpet made from recycled soda bottles and seat coverings made of 100% post-industrial and post-consumer material.
So if you spill a soda on your carpet it doesn't stain, right?! :D

[butter]

"Anybody can build a hot rod. Do we really need another 200-mph sports car?"

Wow, what a fantastic article! I also love the afore-quoted line about using recycled soda bottles and other *already* recycled materials to line the interior -- now *that* is what green is all about; it's not just using materials that *can* be recycled later, because how often does the average person bother to go and recycle the raw materials that make up a car? Just like compostable materials -- it's nice and all, but if you don't have access to a composter, you're basically throwing a potentially recyclable material into the dumpster -- end of potential.

Love Jason Hill!!

[butter]

So I decided to google Jason Hill and among other things, found a fairly old, outdated article posted on some MSN Autos page (at the time of writing, only 400 reservations had been logged).

So, yes, I know it's very old, and it was also written by a guy at Treehugger.com, so this might just be a re-print of an article on that website.

And even though most of the stuff in the article is nothing new to most of us, I did find one interesting quote (supposedly made) by Martin Eberhard of Tesla Motors that I thought was worthy of posting here:

...But doubts about safety and road-worthiness are a common criticism from both consumers and competitors. Speaking at the brainy Gadgetoff conference, the co-founder of Tesla Motors, Martin Eberhard, showed video of the $100,000 Tesla electric Roadster in successful crash tests. Eberhard quipped that this is the difference between a product like his, and a "three-wheeled imaginary car that would never be safe on the highway."

I hadn't read this quote before anywhere else. Of course, I may have simply missed it and all of you out there are like "oh yeah, we knew he said that, ages ago, big fat deal."

But I just thought I'd put that out there for anybody who hadn't read this. Who knows, it may be a mis-quote, but it's there, and it's irritating to say the least.

Here is the link:
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=444375

[drivin98]

oh yeah, we knew he said that, ages ago, big fat deal. :)

I did raise some hackles at the time, that's for sure. I haven't heard whether his attitude has softened since leaving the company he founded.

[futura]

As I understand it, Eberhard was testily responding to a "derogatory" comment from an Idealabs guy earlier in the Gadgetoff conference. No biggee,
on Autobloggreen Eberhard commented about the "comment":
14. The 3-wheel dig was aimed at the Idealab presentation before mine. (Idealab is behind the Aptera.)

I made this dig because the presenter from Idealab made a similar dig at Tesla, commenting on the cost and weight of the Tesla when compared to the lighter and cheaper (and much further from production) Aptera concept.

As others have noted here, the primary reason for making a 3-wheel vehicle is because the DOT classifies such vehicles a motorcycles, exempting them from all crash testing and most safety equipment.

Our car would be lighter and cheaper too if it did not have airbags, crumple zones, side-intrusion protection, and all the rest of the gear required to survive the crashes I presented at that conference. It would also not be a safe vehicle.

Martin Eberhard
Founder and President of Technology
Tesla Motors

A simple-minded dig, leaving out the added aerodynamics and weight efficiency of 3-wheels vs 4.

This kind of CEO trash-talk is common in Silicon Valley; I'm sure Fambro/Aptera can handle it.
Cheers

[evolutionmovement]

I know I couldn't care less about safety as long as the fuel tank is secure. You've gotta go some time and a so-called safe car is still no guarantee of survival if, by chance, something happens. I'd rather enjoy the time I have and be able to spend money on more important and entertaining things than gasoline so they can build another Mega-Something or World's Biggest Whatever in Dubai. The Tesla isn't a bad vehicle, but is far more expensive and toy-like (less storage) than the more interesting Aptera (which as far as I know, hasn't been proved to be less safe anyway).

[DDB]

So I decided to google Jason Hill and among other things, found a fairly old, outdated article posted on some MSN Autos page (at the time of writing, only 400 reservations had been logged).

So, yes, I know it's very old, and it was also written by a guy at Treehugger.com, so this might just be a re-print of an article on that website.

And even though most of the stuff in the article is nothing new to most of us, I did find one interesting quote (supposedly made) by Martin Eberhard of Tesla Motors that I thought was worthy of posting here:



I hadn't read this quote before anywhere else. Of course, I may have simply missed it and all of you out there are like "oh yeah, we knew he said that, ages ago, big fat deal."

But I just thought I'd put that out there for anybody who hadn't read this. Who knows, it may be a mis-quote, but it's there, and it's irritating to say the least.

Here is the link:
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=444375

Martin has made references to other forums (along with his wife) that she wouldn't let him get involved in anything that didn't have 4 wheels. And as a personal injury attorney that deals with motor cycle accident victims, you'all would be singing a different tune if you talked with some of them.

[evolutionmovement]

Don't include me in your generalization.

[drivin98]

What do motor cycle accident victims have to do with the Aptera?

[Jonathan Sek]

Exactly. Do some research! Just because the type-1 is motorcycle classified, does not mean it is as safe as. Aptera has front crumple zones, side impact protection, chrome moly roll cage (as in race cars) and lower c.g. than many trucks and SUV's. Also, air bags and a very stable, wide track front end to prevent roll over. It's amazing that some want to take shots at a new design and continue to buy into the existing status quo. Your thoughts on automotive design have been influenced by decades worth of billions of dollars in marketing.
Jon

[KarenRei]

Our car would be lighter and cheaper too if it did not have airbags, crumple zones, side-intrusion protection, and all the rest of the gear required to survive the crashes I presented at that conference.

Yeah, that might be a valid point -- if only the Aptera didn't have top-of-the-line airbags, a large 45" crumple/deflection zone, side-intrusion protection double the NTSB requirement for cars, and "all of the rest of the required to survive. It does. Whoops, straw man.

Yeah, just typical Silicon Valley trash talk.