Less weight and rolling losses

[Matthijs]

Hi all,

I just read though the Aptera Wiki page and was very impressed by the original specs of the Aptera released in 2006. I still am very impressed by the figures of the last Aptera prototype but the feeling gets me that the Aptera could still be a bit lighter and could use narrower tires.

Here's why, I used to drive a Renault Twingo from 1993. Twingo (http://www.autoweek.nl/carbasedata.php?cache=no&vpos=&id=9223&cache=no) (Dutch but understandable)

This car has a mass of 785kg completely made of steel, even the engine and uses 145/70SR13 tires. Never had any grip issues and it was very light on the steering without power steering.

The Aptera is only 105kg lighter and uses 165/65/14 tires (I know only 3). I am also following another project called Loremo, it stands for Low Resistance Mobile They are aiming for a mass of about 550kg and the use of four 105/70/14 tires.

So knowing that light cars with small tires work, I would love to see the Aptera getting developed in the direction of the original prototype and loses some weight and could do with some narrower tires. Just to make it even accelerate a bit better and have less rolling losses.

Any thoughts would be great! :D

[LQUAN]

Narrower wheels/tires may be used in the front, but not in the rear. You want to have more traction in the rear to compensate for not having 2 wheels. Single wheel in the rear made it easy for the vehicle to fish-tail in high speed turn, especially when the road is wet.

[LQUAN]

Anybody has any idea if the vehicle has spare tire or even space for spare tire?

How in the heck do you get access to the tire to change the tire?

I hope there are hatches on the side of each wheel housing that can be removed easily. And what kind of jack there will be to raise this vehicle?

[Matthijs]

Good questions. I don't think the Aptera will have a spare tire, but instead will be equipt with a tiny compressor and some fluid to repair the tire to get to the repair shop. A lot of new cars get this things these days. Not everyone is happy about them. Luckily I never had a flat tire, and I wish no one ever to have one. Maybe just go with low resistance run flat tires. I would not like to spend one hour changing a tire in the dark while it's raining. (It never happens on a sunny summer evening :rolleyes:)

On the jack I really don't know, maybe make a special piece that can be mounted under the front suspension so you then can use a regular jack.

[BryanSR]

It could always use "RunFlat tires" like on the newer Corvettes. You don't se vette owners changing flats >>> LOL

BryanSR

[MegaAutoBit]

It could always use "RunFlat tires" like on the newer Corvettes. You don't se vette owners changing flats >>> LOL

BryanSR


As far as run flats go, It’s my understanding that they are much heavier tires, and due to the rubber pad around the wheel create a lot of additional rolling resistance.

Regarding the flat tire, that’s AAA’s problem in my book. LOL.:p

I would like to know about the jack, that’s a very good point.

Another aspect that I was wondering about was wheel alignment. Since the Aptera will be serviced by the Aptera service team from the back of a Dodge Sprinter Cargo Van. How are they going to accurately align the wheels when they get out of specification?

[3-4-me]

Anybody has any idea if the vehicle has spare tire or even space for spare tire?

How in the heck do you get access to the tire to change the tire?

I hope there are hatches on the side of each wheel housing that can be removed easily. And what kind of jack there will be to raise this vehicle?

With the attention to detail shown everywhere else, I'd be shocked if they don't have this covered.
I'd expect:
dzus type fasteners http://www.dfcis.com/
same size tires,
and lift points.

a pnuematic cylinder, like they use on Indy cars, might be a cool mod:cool:

[3-4-me]

Since the Aptera will be serviced by the Aptera service team from the back of a Dodge Sprinter Cargo Van.
Where did you get this tid bit of info?

[Matthijs]

Where did you get this tid bit of info?

This quote is from the PM interview:

For now, Aptera’s plan is to first sell cars only in California, with distributors in San Diego, Los Angeles and Menlo Park. But they’ll also have a fleet of Dodge Sprinter (http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4237853.html?page=11#) biodiesel service trucks to maintain customer cars and provide quick-charge service.

So the info seems correct. I hope they will have a contruction where you could sevice your Aptera @ selected centers that make a deal with Aptera. So no need for them to build a whole new service network.

[MegaAutoBit]

Where did you get this tid bit of info?

From the Popular Science article. Oh, FYI, according to the article the vans will be using biodiesel.