I told them I would send a $5000 deposit on a diesel electric sold in TX. No word back yet, that was months ago.

Of course, they abandoned the diesel/lec because they can't sell it in Cali. And, CA is the only place where people go green. Oh wait... Who is that that makes more Lec out of wind...TX, that's right, where this is not being sold yet, and we have diesel at almost every pump.

Don't let this die, it's our salvation, so far. Aptera, your myopia will kill you, if Exxon/Mob does not.

karnak

I've been on the aptera mailing list for awhile, and they're struggling for oxygen. Hurts, kinda

ninjagin

dude I'm in.... I like it.. INCREDIBLE... I'm seriously looking at buying

codywalker

@photophile: I'm with you, they would sell a lot more if it looked more conventional, but unfortunately, it's the unconventional shape that gives it some of it's efficiency.

txpunk

Alright. I'm sorry, but reality check. People love the Tesla, but complain that the price is too high. I have heard and seen people repeatedly say "The Tesla is awesome, but can't they make something that gives up some performance for a more reasonable cost, say in the $30K range?"

This isn't a Tesla, but the cost is on par with the average car, has the same seating and luggage capacity as the Tesla, and I believe the are looking at both full electric and hybrid models (their first prototype ran a diesel/electric combo that 230 MPG at a steady 55 MPH). It's range is around 120 miles (more than enough for a day's travel). Meanwhile, GM is trying their hardest to dig themselves out of their hole with the "Volt", which is expected to have a range of 40 miles before having to use it's gas engine, which is small step from current hybrid sedans. The Prius get's what, 47mpg? C'mon people, show your support for having more green options. Sorry for the rant!

txpunk

@hardenstuhl:
~$30k and there's a plug-in hybrid version (which means no need for the extension cord).

stopcrazypp

It looks neat and all, but I'm sick and tired of concept cars and weird things like this.

Damn it all, just build a real car! Along with the Chevy Volt, this thing is useless to normal people with kids, a dog, and the need for space.

If they just built something the size of a Corolla and made it fully electric (and completely normal looking), they would sell out in minutes.

photophile

I dig the design, but not so much the price and the color.

stonedbeyondthepoint

I would love a car like this but until they start making this crap affordable and very long extension cords forget it.

hardenstuhl

I really like this. I've been shopping for a car to replace my dying '63 VW Bus. I've narrowed it down to a Honda Element or a Ford Flex...And this thing, maybe. I would probably end up selling it real quick, though...I need a semi-large car for road trips, something this is not.

Substance_D

that car looks ridiculous.

brundlefly76

Will this thing even be street legal; is it the same size as a regular car. I can see it now me going to get this thing inspected and they wont know what to do with the emmissions test and your going to have to get a failing grade and then contact the DMV and then wait to they approve it like some other hybrids.

utube2007

@txpunk: The Prius gets 47mpg? Well, yeah, but it depends completely on how you drive it. In spirited driving, the thing can deliver mileage as poor as 17mpg. Check out the Top Gear segment (available via youtube, if need be) where they drove a Prius hard and a high-performance BMW at the same speed. The BMW got *better* mileage by a not-insubstantial margin, 17 for the Prius and 19 for the 3-series BMW. Mileage depends on *how* you drive far more than *what* you drive.

When people ask for a Tesla for $30K, they're saying that it looks neat and performs well so they might be willing to put up with the ridiculous impracticality of it if it were just a lot cheaper. Well, this Aptera is a lot cheaper but it's just as impractical; thus, if we're going to buy it, it had damn well better look as good and perform nearly as well as the Tesla.

...oops...

Well, good start, anyway. Everybody has a different opinion of the right mix of price, performance, practicality, and style. This might be spot-on for some folks. As for me, I'm willing to give up the zoomy looks of the Tesla and I'm willing to give up most practicality. I'd be happy to buy a boxy, tiny thing that seats one plus a laptop rollerbag and a couple of bags of groceries IF it could go 150 miles (300 would be much better) at 70+mph with all the lights and A/C on and me driving like a bat out of hell. My upper limit on price? $20K.

For me, the Tango (commutercars.com) is getting darn close. This Aptera is too range-limited and looks too weird for me. I also note that performance issues tend to get glossed over every time I see this car discussed.

But I'm happy to see the effort and the Google support. We're getting there. If these cars sell, people will get used to the idea, there will be more demand, more research, the specs will get better and I'll eventually be driving something I plug in at night. I look forward to that day.

benenglish

If you can live without air-conditioning (which I have attempted in Houston and decided it just isn't an option), you can always build yourself a Volts Porsche for about $15k.

[www.electroauto.com]

Unfortunately, I bet you don't even get 5 years out of the lead-acid batteries.

GeekyNerdGuy

How about space solar collectors beaming power directly to the car?

[www.nytimes.com]

blore40

The right side of the dashboard will feature "Ads by Google"

blore40

My 87 Honda crx hf gets 55 mpg and there's several other older cars that did almost as good. What Happened? I seriously think car companies are up to some serious BS if they can't out-do the milage their cars were pulling 20 years ago. With the advent of lighter, cheaper, safer, materials, and lower drag coefficients, we should be up to at least 70 mpg in a standard gas engine.

The Aptera's schtick uses all of these, but mostly the extremly low drag coefficient to acheive its "miracles" of milage. Unfortunately that makes it small and kind of unatractive.

