A lot of minor but important details that no other person has ever shown, like opening the windows through the screen, actually showing the start process by pressing "D" and "P" to park the car, etc. Also, we saw close up the ball test of the solar cells. But most amazing to me was driving that thing around inside the factory relatively fast. Nobody has ever done that, not even Chris! How on earth did they allow him to do that? The dude must be a very good driver for them to trust him with such risky venture. Congrats dude for your exploits and for taking us along the ride!
I was thinking it would have been safer to just drive it out in the rain but hey it's TheTopher! Hopefully Chris still has his job at the end of the day!
Regarding PRND, I don’t like small buttons surrounded by huge white space. Makes them needlessly harder to tap. Tesla does that too much. Also there is no need to display PRND when the car is in motion. I have not used N in the last five years, plus the whole PRND notation seems needlessly retro. If I were designing the UI, I might just have two big direction arrows in the top left corner. Big enough to tap without looking, and then get replaced by the speedometer when in motion. IMO, if I have to take my focus off traffic/pedestrians to shift, then I consider the interface a failure. These are some of the reasons my Tesla still has a shift stalk … I can use it without looking.
@@paulrybarczyk5013I also have a Tesla with stalks and feel the same. I hope I can customize by adding my own physical buttons like you can with 3rd party Tesla addons
@@paulrybarczyk5013 yeah it should be a physical control anyways. touchscreens don't provide any tactile feedback on if you set it to park, drive, reverse, etc.
I believe on of the old Chevrolet Caprice (maybe 1990) used the same thing.. It gave the Caprice the ability to fill tank from both sides in the gas station. I don’t know why this was not used for newer models .. most likely for safety reasons
@@amehaizathis was a thing on older 70s cars as well, i know the buick grand national comes to mind when i think about that design. i wish it came back!
For anyone that doesn't know, Aptera is not a crazy as at seems at first sight. Their math totally checks out, and when they start producing vehicles, it will be a game changer for so many use cases
they figured out the most efficient type of transportation on wheels. the most efficient practical trasnportation, which leaves you with actual room for cargo also. there s literally no other way more efficient, they will all end up to this shape and 3 wheels.
@@kenhiett5266 maybe! We'll see how the crash tests results are, but considering the body is shaped like a egg, and there is still a couple airbags, I think this will be a lot safer than most people assume It's like how cars today are made of thinner steel, but preform better in crashes, even without factoring in the additional airbags modern cars have
Just a HUGE THANKS from an Aptera investor, reservation holder, and Hawaii ambassador. Probably the Best overview video from a third party/reviewer. All the best to Aptera and all the Aptera nuts out there! Aloha 🤙
I got one of the first early Nissan Leafs back in Apr. 2011 (#712) and still use it (still on original battery). I hope to get this vehicle and can't wait.
@@ARentz07 No worries... just his tone of voice and the way he addressed his viewers and talked with Chris McCammon. Nothing more than that. The quotes probably were not needed.
So frankly this is the best Aptera video I've seen so far. It was great to see everything see how the production has gone through different items iterations. I think it's a very sprightly and fun car to drive and that's extremely important for people who like to drive. While other people are trying to push people away from driving at all I think there's a huge market for people who like to drive. I think this car will be an attention grabber for the people who like to drive just like the original Miata was. It's obviously very sprightly and nimble and fun and that's what makes a fun experience
As I get older, it's rare that something excites me the way science and technology used to. Aptera is capturing that excitement and that hunger for possibilities, I hope they find success and can continue to makes us oooo and aaa the way society once did.
Excellent to see. So pleased to see other car enthusiasts excited for the Aptera. Looking forward to another Topher drive as soon as we have a production intent vehicle - I think it would be a very smart investment by Aptera (and it’s probably the closest I’ll get to driving my reserved vehicle for a little while!)
I guess since this car seems like its actually fun to drive. Its very lighweight and not another massive truck. And its got an unique futuristic looks. What I wished though is a proper dash instead of just front camera, or do HUD if we are just going futuristic anyways. Sadly this follows Tesla too much minimalism in interior which is not great for driving. Its what I wished they at least they didnt follow the Telsa trend.
@@kornkernel2232totally agree about not following Tesla too closely. There are absolutely genius ideas and execution by the brand. Unfortunately some are led by arrogance and a lack of appreciation for what a safe interface between the vehicle and driver should be (under the guise of elegance and efficiency). It’s late in the game for Aptera to overhaul their interface too much, but I’d like to see some integrated support for tactile interface extensions for those that want it. No control that might need to be used while driving should require visually aligning your finger to something on a touch screen.
The wheel in the one he drove thankfully isn't the actual wheel. If my understanding is correct, 11:30 is the actual steering wheel, and that's a lot better, but I still would definitely swap in a round wheel, nothing beats a simple round wheel.
I am not sure if this is a drive by wire car, but if it isnt(which i dont think it is?) a round wheel just makes so much more sense. If this was like the cybertruck tho then the f1 steering wheel would makemore sense
At 88" of track width up front, doesn't it technically need clearance lights like a diesel truck? (vehicles 80" or wider require the amber clearance lamps for those who don't know) The DOT probably hasn't made up a rule for a 80"+ wide auto cycle yet though haha.
@@jaden.sanderson Alright, this is the first time I had heard of this so I wasn't sure either, but I am sure they have looked at the laws to make sure they have everything they need.
@@aaaaaaxaaaaaa 4 more years! Maybe 5. There's going to be a lot of 4/5 seat, 4 wheeled E vehicles on the market by then which will cost less that this plastic trike. But yeah, they'll make a profit I'm sure 😃
In a sunny place like San Diego, California, It's not 40 miles a day from the solar. It's UP TO 40 miles a day. 20 miles a day in the winter. 30 miles a day in the spring and fall. 40 miles a day in the summer. Aptera's website says about 11,000 miles per year.
I get 9,125 for max mileage in the seasons as you claim. Almost 2,000 is a real exaggeration. When they fold, they should be jailed if Gamma doesn't get 10 miles on a hot Summers' day.
@@aussieideasman8498 You can order less solar on yours. Save a few hundred dollars on the purchase price. I’ll get the max solar option for mine. Isn’t choice great?
@@diamond_h0us They support right-to-repair, they're ethical about safety (rather than going for a heavy arms race), and their gamma models honestly seem more "ready" than some of Tesla's production cars.
Just wait, they all start like this then not even a decade later CEOs stepped down, companies been sold, and its a constant race to please shareholders.
16:18. This is NOT the same one that cracked the CT window. The CT window survived a MUCH higher drop than this. What broke the window was went Franz straight up threw the steel bearing at the window.
Im loving the aptera, it seems like the perfect daily commuter. If you need a commuter that carries more people, this isn't gonna work but most people have more than one car anyway and having this as a daily as a 1 + 1 is looking great. Plus their commitment to customer right to repair is great, and them making a profit off the car after 6000 units is Fantastic! This is actually going to be a car and company that will be sticking around and that's so cool is that they could totally upsize this car to a sedan, or a hatchback style car which would give people more capacity and a bigger battery with a similar aerodynamic emphasis. Only thing i would change, is the steering wheel (maybe the knock to open because any complication to door opening seems to cause problems when you're actually using it every day. But it does look pretty cool). With it being so tossable, i'd want a full wheel and the design seems a bit large and fat for the otherwise small, lean styling of the car. So if i were to get one, if the wheel remained the same, i'd probably install an aftermarket wheel.
Aptera will supply production drawings to anyone wanting to produce an aftermarket wheel. The larger size of the design gives larger crumple zones and helps increase the crash safety.
@@n.brucenelson5920 yes! Aptera seems to care a lot about customization. They don't need to make an expensive wheel. If they can make it cheaply, and people can buy and outfit an aftermarket wheel, that saves them the cost. And if somebody likes it enough, they keep it. It's a win win, especially as i highly doubt anyone would consider the steering wheel a deal breaker on a car with such a radical design.
I'd actually love to have one of these. It seems like it would be a nice complement to something a little more old-fashioned for the weekends, whether that's a track car or a giant SUV.
