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05-23-2008, 11:51 AM
Obtained From: http://www.trentonian.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1026060&auth=George+Wand+-+Special+to+The+Trentonian
Golden State looking to become Detroit of 21st Century
Posted By George Wand - Special to The Trentonian
California’s Silicon Valley could become the Detroit of the 21st Century. The new Detroit Electric car company is a west coast resident since 2007; Detroit South, if you want.
The Golden State has been on the forefront of creating global awareness to the importance of fighting and eliminating pollution. Their geography and car culture has made this a ‘do or die’ situation. The biggest State in the USA was the first society to demand zero pollution vehicles to be developed, produced and sold in that State. Increasing percentages and introduction dates of vehicle sales over a period of years were prescribed by law. When the auto industry was not ready to provide satisfactory solutions, the requirements were scaled back.
That was in the early 1990s. Now, at least eight electric vehicle manufacturers are in business there.
Californian companies have amassed tons of electronic expertise. Many in the IT industry have become well to do and want to do well for the future of mankind.
Enter the new-age motor-car of the electric motor kind, electronically controlled.
“Who killed the electric car” was not of the making of unresponsive motorists; it was a new old idea not ready before its time. Even in 2008, batteries are the anchor that drags electric vehicles (EV) thru the mud, so to speak. Potential customers still shy away from taking the leap of faith necessary to trust a technology other than that of the “infernal consumption engine” (ICE).
Californians know and trust electronic technology. And while Detroit has to catch up, electrifying new vehicles are attacking global warming with hundreds, even thousands of small Lithium-Ion (Li-I) batteries. Bundled in large numbers, and controlled by computers, these modern miracles of electrical energy propel the Tesla into the performance range of a supercar with Lotus sportscar handling, but with the economy of a motorcycle.
Problems still exists when taking a trip — recharging after a few hours negates the gain. The world is waiting for the Chevy Volt and cars like it with better batteries.
You know what the mushrooming cost of gasoline will do to freedom loving travelers? “Living better electrically”, as one old slogan promised, which now comes back to mind.
Going faster aerodynamically and saving fuel “lightly” could be the slogan for Aptera.
Greek for ‘wingless flight, Aptera looks like no car has ever looked before.
Advertisement
Steve Fambro, physicist and electrical engineer, produces fiber reinforced parts for the aircraft industry at his company Accelerated Composites. He commutes to his business and is concerned about rising fuel cost. He knows that good aerodynamics and light weight reduces power requirement and therefore fuel consumption; and his inspired knowledge took shape.
Fambro’s first prototype achieved an astonishing fuel mileage of 230 mpg by a combination of driving on battery power with a little running time of the small engine /generator needed to keep the battery charged.
Many changes later, and thousands of commuters observing the unique vehicle on the highways and streets of Carlsbad, California over several years, has drawn public attention to Fambro’s creation and his company. Motorists asked about availability and gave deposits.
The pictures show the fourth version of his ideas, honed by the expertise of his contacts in the aircraft industry and supported by a 20-Million Dollar investment from the Idealab, a ‘technology incubator’.
Fambro has now formed Aptera Motors, and with 1,100 deposits of $500 in the bank, production is only months away.
Fambro also found and hired someone with vast experience in the automobile industry: Neil Hannemann. He is the engineering brain behind the Dodge Viper, the Ford GT and the Saleen S7. Until February 2007 he was leading development work at McLaren of a mid-engine sportscar for Mercedes, when Fambro convinced him to join Aptera.
With this extensive experience in small volume series production, Hannemann will take on the responsibility to get production rolling at Aptera Motors.
The Type-1e (electric only) will have a range of about 200km before the battery needs recharging. The Type-1h (hybrid) will have a range of 1000km and will get 300 mpg US. That is 360 Canadian mpg by our old measurement, or less than 1liter per 100km, actually 127km /liter. The small engine only charges the battery, not turn the wheels.
Safety and performance are top priorities: A 45 inch crumple zone provides protection like a Formula1 or Indy car; acceleration to 100kmh in 11 seconds, top speed 155 kmh. All this is possible because the Aptera weighs only 385 kg (850 lbs).
The Aptera seats two plus a child in the back. The back area has "enough space to fit 15 bags of groceries, two full-size golf club bags or even a couple of seven foot surf boards with the child seat removed."