Personally I'm seriously considering buying up a bunch of old crx's and K-cars, refurbing them and opening a dealership that sells only cars that get 45+ mpg. And the funny part...every car on the lot will be at least 15 years old.

weshirecat

i'm calling BS on most of you who claim you're "seriously looking into buying one". look at the thing. the number of people who would actually get into this thing everyday and look like an uber-idiot is awfully small. we're americans. we dislike change and go with what's tried and true. that isn't going to change when this car hits the road. if the only way you can make the car efficient is to make it look like an airplane that's had its wings clipped, then you're not going to sell many. it looks like a failed airplane, not a car.

stre

Prius driven "hard" gets stupid numbers (that's not what the car is meant for) - so to base a claim that it's all about how you drive and not what you drive is only 1/2 true. The car is capable of so much more and in the right hands, it can save some serious cash at the pump (we get 53 in the summer, 45 in the winter). The operative word here is can. We need vehicles that can achieve for the majority of us (over 90%) that only drive to work and back alone in the car 90% of the time. Why we need a giant guzzler for the "just in case" factor is silly - rent it for the occasional requirement!

I like the Aptera - I like the fact that it doesn't look like a Ford Escort with a tiny sticker saying "look at me, I'm trying to do some good here!" The "car" (not really a car, only has 3 wheels) is also used for PR so it needs a wow factor. Car-shows have crowds oogling concepts but by the time conservative-creatives get done with it, it looks like another Chevy Caprice - here's your opportunity to own a concept.

It's not perfect by any means, but like many have said, the mere fact we're seeing this is a really good thing in our evolution for a hopefully better society.
[end rant]

zarchitect

@zarchitect: You seem to be trying to refute my posted pov when you say that we need vehicles that "can achieve for the majority of us (over 90%) that only drive to work and back alone in the car 90% of the time." Perhaps you don't understand that you're describing exactly the same thing I was.

In my previous post, I said I wanted 150-mile range at 70+mph with the A/C and lights on and me driving like a maniac. Well, that *IS* my daily commute. A Prius wouldn't cut it for me. Neither would an Aptera, Tesla, or Tango. But they're closing in and I'll throw a party when the electric car finally arrives.

benenglish

@txpunk: the volt can run 40miles on just the electric engine before the motor kicks in (while it charges the battery) or you can run it in hybrid mode and get like 650+ miles to the tank. Thats 2 times the mileage the current gm sedans get.

lilaliendog

I commute 50 miles round-trip in Houston. Speeds range from creeping to 65 mph.

I want an all-electric that lets me get 100 miles per charge and has A/C.

I want to be able to meet people downtown after work before going home and not worry about running out of charge. I also have to be able not to sweat through a business suit.

When an electric car can give me those simple requests for under $30k, I'll buy.

GeekyNerdGuy

Hell yes, I'd buy one. Nearly all of my driving would be around town and I'd love to do it in style. So, yes, I'd buy one... if, you know, I actually HAD $30,000.

TR3-A

I can't believe Google threw money at this, there's no market for this thing, people need a real car. Not one that you have to go grocery shopping by yourself to get enough food for a week. How can this even pass a crash test?

Hello_Newman

America needs to stay FOCUSED, AWARE and EDUCATED.

History reminds us that every time oil prices peak and the North American market/consumers start to discuss alternative energy sources, the oil exporting countries start to trim down their prices. History also tells us that the oil exporting nations have been very successful in the past and in fact, we have lost our enthusiasm and dropped many of our alternative energy initiatives after oil prices are reduced.

WE need to stay focused this time.

1) Al Gore and his energy initiative is on course.
2) T. Boone Pickens and his wind power initiative is on course.
3) The BG Automotive Group electric vehicle mass production program is on
course along with their solar charging stations.
4) Richard Branson from the UK is on course.
5) The Gas Reduction Act of 2008 might not be the most environmentally sound
solution, but yet it shows that Congress has finally realized that we have an
energy crisis (again), and a real threat to our national security.

The continued dependence on foreign oil is a threat to our long term democratic values. We must become an energy independent nation, and with this, some sacrifices will have to be made by the American consumer.

Be aware!!
We are exporting approximately USD $700 Billion dollars per year of U.S. currency. The majority of this money is being transferred to the Trillion dollar "sovereign wealth funds". This is USD $700 Billion not being spent on America's educational system, health care and security.

The "sovereign wealth funds" are directly buying major interests (large blocks of stock) in U.S. companies, including most of the major banks. Also, billions of dollars of "sovereign wealth fund" money is being invested in our hedge funds, private equity firms, and the investment banking industry. A few of these firms are directly and indirectly investing large sums of money into our "gas combustion" automobile industry. Do we want our auto industry in the direct or indirect control of the firms that are supplying us oil? This is an interesting topic for an investigative reporter.

There are automotive consulting companies in Michigan (heart of our auto industry), lobbying States and our Federal Government, NOT to subsidize the Electric Vehicle industry. The latter seems to be contradictory to what the American public would like to see from our automobile industry. After the billions (excess of $20 billion) the automotive companies have lost in the past 6 months producing gas combustion vehicles, you would think they too would change course. Changing course is not adding 2-4 miles per gallon w/Hybrids. Drastic measures in our auto industry must take place and NOW!

Do not let the temporary reduction in oil prices push us off course….AGAIN.

Read, Read, Read- Stay on top of the issues. Let's not be fooled again.

STAY FOCUSED, AWARE and EDUCATED!

BeGreen