Cool to see some new info. Recently (finally) got myself a Tesla ('19 M3LR) and I'm planning on having it for at least 5 years but I'm excited to see where Aptera goes. Depending on how it goes, my next 'car' might just be an Aptera. I love the design and the right-to-repair focus and...just generally everything I've seen about it. I live in Oregon (not the desert or Southern where it'd be sunny) so probably lookin' at 20 miles per day or so as well on charging it up. Still kinda crazy to think your car could just get 20-40 miles of charging per day for free.
I live in the Willamette and I'm accounting for the lack of sunlight by getting the 600 battery pack. I'm also planning on replacing flying because it's really uncomfortable. That's when the solar system will help reduce a little of the charging time and costs.
@@d.e.7467 If you ever remember to comment back after having owned it for a bit, it'd be cool to hear how it goes for you. The Valley shouldn't be too horrible but of course it's no Cali. lol (I'm on the coast so it's dreary most of the time. Either way, I don't drive that much, so it's not a huge deal.)
I plan to use mine year round in Iowa, and will report on my experience in detail. The Aptera HVAC system can be used to assist battery pack temp management. 2170 NMC 811 chemistry batteries are much more cold tolerant than LIFe battery packs.
Nose went within a couple of months (delaminated) and roof must have lasted a few months longer. Every panel they made at the time they were at Vista has disappeared. The plant pieces are not reassembled at Carlsbad, and so it's probably too hard to replace. It's a dog's breakfast in there.
I view the Aptera as the next VW beetle. Reservation holder here. Will probably be 2026 before I see mine as I’m 30,000ish down the list. Was very hesitant to jump on board after losing quite a bit on the Elio fiasco. Great job with the interview!
I love it, I absolutely would hold onto my Ioniq Hybrid until this is available. If that 40 miles a day claim is real, it makes perfect sense for me as a single apartment dweller who will never have kids. I really hate that steering wheel, like HATE, but I’d be willing to overlook it. I’d also like to have more physical controls, but I’d still keep this at the top of my list.
@@canadiangoose4078 the faux yoke is only part of what I despise about it. It looks like it’s a cheap knockoff of a Genesis wheel crossed with the stupid Tesla wheel controls but at the same time being inspired by the earliest steering wheels that had airbags. It’s the worst part of the car, apart from the all touch screen controls. Transmission controls should ALWAYS be physical in my opinion, and a bank of hvac controls below the screen should also be mandatory.
@@General_M I don't think Aptera has a transmission. And I have both e-controls and e-buttons for my HVAC in my Prius, but the 3-buttons do not have mech linkages, so essentially it's all e-controls. Aptera just won't have the redundancy you imagine will give you positive tactile control.
@@abdullahalammar7291 Hehe, we call them "Autos" in my country. Rickshaws are common in my country, but not so much in the US (with their trucks and tanks on the road). Lighter vehicles need to become more standardized in the auto-industry, so hopefully aptera accomplishes that.
That is an option. This gamma vehicle just doesn't have the solar cells there. You have the option to get them in the front, on the dash and back (I heard it is like 189 solar cells total if you option it out).
This would actually be great for me for I only live roughly 7 miles away from where I work and live in a small town, so I don't usually do a ton of driving in my day to day anyway. The only thing I think would give me trouble would be in the dead of winter. The weather here in Southern Indiana is surprisingly unpredictable at times, so in the winter you don't know if you'll get 3ft of snow with 0 degree F temps or no snow, sunny and 40 degree F temps.
Nice Aptera factory tour! Just to be clear, the first Aptera in production will be the Launch Edition model, which comes with the larger 45kWh battery pack, providing up to 400 miles of range. The LE model also has motors in all 3 wheels, providing a 0-60 time of around 4 seconds. Plus it has the full solar package that can provide as much as 40 miles of added range per day in sunny climates. All Aptera EVs have a pressed carbon fiber tub like a race car, or exotic car, which means more safety, and less weight. The projected weight for the LE model will be around 2,200lbs, and it should start around $34K.
@@GoClimbARockEhThe mass plays a huge role but it's more than that: Rate of deceleration, movement, etc. Do some research. NHTSA or IIHS have resources. Your body is mush if you're hit by something like a Hummer EV vs in a Model 3
@@MrCarGuyNone of what you said answered my question. The Aptera has plenty of safety features built in, and they're going to crash test it to automotive standards using a third party in the near future. I expect it will be plenty safe
@@GoClimbARockEhI answered the question perfectly. The mass plays a huge part but it's multifactorial. There are no sufficient crumple zones around the vehicle to control the rate of deceleration. The body can't handle it. Keep coping and shilling!
@@SirIsaacMewtonIII Except that was their whole point lol? If people didn't go around driving trucks everywhere in the US, pedestrians and smaller cars would be a lot safer. The f150 is the highest selling vehicle in the US, for no damn reason. Followed by the Chevy Silverado, then the Dodge Ram.
@@baddriversofthenorcalarea500 Safety shouldn't be an arms race. Heavy weight, and massive blind spots. Yes, you're safer in your truck, but everyone else is less safe.
@@baddriversofthenorcalarea500 Somehow we forget that almost 1.5 million Americans are left severely disabled _every year_ thanks to car crashes. 430,000 of which are children. There is a solution to this, which is lighter vehicles, and slower speeds.
I love the idea of this, and the fact that they'll integrate it with Openpilot from the factory. I'd prefer a compact SUV form factor for my lifestyle but man this car is just so cool (also they're committed to right to repair which is the cherry on top)
Those a-pilars look GINORMOUS. This was a big criticism of the 1st gen volt, so the GM team fixed that on the 2nd gen. Sometimes you feel like you would hit a pedestrian in a parking lot because you couldnt see them at certain angles. I hope they are are smaller on the production delta variant.
Based on the most recent financial statements, if/when this gets to production, it’s supposed to be priced around $30k. It’s not really that budget of a car. Priced more than a Leaf and about the same as a Model 3.
@@mitchbarber4748 The average price of a new car is in the high $40,000's now. A base Model 3 is about $39,000. Either way, those are a big price jump compared to even a decently-optioned Aptera. So, a "budget" vehicle? Maybe not, but if you consider the likely low running costs, this could make sense as an affordable daily, especially if the commute is less than 20 miles so that the solar energy could be used on its own for charging.
yea not a budget car to expensive and no where near the promised 1000 miles of range. My 2021 M3P was 58k for an actual complete car and I could have bought the standard range 3 for less than this tops out at so no not a budget car
Wheel mounted electric motors and no shock absorbers scores an F.in my opinion. Predict Passenger and Driver accident safety scores an F. Predict Safety crash tests and off road and severe weather tests scores an F. Predict severe off road testing scores an F. Predict insurance premiums costs scores an F. Availability to obtain and in a timely manner repair parts questionable now? Warranty specifics would be nice to know before investing or ordering. Who does and where will warranty work be performed?
One thing that I saw that I believe no one has addressed is the windshield wiper. Are they going to do a singular offset like the cybertruck, singular center like a lotus Elise, or kind of tucked to the side inside the top lip of the hood?
you can see reflections on windscreen of the solar cells on the dash, even with non-reflective coating it might still effect visibility. Also those cells on the dash are going to be sitting at 50degC or over, that is one hell of a heater on your dashboard, and no way to turn down that heat, that will be issue no.2, I suspect dash cells might be removed at some stage due to these issues.
most car dash's are matt black and textured to minimize reflections which causes them to be very hot already. they make shingle layered solar cells but theyre already changing so much about the car (motors recently).
@@vevenaneathna solar cells are designed to absorb solar energy, they are basically a glass that absorbs sunlight, very different to mats, temperature will be very high indeed.
I like it.. overall a great idea and some genius design elements with the shape, aero and solar panels. What I don't like so far? Crash-worthiness.. even a minor fender bender seems like a prohibitively expensive proposition. And a serious high speed impact just seems outright fatal in this tiny lightweight death trap.