That seems important in California; we could fit snow boards, eh?
Golden State looking to become Detroit of 21st Century
Posted By George Wand - Special to The Trentonian
California’s Silicon Valley could become the Detroit of the 21st Century. The new Detroit Electric car company is a west coast resident since 2007; Detroit South, if you want.
The Golden State has been on the forefront of creating global awareness to the importance of fighting and eliminating pollution. Their geography and car culture has made this a ‘do or die’ situation. The biggest State in the USA was the first society to demand zero pollution vehicles to be developed, produced and sold in that State. Increasing percentages and introduction dates of vehicle sales over a period of years were prescribed by law. When the auto industry was not ready to provide satisfactory solutions, the requirements were scaled back.
That was in the early 1990s. Now, at least eight electric vehicle manufacturers are in business there.
Californian companies have amassed tons of electronic expertise. Many in the IT industry have become well to do and want to do well for the future of mankind.
Enter the new-age motor-car of the electric motor kind, electronically controlled.
“Who killed the electric car” was not of the making of unresponsive motorists; it was a new old idea not ready before its time. Even in 2008, batteries are the anchor that drags electric vehicles (EV) thru the mud, so to speak. Potential customers still shy away from taking the leap of faith necessary to trust a technology other than that of the “infernal consumption engine” (ICE).
Californians know and trust electronic technology. And while Detroit has to catch up, electrifying new vehicles are attacking global warming with hundreds, even thousands of small Lithium-Ion (Li-I) batteries. Bundled in large numbers, and controlled by computers, these modern miracles of electrical energy propel the Tesla into the performance range of a supercar with Lotus sportscar handling, but with the economy of a motorcycle.
Problems still exists when taking a trip — recharging after a few hours negates the gain. The world is waiting for the Chevy Volt and cars like it with better batteries.
You know what the mushrooming cost of gasoline will do to freedom loving travelers? “Living better electrically”, as one old slogan promised, which now comes back to mind.
Going faster aerodynamically and saving fuel “lightly” could be the slogan for Aptera.
Greek for ‘wingless flight, Aptera looks like no car has ever looked before.
Advertisement
Steve Fambro, physicist and electrical engineer, produces fiber reinforced parts for the aircraft industry at his company Accelerated Composites. He commutes to his business and is concerned about rising fuel cost. He knows that good aerodynamics and light weight reduces power requirement and therefore fuel consumption; and his inspired knowledge took shape.
Fambro’s first prototype achieved an astonishing fuel mileage of 230 mpg by a combination of driving on battery power with a little running time of the small engine /generator needed to keep the battery charged.
Many changes later, and thousands of commuters observing the unique vehicle on the highways and streets of Carlsbad, California over several years, has drawn public attention to Fambro’s creation and his company. Motorists asked about availability and gave deposits.
The pictures show the fourth version of his ideas, honed by the expertise of his contacts in the aircraft industry and supported by a 20-Million Dollar investment from the Idealab, a ‘technology incubator’.
Fambro has now formed Aptera Motors, and with 1,100 deposits of $500 in the bank, production is only months away.
Fambro also found and hired someone with vast experience in the automobile industry: Neil Hannemann. He is the engineering brain behind the Dodge Viper, the Ford GT and the Saleen S7. Until February 2007 he was leading development work at McLaren of a mid-engine sportscar for Mercedes, when Fambro convinced him to join Aptera.
With this extensive experience in small volume series production, Hannemann will take on the responsibility to get production rolling at Aptera Motors.
The Type-1e (electric only) will have a range of about 200km before the battery needs recharging. The Type-1h (hybrid) will have a range of 1000km and will get 300 mpg US. That is 360 Canadian mpg by our old measurement, or less than 1liter per 100km, actually 127km /liter. The small engine only charges the battery, not turn the wheels.
Safety and performance are top priorities: A 45 inch crumple zone provides protection like a Formula1 or Indy car; acceleration to 100kmh in 11 seconds, top speed 155 kmh. All this is possible because the Aptera weighs only 385 kg (850 lbs).
The Aptera seats two plus a child in the back. The back area has "enough space to fit 15 bags of groceries, two full-size golf club bags or even a couple of seven foot surf boards with the child seat removed."
That seems important in California; we could fit snow boards, eh?