We'll see actual crash tests by July. But they've designed in plenty of safety features, and designed to meet automotive crash test standards. It should be as safe as any other small car
That's what Elio Motors said for about 8 years. Still no vehicles. I WANT Aptera to succeed and revolutionize the automotive vehicle industry, but I'll believe it when I see production vehicles on the road.
Soon? They’re still looking for vendors, the designs aren’t finalized, I’ve never seen video of testing at 70mph, never seen extreme weather testing, nor NVI testing. They have thousands of hours of work ahead of them before this goes to production. Don’t get me started about crash tests.
The lines in the floor are bumped up. The yellow one was a cable tunnel, so there's definitely some bumps it's going over. Besides, this prototype has none of the sound insulation material in it along with some serious mic gain.
So I like Aptera, I like the direction in which they’re going, I just hope that they can get these out in the wild, so that people can have an opportunity to drive them and experience them because I think we got a winner here folks, and I clearly would be interested in buying one. Full disclosure, I am not a reservation holder. I want to see these vehicles get out in the wild, and I want to see some real world experience with these vehicles before I decide to venture into buying one, but I am very excited to see that they’re far along in there efforts to get them into production. Cheers 🥂
When he’s sitting in the seating simulator, the parking lot is in view. It is quite shiny, almost as if it is wet. You can find lots of videos of the Aptera prototypes driving outside. These are just prototypes though, they probably rust easily and are not very weather-proof.
They haven't lied about anything. As their development evolves (as does any good engineering of novel tech and designs, they've changed what they've said at prior times. That from what I know is transparency, NOT lying. And please inform us oh great wise one, what the heck difference it makes whether or not it was or HAD rained? THe company simply did NOT want the vehicle driven outside--THEIR PREROGATIVE....GET IT?@@aussieideasman8498
If it gets 400miles, I would love to see someone take this thing from coast to coast. That would be an interesting video and would prove to people it can be a normal vehicle people can get but with some style.
@@Electronica27yep the original company went into liquidation in 2011. The current co-ceos had been pushed out of that company in a board fight in 2008. They had a chance to reacquire the IP years later, and founded a new company in 2019. Same basic idea, but a very different (and much improved) car
@@GoClimbARockEh thank you for keeping me informed!! NGL for awhile I've been considering investing in this company, but so many startups immediately dip after they go public (Lucid, RIvian etc.)
It speaks to me! It is about 2200 # for the 40 kWh model. WOW Chris M. riding Shotgun, although I don’t think it’s old for him! 177” L, last I checked. YES….The” Silence “ before the Storm ( Production ) 😉 Nice interview!
40 thousand preorders. I think they're a little in over their head. From the sounds of it they'd struggle to get 1000 cars out per year. A huge chunk of these 40000 people, that probably put down money for the Aptera, will realistically get their car, when there is already at least 1 or 2 new models, since the EV market develops quite fast. Solar and battery tech is also improving. I think it's realistic to think that in 4-5 years the range of the Aptera will be possible in a traditional 4-door, for a comparable price. The Aptera to me is a fun early adopter car, that uses the best tech and engineering of the past decade. It compromises in practicality to reach maximal efficiency and range. I see a future model from Aptera being either a mostly "normal" car or staying in their niche making it an even more efficient 2-people-carrier. I like what Aptera does but most customers can be lucky if they get their car before 2030, when it will be completely outdated, which in a way forces Aptera to improve on the current design constantly, so that a customer that receives their car in 5 years at least gets the latest technology updates, which can have very negative implications for customer satisfaction in the middle to long term, i.e. when a customer gets a model shortly before a new one releases. If production isn't flexible enough to enable customers to at least upgrade their older models with newer solar panels or batteries Apteras' image could suffer. As I wrote in the beginning, this will be a tall order for the company, I'm excited to see how they handle it all and wish them the best of luck.
i have a number of worries about the design my first worry is the tires - the design of the vehicle makes trying to change at the road side almost impossible, i don't even see any for m of easy access or jack points, this needs to be addressed or 3rd party AAA outside the area will refuse to attempt road fixes resorting in costly relays back home, also the knock to open is a really bad idea, there should be a physical button etc to pass emt emergancy services in the event of an accident. also it fails submergence requirements, and wing mirrors must be enlarged whist the cameras are central they are a little low and are easily blocked by wheel movement inhibiting visibility resorting to typical wing viewing , the rattles have to be fixed as it is not cheep by a long shot, and am also a little worried about the glass type, first up it seems low quality with a lot of bottle effect in the optics this may distort and give riders headaches at night, also the issue with stone chips is no a case of if but when, i see no easy way for this to be replaced,
The tires are a breeze to replace. Those front wheels covers now hinge up so you have full access like any vehicle. The rear wheel has a port to a central valve stem making it easy to pump up. They claim the cowling on the rear wheel can be removed in 10 minutes if you need to replace. There are jack points on the vehicle as well.
I’ll address the mirrors since the other replies covered the rest. You have redundant mirror systems. So you can use the screens or the mirrors to get a better view. You should also look over your shoulder before changing lanes or other dynamic maneuvers. I like that the screens are right in front of me so I don’t have to swing my head all around when backing up. Of course, they could make poor design choices and screw it up. From the dozens of test drives and company interviews I’ve seen on RUclips, Aptera seem to be making really good design decisions.
Wow, I cannot wait to see the improved version of an efficient, solar powered auto cycle that you are going to design and build. I'm so glad you provided us with your wisdom list of corrections that NEED to be made to Aptera before it goes into production. I'm curious, how did you determine that Aptera fails the submergence requirements and where exactly did you see/read those requirements? Did Aptera tell you that the windscreen we saw in the drive-around is the exact same one they're intending to use in their production vehicles? The company has already fully addressed both jacking points as well as changing tires by either removing the rear 'skirt' or swinging forward the two front skirts. Seems like a pretty easy thing to do in parking lot, a service station or on the side of the road. Do you have personal mobility issues that would make this hard for you?
The unpretentious white nerdy guy in shorts. These types of videos are the most genuine and reliable, that I would be inclined to trust. Keep up the great work.
Seems to me the production car will be less efficient since it will be higher and changes to the wheel covers. That being said, it probably will still be the most efficient electric three wheeled vehicle. I hope them succeed, and hopefully, they will be safe.
Great video with some new bits of information on details, thank you! The POV-ish perspective of the camera gives a pretty good idea of how it looks inside. Now could you tell us please how tall you are and how high above your eyes the camera was mounted? This really would be another very interesting piece of information (well, interesting to me at least in order to get an even better idea how it will look inside, especially the prototype with the most recent interior details such as the hight adjustable yoke).
Time is the killer here. We need to see people hustling around building the thing. This manufacturing location looks like everyone left. I'd like to see this thing succeed, is looks very fun and something that could reliably be produced. However, every year it's not sold makes it more and more likely to fail.
It is classified as an autocycle because it wouldn't come close to passing any NHTSA or IIHS crash tests (maybe small overlap if the outboard wheels are counted in the width, but that's it). If they rugpull again don't be surprised.
Its classified as a autocycle because it has 3 wheel nothing to do with crash testing, which Aptera has repeatedly said they will do all of the crash tests a car would do.
@@greenbergpImagine believing this. The reason _why_ they designed it with a single rear wheel was primarily to avoid the cost of complying with those pesky safety standards. Two rear wheels would be negligible for range and spaced any distance apart. Regulation also varies based on state. Their internal safety testing wouldn't be biased at all compared to NHTSA or IIHS testing. Right? Of course, they could just have those agencies do the testing "unofficially" anyway because it's so safe, right? Nothing to fear. Right?
@@MrCarGuy we don't have to imagine anything. They are having it crash tested by a third party to automotive standards, and they've promised to share the results. So yeah, nothing to fear.
@@GoClimbARockEhIt's going to be hilarious if the IIHS or NHTSA decides to test one against a normal car to show people how unsafe this design is. Shills will squirm
Just don't get in an accident. Drive this defensively in the same way one should do on a motorcycle. That said, this is very cool indeed. I'd love to own one of these well thought out machines.
Of course one should always drive carefully - but the Aptera is designed to be safer than most cars on the road. It’s built like a Formula One car. They’ll be doing crash testing over the next few months, we’ll see when the results come out.
@@kevinscott8642 The solid monocoque in a F1 car is much more dense than this. F1 cars also have a 6mm protection jacket of carbon/Zylon used in armored vests. Also a composite shell filled with urethane foam.
Love the Aptera, been following their progress for over a decade, not a fan of the Tesla style yoke, which is now a paid option in the S and X because people found it idiotic and wanted a regular, practical wheel. I truly hope Aptera will consider adding a real wheel option as well.
@@aussieideasman8498 Yes, and resurrected because, like the shape of dolphins, it actually works extremely efficiently. Form following function is always a good design principle, don't you agree?
@@billmanewal1786 I agree with form following function but they want it to have too many functions and two counteract each other. In-hub motors are only good for under about 40 mph and are positively dangerous over that speed. Aero shape is worthless under about 40 mph and really needed as speeds rise over it. They need to decide if they want a commuter or a sports car.
I have been holding off buying a new car. I have a 600 mile version pre-ordered. Hope they come out with a four person version not to long after then I can get one for the family as well.
I do hope they allow you to configure what's on the driver and center infotainment screens. Just using the screens in front of the driver just for the rearview mirror seems kinda dumb. One thing I absolutely despised about the Model 3 is the speedometer being on the infotainment screen. I'm also not really excited about the choice to do a vinyl wrap instead of paint, for a car that's specifically meant to be left in the sun as much as possible. The wrap will likely be around 1500-4500 and realistically last 3-7 years, adding something between $220-1500 (big range, but the cost of the wrap and actual wrap life are variable) a year in ownership cost isn't great.
"they don't want their prototype vehicle in the rain" A gamma vehicle should be built with production intent parts and undergoing environmental validation. It has plates. What exactly is the problem? Instead you are driving around a factory floor which is extremely dangerous. Who the hell approved this
It can be road driven and has been many times. They don't want to crash the newest prototype on wet, slippery roads. This is not the production intent vehicle. That will be built later this year.
@@MrCarGuythe original aptera absolutely refunded their deposits. Any comparison to Elio is purely superficial. Elio never put together a team that could actually execute on his vision, and he wasted his investor's money. Aptera has been investing in production tooling, and is currently building production intent prototypes for final validation, crash testing, etc. This is happening, and soon.
The top of the back tail will get scratched big time while loading anything heavy (luggage, sports equipment, etc.). Will need to place towel, mat or some protective covering while loading stuff in the trunk.
In the production design, the back hatch goes all the way to the tail, unlike in these prototypes, so that shouldn't be an issue. In some other videos they actually mention some reasons similar to what you said as to why they extended the hatch.
The updated design has a hatch window that extends fully to the back of the vehicle. The surface under the tail of the hatch will be unfinished carbon fiber sheet molding compound, which is not really vulnerable to scratching.
The design has been modified since they built that prototype. The production hatch goes all the way to the back edge of the car, so when it's open, you just have the sill exposed
Slowly looking like the future car that the older generations expect future cars to be.
Finally
I got a book on cars of the future ©1954...all the cars look like this
well it ain't flying my friend thats what the 60s thought
97j❤😂🎉😢😮😮😅😊gfffcvgffvvvvvbbbgghhhggvgggbbb@@m3chan1zr
It is the science aerodynamics and efficiency.
A lot of minor but important details that no other person has ever shown, like opening the windows through the screen, actually showing the start process by pressing "D" and "P" to park the car, etc. Also, we saw close up the ball test of the solar cells. But most amazing to me was driving that thing around inside the factory relatively fast. Nobody has ever done that, not even Chris! How on earth did they allow him to do that? The dude must be a very good driver for them to trust him with such risky venture. Congrats dude for your exploits and for taking us along the ride!
I was thinking it would have been safer to just drive it out in the rain but hey it's TheTopher!
Hopefully Chris still has his job at the end of the day!
Regarding PRND, I don’t like small buttons surrounded by huge white space. Makes them needlessly harder to tap. Tesla does that too much. Also there is no need to display PRND when the car is in motion. I have not used N in the last five years, plus the whole PRND notation seems needlessly retro. If I were designing the UI, I might just have two big direction arrows in the top left corner. Big enough to tap without looking, and then get replaced by the speedometer when in motion. IMO, if I have to take my focus off traffic/pedestrians to shift, then I consider the interface a failure. These are some of the reasons my Tesla still has a shift stalk … I can use it without looking.
@@paulrybarczyk5013I guess they are reading and taking notes. They should.
@@paulrybarczyk5013I also have a Tesla with stalks and feel the same. I hope I can customize by adding my own physical buttons like you can with 3rd party Tesla addons
@@paulrybarczyk5013 yeah it should be a physical control anyways. touchscreens don't provide any tactile feedback on if you set it to park, drive, reverse, etc.
The design of hiding the charging port behind the registration board is so clever 😂
I believe on of the old Chevrolet Caprice (maybe 1990) used the same thing.. It gave the Caprice the ability to fill tank from both sides in the gas station. I don’t know why this was not used for newer models .. most likely for safety reasons
@@amehaizathis was a thing on older 70s cars as well, i know the buick grand national comes to mind when i think about that design. i wish it came back!
@@ndnd.Some older cars have the gas inlet under the taillights
Yeah, the Best design decisions ❤🎉 Finally 😅❤
Clever 😂😂😂. It's been in use for decades
For anyone that doesn't know, Aptera is not a crazy as at seems at first sight. Their math totally checks out, and when they start producing vehicles, it will be a game changer for so many use cases
they figured out the most efficient type of transportation on wheels. the most efficient practical trasnportation, which leaves you with actual room for cargo also. there s literally no other way more efficient, they will all end up to this shape and 3 wheels.
Just don't get in an accident. Drive this defensively in the same way one should do on a motorcycle.
@@kenhiett5266it legally is a motorcycle, and yes, it should be driven with the same attitude.
@@kenhiett5266 maybe! We'll see how the crash tests results are, but considering the body is shaped like a egg, and there is still a couple airbags, I think this will be a lot safer than most people assume
It's like how cars today are made of thinner steel, but preform better in crashes, even without factoring in the additional airbags modern cars have
@@louisjov You're in big trouble against any of the larger vehicles on the road, crumple zones notwithstanding. It's a simple matter of physics.
I preordered the 600mi, AWD full solar model, can’t wait to get it!
The steering wheel looks like a funko pop creature smiling back at you lol
I was gonna say that it looks like a really happy robot with a buck tooth.
Can’t unsee it now, but I’m glad
Just a HUGE THANKS from an Aptera investor, reservation holder, and Hawaii ambassador. Probably the Best overview video from a third party/reviewer. All the best to Aptera and all the Aptera nuts out there! Aloha 🤙
Long time reservation holder and investor here. Thanks for a great factory tour and discussion with Chris!
Please make a video of it when you get one. I'll probably reserve one soon
@@kinggirth7169 I can't wait for that day! RUclips will be flooded with content from new owners fairly soon, should be the beginning of next year.
Looks like an Elio! Send your money... thousand dollar t-shirt...never get the car....good luck 😂
@@davidkufner4277 I have done the homework and Aptera is nothing like Elio. I feel very good about the research.
Its nice to see something actually light, actually efficient. Hell yeah!
This is the McLaren F1 for efficiency nerds
feel like it's gonna be the F1 compared to other cars on the road as well w/that 0-60 in 4s
I got one of the first early Nissan Leafs back in Apr. 2011 (#712) and still use it (still on original battery). I hope to get this vehicle and can't wait.
Really nice "friendly" and articulate video. Always great to see another perspective. Really cool to do laps inside the facility.
Went from car park to around the block - now inside the warehouse. Jack Scarlett had that perspective long ago.
Why is "friendly" in quotes? The quotes scare me.
@@ARentz07 No worries... just his tone of voice and the way he addressed his viewers and talked with Chris McCammon. Nothing more than that. The quotes probably were not needed.
Paul Elio would be proud.... another scheme... send your cash
So frankly this is the best Aptera video I've seen so far. It was great to see everything see how the production has gone through different items iterations. I think it's a very sprightly and fun car to drive and that's extremely important for people who like to drive. While other people are trying to push people away from driving at all I think there's a huge market for people who like to drive. I think this car will be an attention grabber for the people who like to drive just like the original Miata was. It's obviously very sprightly and nimble and fun and that's what makes a fun experience
As I get older, it's rare that something excites me the way science and technology used to. Aptera is capturing that excitement and that hunger for possibilities, I hope they find success and can continue to makes us oooo and aaa the way society once did.
Excellent to see. So pleased to see other car enthusiasts excited for the Aptera.
Looking forward to another Topher drive as soon as we have a production intent vehicle - I think it would be a very smart investment by Aptera (and it’s probably the closest I’ll get to driving my reserved vehicle for a little while!)
I guess since this car seems like its actually fun to drive. Its very lighweight and not another massive truck. And its got an unique futuristic looks.
What I wished though is a proper dash instead of just front camera, or do HUD if we are just going futuristic anyways. Sadly this follows Tesla too much minimalism in interior which is not great for driving. Its what I wished they at least they didnt follow the Telsa trend.
@@kornkernel2232totally agree about not following Tesla too closely. There are absolutely genius ideas and execution by the brand. Unfortunately some are led by arrogance and a lack of appreciation for what a safe interface between the vehicle and driver should be (under the guise of elegance and efficiency).
It’s late in the game for Aptera to overhaul their interface too much, but I’d like to see some integrated support for tactile interface extensions for those that want it.
No control that might need to be used while driving should require visually aligning your finger to something on a touch screen.
The wheel in the one he drove thankfully isn't the actual wheel. If my understanding is correct, 11:30 is the actual steering wheel, and that's a lot better, but I still would definitely swap in a round wheel, nothing beats a simple round wheel.
I am not sure if this is a drive by wire car, but if it isnt(which i dont think it is?) a round wheel just makes so much more sense. If this was like the cybertruck tho then the f1 steering wheel would makemore sense
Exactly. This trend of "wacky steering wheels" needs to die. The classic wheel is the best wheel for any non-track car.
At 88" of track width up front, doesn't it technically need clearance lights like a diesel truck? (vehicles 80" or wider require the amber clearance lamps for those who don't know) The DOT probably hasn't made up a rule for a 80"+ wide auto cycle yet though haha.
Wouldn't the amber strip on the top of the wheel pants count as these? they are lit up with lights internally if I remember correctly.
@@reru_personalmaybe? Clearance lamps usually have 3 center lights, with 2 on each side of the vehicles, so I'm not sure those would qualify.
@@jaden.sanderson Alright, this is the first time I had heard of this so I wasn't sure either, but I am sure they have looked at the laws to make sure they have everything they need.
I don't know anything about this, but maybe since it has motorcycle regulations, it doesn't need it.
I think 88" is the total width not the track width. I'm not sure even Aptera knows the final track width!
I have been in line for 2+ years. waiting and waiting and waiting. Let's go! I'm ready.
3 more years to go at least.
@@aaaaaaxaaaaaa 4 more years! Maybe 5. There's going to be a lot of 4/5 seat, 4 wheeled E vehicles on the market by then which will cost less that this plastic trike. But yeah, they'll make a profit I'm sure 😃
ill come back in 6 years
I'm glad you got to check this out, and Chris M. is the man!
In a sunny place like San Diego, California, It's not 40 miles a day from the solar. It's UP TO 40 miles a day. 20 miles a day in the winter. 30 miles a day in the spring and fall. 40 miles a day in the summer. Aptera's website says about 11,000 miles per year.
I get 9,125 for max mileage in the seasons as you claim. Almost 2,000 is a real exaggeration. When they fold, they should be jailed if Gamma doesn't get 10 miles on a hot Summers' day.
@@aussieideasman8498 You can order less solar on yours. Save a few hundred dollars on the purchase price. I’ll get the max solar option for mine. Isn’t choice great?
@@TheScottShepard That doesn't excuse the lie. Where's your logic?
@@aussieideasman8498 Nope, it's ~11000 miles per year (in a sunny place like San Diego, CA.)
Where are those production intent vehicles, it's been these four for months? Convenient that the other one's in Italy.
im amazed about the fact that a startup is more capable and has more morals than most car companies.
You could not be more wrong.
What do you mean?
@@diamond_h0us They support right-to-repair, they're ethical about safety (rather than going for a heavy arms race), and their gamma models honestly seem more "ready" than some of Tesla's production cars.
@@diamond_h0us TLDR: Tesla Sucks
Just wait, they all start like this then not even a decade later CEOs stepped down, companies been sold, and its a constant race to please shareholders.
16:18. This is NOT the same one that cracked the CT window. The CT window survived a MUCH higher drop than this. What broke the window was went Franz straight up threw the steel bearing at the window.
Futuristic cars be looking majestic tho.
Im loving the aptera, it seems like the perfect daily commuter. If you need a commuter that carries more people, this isn't gonna work but most people have more than one car anyway and having this as a daily as a 1 + 1 is looking great. Plus their commitment to customer right to repair is great, and them making a profit off the car after 6000 units is
Fantastic! This is actually going to be a car and company that will be sticking around and that's so cool is that they could totally upsize this car to a sedan, or a hatchback style car which would give people more capacity and a bigger battery with a similar aerodynamic emphasis.
Only thing i would change, is the steering wheel (maybe the knock to open because any complication to door opening seems to cause problems when you're actually using it every day. But it does look pretty cool). With it being so tossable, i'd want a full wheel and the design seems a bit large and fat for the otherwise small, lean styling of the car. So if i were to get one, if the wheel remained the same, i'd probably install an aftermarket wheel.
Aptera will supply production drawings to anyone wanting to produce an aftermarket wheel. The larger size of the design gives larger crumple zones and helps increase the crash safety.
@@n.brucenelson5920 yes! Aptera seems to care a lot about customization. They don't need to make an expensive wheel. If they can make it cheaply, and people can buy and outfit an aftermarket wheel, that saves them the cost. And if somebody likes it enough, they keep it. It's a win win, especially as i highly doubt anyone would consider the steering wheel a deal breaker on a car with such a radical design.
I'd actually love to have one of these. It seems like it would be a nice complement to something a little more old-fashioned for the weekends, whether that's a track car or a giant SUV.
I really want this to succeed these cars are so cool
Def lookin’ forward to this being complete!
Is there a charge controller setting? I don't want my car being at 100% all the time that would be terrible for the battery.
In EU you can use camera as mirrors :)
this reminds me of the Boxbl tiny homes. Takes forever to get released to the public. Its super cool!
Love the ingenuity of American companies. I'd love to test drive a production ready vehicle one day!
Cool to see some new info. Recently (finally) got myself a Tesla ('19 M3LR) and I'm planning on having it for at least 5 years but I'm excited to see where Aptera goes. Depending on how it goes, my next 'car' might just be an Aptera. I love the design and the right-to-repair focus and...just generally everything I've seen about it. I live in Oregon (not the desert or Southern where it'd be sunny) so probably lookin' at 20 miles per day or so as well on charging it up. Still kinda crazy to think your car could just get 20-40 miles of charging per day for free.
I live in the Willamette and I'm accounting for the lack of sunlight by getting the 600 battery pack. I'm also planning on replacing flying because it's really uncomfortable. That's when the solar system will help reduce a little of the charging time and costs.
@@d.e.7467 If you ever remember to comment back after having owned it for a bit, it'd be cool to hear how it goes for you. The Valley shouldn't be too horrible but of course it's no Cali. lol
(I'm on the coast so it's dreary most of the time. Either way, I don't drive that much, so it's not a huge deal.)
Mega! Cooles Vehicle!
Please sell it to germany!
We need something different!!!
It would be great to have it tested in icy and snowy conditions..And most important how cold affects the battery array.
I plan to use mine year round in Iowa, and will report on my experience in detail. The Aptera HVAC system can be used to assist battery pack temp management. 2170 NMC 811 chemistry batteries are much more cold tolerant than LIFe battery packs.
Where did Gamma's solar roof go? I saw it in late 2022 at the Gamma reveal.
Nose went within a couple of months (delaminated) and roof must have lasted a few months longer. Every panel they made at the time they were at Vista has disappeared. The plant pieces are not reassembled at Carlsbad, and so it's probably too hard to replace. It's a dog's breakfast in there.
I view the Aptera as the next VW beetle. Reservation holder here. Will probably be 2026 before I see mine as I’m 30,000ish down the list. Was very hesitant to jump on board after losing quite a bit on the Elio fiasco. Great job with the interview!
I love it, I absolutely would hold onto my Ioniq Hybrid until this is available. If that 40 miles a day claim is real, it makes perfect sense for me as a single apartment dweller who will never have kids.
I really hate that steering wheel, like HATE, but I’d be willing to overlook it. I’d also like to have more physical controls, but I’d still keep this at the top of my list.
You probably can get an aftermarket one since they will release all specs on this vehicle thanks to their right to repair and transparent policy.
same lol its gotta be a circle for me
@@canadiangoose4078 the faux yoke is only part of what I despise about it. It looks like it’s a cheap knockoff of a Genesis wheel crossed with the stupid Tesla wheel controls but at the same time being inspired by the earliest steering wheels that had airbags. It’s the worst part of the car, apart from the all touch screen controls. Transmission controls should ALWAYS be physical in my opinion, and a bank of hvac controls below the screen should also be mandatory.
@@General_M I don't think Aptera has a transmission. And I have both e-controls and e-buttons for my HVAC in my Prius, but the 3-buttons do not have mech linkages, so essentially it's all e-controls. Aptera just won't have the redundancy you imagine will give you positive tactile control.
@@rchenderby transmission, he probably meant prnd.
I wonder about the emergency door opening without energy. It's pretty important
There is a manual release inside.
Aptera is hot right now. I really hope they change the auto industry.
Auto industry!!!
Its an electric rickshaw
@@abdullahalammar7291 Hehe, we call them "Autos" in my country.
Rickshaws are common in my country, but not so much in the US (with their trucks and tanks on the road). Lighter vehicles need to become more standardized in the auto-industry, so hopefully aptera accomplishes that.
I hope they just make it to production.
yeah this is what I imagine a futuristic car and the price is decent considering it's one of it's first kind.
Can rear window be replaced with solar panels for even faster solar charging? No need for rear window as per Polestar 4!
It is...the whole hood, roof, trunk can be solar. You just choose it when you build it out on the site.
@@melissagreenmonstergirl excellent thanks
That is an option. This gamma vehicle just doesn't have the solar cells there. You have the option to get them in the front, on the dash and back (I heard it is like 189 solar cells total if you option it out).
@@madmotorcyclist Very good, I think that is the option for me
@@DeeSock Just keep in mind that the up to 40 miles of range added from the solar is if ALL the solar is optioned.
This would actually be great for me for I only live roughly 7 miles away from where I work and live in a small town, so I don't usually do a ton of driving in my day to day anyway. The only thing I think would give me trouble would be in the dead of winter. The weather here in Southern Indiana is surprisingly unpredictable at times, so in the winter you don't know if you'll get 3ft of snow with 0 degree F temps or no snow, sunny and 40 degree F temps.
Nice Aptera factory tour! Just to be clear, the first Aptera in production will be the Launch Edition model, which comes with the larger 45kWh battery pack, providing up to 400 miles of range. The LE model also has motors in all 3 wheels, providing a 0-60 time of around 4 seconds. Plus it has the full solar package that can provide as much as 40 miles of added range per day in sunny climates. All Aptera EVs have a pressed carbon fiber tub like a race car, or exotic car, which means more safety, and less weight. The projected weight for the LE model will be around 2,200lbs, and it should start around $34K.
If you think this is safe against almost anything else on the road you fail to understand physics
@@MrCarGuyWhat would make this less safe than other cars it's size and weight?
@@GoClimbARockEhThe mass plays a huge role but it's more than that: Rate of deceleration, movement, etc. Do some research. NHTSA or IIHS have resources.
Your body is mush if you're hit by something like a Hummer EV vs in a Model 3
@@MrCarGuyNone of what you said answered my question. The Aptera has plenty of safety features built in, and they're going to crash test it to automotive standards using a third party in the near future. I expect it will be plenty safe
@@GoClimbARockEhI answered the question perfectly. The mass plays a huge part but it's multifactorial. There are no sufficient crumple zones around the vehicle to control the rate of deceleration. The body can't handle it.
Keep coping and shilling!
That black one looks sleek. Usually am not a fan of black cars, but that one I'm really digging compared to the other colors so far.
Imagine if everybody drove these, then crashes would be so much less dangerous to other vehicles and especially pedestrians
until a truck hit the one you're in and you'd be instagibbed
@@SirIsaacMewtonIII Except that was their whole point lol? If people didn't go around driving trucks everywhere in the US, pedestrians and smaller cars would be a lot safer.
The f150 is the highest selling vehicle in the US, for no damn reason. Followed by the Chevy Silverado, then the Dodge Ram.
@@arunkarthikma3121 There absolutely is a reason. They are safer, and jack of all trades vehicles. If you ever need the storage, you have it.
@@baddriversofthenorcalarea500 Safety shouldn't be an arms race.
Heavy weight, and massive blind spots. Yes, you're safer in your truck, but everyone else is less safe.
@@baddriversofthenorcalarea500 Somehow we forget that almost 1.5 million Americans are left severely disabled _every year_ thanks to car crashes. 430,000 of which are children.
There is a solution to this, which is lighter vehicles, and slower speeds.
I love the idea of this, and the fact that they'll integrate it with Openpilot from the factory. I'd prefer a compact SUV form factor for my lifestyle but man this car is just so cool
(also they're committed to right to repair which is the cherry on top)
hope they add a circular, normal steering wheel. the yoke aint it man
Sadly, they won't.
Yeah it would be fine if the full width of a turn was a 180 of the wheel, but it's not
the overall design is ok but the yoke is the problem ? :D
I love it
Those a-pilars look GINORMOUS. This was a big criticism of the 1st gen volt, so the GM team fixed that on the 2nd gen. Sometimes you feel like you would hit a pedestrian in a parking lot because you couldnt see them at certain angles. I hope they are are smaller on the production delta variant.
I feel like this would be extremely popular as a budget option for car buyers
Based on the most recent financial statements, if/when this gets to production, it’s supposed to be priced around $30k. It’s not really that budget of a car. Priced more than a Leaf and about the same as a Model 3.
@@mitchbarber4748 The average price of a new car is in the high $40,000's now. A base Model 3 is about $39,000. Either way, those are a big price jump compared to even a decently-optioned Aptera.
So, a "budget" vehicle? Maybe not, but if you consider the likely low running costs, this could make sense as an affordable daily, especially if the commute is less than 20 miles so that the solar energy could be used on its own for charging.
@@mitchbarber4748still cooler than any leaf though.
yea not a budget car to expensive and no where near the promised 1000 miles of range. My 2021 M3P was 58k for an actual complete car and I could have bought the standard range 3 for less than this tops out at so no not a budget car
At 30k it will only sell in small numbers. Wake up.
Wheel mounted electric motors and no shock absorbers scores an F.in my opinion. Predict Passenger and Driver accident safety scores an F. Predict Safety crash tests and off road and severe weather tests scores an F. Predict severe off road testing scores an F. Predict insurance premiums costs scores an F. Availability to obtain and in a timely manner repair parts questionable now? Warranty specifics would be nice to know before investing or ordering. Who does and where will warranty work be performed?
The steering wheel really looks like a 😺, I like it
“It’s raining outside” and we can clearly see sunshine through the doors.
I like the dark grey one, it looks cooler IMO
It always amazes me are polished the freaking APLHA prototype is
One thing that I saw that I believe no one has addressed is the windshield wiper. Are they going to do a singular offset like the cybertruck, singular center like a lotus Elise, or kind of tucked to the side inside the top lip of the hood?
They have talked about this. Iirc it's one wiper tucked in the hood
Dude you were ripping in there!! Lmao I thought you were gonna cruise at like 5 mph. Did they tell you to step on it like that or you just did it?
How does this thing hold up in a crash test
im working my ass off so i could purchase one of these
mood
you can see reflections on windscreen of the solar cells on the dash, even with non-reflective coating it might still effect visibility.
Also those cells on the dash are going to be sitting at 50degC or over, that is one hell of a heater on your dashboard, and no way to turn down that heat, that will be issue no.2, I suspect dash cells might be removed at some stage due to these issues.
most car dash's are matt black and textured to minimize reflections which causes them to be very hot already. they make shingle layered solar cells but theyre already changing so much about the car (motors recently).
@@vevenaneathna solar cells are designed to absorb solar energy, they are basically a glass that absorbs sunlight, very different to mats, temperature will be very high indeed.
I see aptera, I upvote
I like it.. overall a great idea and some genius design elements with the shape, aero and solar panels. What I don't like so far? Crash-worthiness.. even a minor fender bender seems like a prohibitively expensive proposition. And a serious high speed impact just seems outright fatal in this tiny lightweight death trap.
We'll see actual crash tests by July. But they've designed in plenty of safety features, and designed to meet automotive crash test standards. It should be as safe as any other small car
레거시 자동차 업체에서는 절대 나올 수 없는 차. 혁신과 도전 없이 점유만 늘리는 레거시들은 제발 좀 도태됐으면..
annyeong-haseyo! I agree.
I really hope they keep the engine noise in the production version!
Better order and invest soon.
Been watching aptera for years its getting close.
That's what Elio Motors said for about 8 years. Still no vehicles. I WANT Aptera to succeed and revolutionize the automotive vehicle industry, but I'll believe it when I see production vehicles on the road.
Soon? They’re still looking for vendors, the designs aren’t finalized, I’ve never seen video of testing at 70mph, never seen extreme weather testing, nor NVI testing. They have thousands of hours of work ahead of them before this goes to production. Don’t get me started about crash tests.
@@dmrr7739Crash tests very soon.
Fellow Michigander here! Maybe we could start an Aptera Michigan Club AMC lol.😂
8:34 Uh, what? You are driving on a perfectly smooth warehouse floor.
It’s a prototype, it’s going to have squeaks and rattles. They should have it worked it out by the time it enters production.
You'd be surprised how uneven almost every warehouse floor is
@@mattkroening7964 smooth as a pancake compared to public roads.
The lines in the floor are bumped up. The yellow one was a cable tunnel, so there's definitely some bumps it's going over. Besides, this prototype has none of the sound insulation material in it along with some serious mic gain.
So I like Aptera, I like the direction in which they’re going, I just hope that they can get these out in the wild, so that people can have an opportunity to drive them and experience them because I think we got a winner here folks, and I clearly would be interested in buying one.
Full disclosure, I am not a reservation holder. I want to see these vehicles get out in the wild, and I want to see some real world experience with these vehicles before I decide to venture into buying one, but I am very excited to see that they’re far along in there efforts to get them into production. Cheers 🥂
Rain? I could be wrong, but I see blue skies through those windows
They have been known to lie a lot. Maybe you could get the hour and day he was there and get the weather people to tell us how sunny it was?
When he’s sitting in the seating simulator, the parking lot is in view. It is quite shiny, almost as if it is wet. You can find lots of videos of the Aptera prototypes driving outside. These are just prototypes though, they probably rust easily and are not very weather-proof.
@@TheScottShepardI can imagine they wouldn’t want to ruin their newest & closest to production prototype.
@@TheScottShepardI would love to see carbon fiber and plastic panels rust XD
They haven't lied about anything. As their development evolves (as does any good engineering of novel tech and designs, they've changed what they've said at prior times. That from what I know is transparency, NOT lying. And please inform us oh great wise one, what the heck difference it makes whether or not it was or HAD rained? THe company simply did NOT want the vehicle driven outside--THEIR PREROGATIVE....GET IT?@@aussieideasman8498
If it gets 400miles, I would love to see someone take this thing from coast to coast. That would be an interesting video and would prove to people it can be a normal vehicle people can get but with some style.
@@rw6262they don't have one that far along yet. Still in prototype phase.
I swear I've heard about Aptera for like a decade now and it's still not a production ready prototype?
The new company started in 2019.
@@tims8603 google up "Aptera" aparently they've been arnd in like 2011 then went defunct I think.
@@Electronica27yep the original company went into liquidation in 2011. The current co-ceos had been pushed out of that company in a board fight in 2008. They had a chance to reacquire the IP years later, and founded a new company in 2019. Same basic idea, but a very different (and much improved) car
@@GoClimbARockEh thank you for keeping me informed!! NGL for awhile I've been considering investing in this company, but so many startups immediately dip after they go public (Lucid, RIvian etc.)
@@tims8603 The old company started in 2006.
Stunning look. I would love to own one of these, but as a pensioner I am unlikely to be able to afford it - even at the reasonable price quoted.
Can’t wait for mine
I cant wait to have money🤣
Windshield wipers? Can you adjust the seat?
Yes, under the windshield. The seat rises as it slides forward and lowers as it slides back.
It speaks to me!
It is about 2200 # for the 40 kWh model.
WOW Chris M. riding Shotgun, although I don’t think it’s old for him!
177” L, last I checked.
YES….The” Silence “ before the Storm ( Production ) 😉
Nice interview!
Mind blowing
Wish it was a sunny day so they can take it outside, and we maybe could see how much power (Wh) is coming into the car to solar charge it...
The digital rear view mirror will be an issue at night. Just look at the cyber truck, it's mirror is a disaster.
40 thousand preorders. I think they're a little in over their head. From the sounds of it they'd struggle to get 1000 cars out per year. A huge chunk of these 40000 people, that probably put down money for the Aptera, will realistically get their car, when there is already at least 1 or 2 new models, since the EV market develops quite fast. Solar and battery tech is also improving. I think it's realistic to think that in 4-5 years the range of the Aptera will be possible in a traditional 4-door, for a comparable price.
The Aptera to me is a fun early adopter car, that uses the best tech and engineering of the past decade. It compromises in practicality to reach maximal efficiency and range. I see a future model from Aptera being either a mostly "normal" car or staying in their niche making it an even more efficient 2-people-carrier.
I like what Aptera does but most customers can be lucky if they get their car before 2030, when it will be completely outdated, which in a way forces Aptera to improve on the current design constantly, so that a customer that receives their car in 5 years at least gets the latest technology updates, which can have very negative implications for customer satisfaction in the middle to long term, i.e. when a customer gets a model shortly before a new one releases. If production isn't flexible enough to enable customers to at least upgrade their older models with newer solar panels or batteries Apteras' image could suffer.
As I wrote in the beginning, this will be a tall order for the company, I'm excited to see how they handle it all and wish them the best of luck.
i have a number of worries about the design my first worry is the tires - the design of the vehicle makes trying to change at the road side almost impossible, i don't even see any for m of easy access or jack points, this needs to be addressed or 3rd party AAA outside the area will refuse to attempt road fixes resorting in costly relays back home, also the knock to open is a really bad idea, there should be a physical button etc to pass emt emergancy services in the event of an accident. also it fails submergence requirements, and wing mirrors must be enlarged whist the cameras are central they are a little low and are easily blocked by wheel movement inhibiting visibility resorting to typical wing viewing , the rattles have to be fixed as it is not cheep by a long shot, and am also a little worried about the glass type, first up it seems low quality with a lot of bottle effect in the optics this may distort and give riders headaches at night, also the issue with stone chips is no a case of if but when, i see no easy way for this to be replaced,
It's a prototype.
The tires are a breeze to replace. Those front wheels covers now hinge up so you have full access like any vehicle. The rear wheel has a port to a central valve stem making it easy to pump up. They claim the cowling on the rear wheel can be removed in 10 minutes if you need to replace. There are jack points on the vehicle as well.
I’ll address the mirrors since the other replies covered the rest. You have redundant mirror systems. So you can use the screens or the mirrors to get a better view. You should also look over your shoulder before changing lanes or other dynamic maneuvers. I like that the screens are right in front of me so I don’t have to swing my head all around when backing up. Of course, they could make poor design choices and screw it up. From the dozens of test drives and company interviews I’ve seen on RUclips, Aptera seem to be making really good design decisions.
@@madmotorcyclist where I don't see any in the rear at all or along the lower body
Wow, I cannot wait to see the improved version of an efficient, solar powered auto cycle that you are going to design and build. I'm so glad you provided us with your wisdom list of corrections that NEED to be made to Aptera before it goes into production. I'm curious, how did you determine that Aptera fails the submergence requirements and where exactly did you see/read those requirements? Did Aptera tell you that the windscreen we saw in the drive-around is the exact same one they're intending to use in their production vehicles? The company has already fully addressed both jacking points as well as changing tires by either removing the rear 'skirt' or swinging forward the two front skirts. Seems like a pretty easy thing to do in parking lot, a service station or on the side of the road. Do you have personal mobility issues that would make this hard for you?
Wow! I love that Electric Vehicle! Great job making this video! 🎉❤😊😄
The unpretentious white nerdy guy in shorts. These types of videos are the most genuine and reliable, that I would be inclined to trust. Keep up the great work.
Seems to me the production car will be less efficient since it will be higher and changes to the wheel covers. That being said, it probably will still be the most efficient electric three wheeled vehicle. I hope them succeed, and hopefully, they will be safe.
Can you review the 2000 Lexus LS430
Based
This will be great driving to and back from your timeshare vacation property.
Im starting to see cracks and flaws in the design... are you sure there isnt a way to thin the blind spot area on the door and window spots...
Great video with some new bits of information on details, thank you!
The POV-ish perspective of the camera gives a pretty good idea of how it looks inside.
Now could you tell us please how tall you are and how high above your eyes the camera was mounted? This really would be another very interesting piece of information (well, interesting to me at least in order to get an even better idea how it will look inside, especially the prototype with the most recent interior details such as the hight adjustable yoke).
I would bet anyone $10k that they don’t deliver a single vehicle in 2024 or 2025
Time is the killer here. We need to see people hustling around building the thing. This manufacturing location looks like everyone left. I'd like to see this thing succeed, is looks very fun and something that could reliably be produced. However, every year it's not sold makes it more and more likely to fail.
Game Changer.........
Minor query, and I'm sure it will be covered in production but what is in store for the vehicle's entertainment system?
It is classified as an autocycle because it wouldn't come close to passing any NHTSA or IIHS crash tests (maybe small overlap if the outboard wheels are counted in the width, but that's it).
If they rugpull again don't be surprised.
Its classified as a autocycle because it has 3 wheel nothing to do with crash testing, which Aptera has repeatedly said they will do all of the crash tests a car would do.
@@greenbergpImagine believing this. The reason _why_ they designed it with a single rear wheel was primarily to avoid the cost of complying with those pesky safety standards. Two rear wheels would be negligible for range and spaced any distance apart.
Regulation also varies based on state.
Their internal safety testing wouldn't be biased at all compared to NHTSA or IIHS testing. Right?
Of course, they could just have those agencies do the testing "unofficially" anyway because it's so safe, right? Nothing to fear.
Right?
@@MrCarGuy we don't have to imagine anything. They are having it crash tested by a third party to automotive standards, and they've promised to share the results. So yeah, nothing to fear.
@@GoClimbARockEhIt's going to be hilarious if the IIHS or NHTSA decides to test one against a normal car to show people how unsafe this design is.
Shills will squirm
@@MrCarGuyI think it'd be great if either of those orgs decided to test it! I hope they do. It'll validate the results Aptera will release
I might have to take mine to track days!
Just don't get in an accident. Drive this defensively in the same way one should do on a motorcycle. That said, this is very cool indeed. I'd love to own one of these well thought out machines.
Of course one should always drive carefully - but the Aptera is designed to be safer than most cars on the road. It’s built like a Formula One car. They’ll be doing crash testing over the next few months, we’ll see when the results come out.
@@kevinscott8642 That's just silly. Anyone who'd rather be in an accident against an SUV in this doesn't understand physics.
@@kevinscott8642 The solid monocoque in a F1 car is much more dense than this. F1 cars also have a 6mm protection jacket of carbon/Zylon used in armored vests. Also a composite shell filled with urethane foam.
@@kenhiett5266 the built-in safety feature is never being produced.
@@artsmith103 lol
Love the Aptera, been following their progress for over a decade, not a fan of the Tesla style yoke, which is now a paid option in the S and X because people found it idiotic and wanted a regular, practical wheel. I truly hope Aptera will consider adding a real wheel option as well.
finally a car that looks like 2024
No. This looks like 1980s cheezy low budget sci fi movie.
It's a Morelli design from the mid 70s.
@@aussieideasman8498Really, a futuristic car designed 50 years ahead of its time.
@@aussieideasman8498 Yes, and resurrected because, like the shape of dolphins, it actually works extremely efficiently. Form following function is always a good design principle, don't you agree?
@@billmanewal1786 I agree with form following function but they want it to have too many functions and two counteract each other. In-hub motors are only good for under about 40 mph and are positively dangerous over that speed. Aero shape is worthless under about 40 mph and really needed as speeds rise over it. They need to decide if they want a commuter or a sports car.
I have been holding off buying a new car. I have a 600 mile version pre-ordered. Hope they come out with a four person version not to long after then I can get one for the family as well.
The new Honda crx looks sweet 😅
I do hope they allow you to configure what's on the driver and center infotainment screens. Just using the screens in front of the driver just for the rearview mirror seems kinda dumb. One thing I absolutely despised about the Model 3 is the speedometer being on the infotainment screen.
I'm also not really excited about the choice to do a vinyl wrap instead of paint, for a car that's specifically meant to be left in the sun as much as possible. The wrap will likely be around 1500-4500 and realistically last 3-7 years, adding something between $220-1500 (big range, but the cost of the wrap and actual wrap life are variable) a year in ownership cost isn't great.
"they don't want their prototype vehicle in the rain" A gamma vehicle should be built with production intent parts and undergoing environmental validation. It has plates. What exactly is the problem? Instead you are driving around a factory floor which is extremely dangerous. Who the hell approved this
It can be road driven and has been many times. They don't want to crash the newest prototype on wet, slippery roads. This is not the production intent vehicle. That will be built later this year.
@@tims8603 sun was shining in the background with no rain outside. Really dubious
@@chkndntsThere's a shot of the window at 11:45. It looks like overcast to me.
@@chkndnts The entire operation is dubious. Just as Elio Motors. Just as the original Aptera company that refused to refund refundable deposits
@@MrCarGuythe original aptera absolutely refunded their deposits. Any comparison to Elio is purely superficial. Elio never put together a team that could actually execute on his vision, and he wasted his investor's money. Aptera has been investing in production tooling, and is currently building production intent prototypes for final validation, crash testing, etc. This is happening, and soon.
The top of the back tail will get scratched big time while loading anything heavy (luggage, sports equipment, etc.). Will need to place towel, mat or some protective covering while loading stuff in the trunk.
In the production design, the back hatch goes all the way to the tail, unlike in these prototypes, so that shouldn't be an issue.
In some other videos they actually mention some reasons similar to what you said as to why they extended the hatch.
The updated design has a hatch window that extends fully to the back of the vehicle. The surface under the tail of the hatch will be unfinished carbon fiber sheet molding compound, which is not really vulnerable to scratching.
The design has been modified since they built that prototype. The production hatch goes all the way to the back edge of the car, so when it's open, you just have the sill exposed
@@reru_personal That's good to know. Thanks!