Aptera's Chief of Design, Jason Hill, presentation at the Cleveland Institute of Art
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- Опубликовано: 20 сен 2024
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Thank you very much Steve. We are honored to be a part of the journey.
Thanks for your hard work Steve, we appreciate all the Aptera information you provide!
This was such a great window into the designer behind Aptera. I fell in love with Aptera on an entirely new level. Thank you so very much for sharing this with us!
I was in a friend's model 3 yesterday. He tapped the steering wheel and said commands. He turned off the radio. He turned on the windshield wipers. He turned on his seat heater without ever taking his eyes off the road. Do you know if aptera is thinking about voice commands?
As an engineer, I'm very aware of my limitations when it comes to human-centered design and usability. I'm in awe of designers who can either give me a wonderful product vision to inspire my engineering, or in the worst case put awesome lipstick on my pig of a product. I can appreciate and even critique the result of the design process, but I'm often unable to discuss the process itself.
I've talked with Jason, my mind flooded with design-related questions I was totally unable to put into words. Jason is very kind and seems at peace with the need to repeatedly explain himself and his process to engineers, and to the public as well. It is beyond refreshing to see him in his own element, talking to his future peers. I'd love to be in his classroom!
I was particularly intrigued by Jason's mention of "evergreen" products.
I recently posted a lengthy FB comment where I discussed key automotive pinnacles over the past two decades. To me, the pinnacle of ICE technology was Mazda's Skyactiv system, where they optimized the entire vehicle as a whole, as a single design, simultaneously yielding amazing efficiency, performance, handling and just plain fun. Others have evolved it since, but none have made a single leap similar to Skyactiv.
We have yet to see the pinnacle of hybrid/PHEV technology, but it will arrive very soon as BEV tech flows back into PHEVs, and the role of the ICE engine is further optimized for weight and fuel efficiency. I expect PHEVs to soon become better competitors to current first-generation BEVs when it comes to lifetime/lifecycle costs and carbon footprints.
Aptera takes a similar whole-vehicle optimization approach based on current first-generation BEV technology. The resulting vehicle can possibly be beat, if at all, by deploying technology far beyond what's available today. This is what I believe John means when he uses the term "evergreen". Because even when that future tech arrives, the rest of Aptera's tech will still be near the peak of what's possible. Essentially, the Aptera whole is greater than the sum of its parts, creating enduring value far beyond the limitations of current technology. Creating what Sandy Munro calls an "iconic" vehicle that "your grandkids will drive".
That pretty much defines "evergreen" for me.
Thanks for continuously supplying new information regularly. So much excitement around this vehicle - can't wait to get ours!
Man, your output is so impressive! I have watched quite a few of your videos to know you are no lapdog, but a critical fanboy so to speak ;-) And that so fits the profile of Aptera as a company, their ethical awareness and their presence out here on the internet. The fact you are in touch with them on this level and their pragmatic approach to collaboration with their scrutinizers says a lot about them, and in this case also about you. Your respect for their IP combined with your own USP as watchdog invites them to honor your request in a very gentleman like manner. I love that and I place a lot of value in that process and following output in content. Thank you so much! really appreciate this.
_PS mad respect for Jason Hill. Saw him for the first time in the presentation of their Gamma I think, and his calm demeanor, his quiet philosophical approach and ability to translate to practical and congruent solutions is so inspiring!_
Thanks, Steve. I'm glad you and Jason were able to edit the video into something that could be posted. Keep up the good work, man.
Thanks Ray for giving me the recording!
Thanks Ray for doing this recording.. Had a ton of tit bits we are getting for the first time.
Thank you for this inside design perspective from a "founder". I agree we don't need a logo. They vehicle is its own logo.
Outstanding! Thanks to Mr. Hill, and to Our Greatest Ambassador, Steve! Wonderful Presentation.
Yes I do need to know the speed. There is something called "speed limits" that one ought to pay attention to (the police tend to). Maybe you don't need to pay attention to the temperature... your motor may seize up or your battery pack may catch on fire, but you won't get a $250 speeding ticket. Jason C Hill seems to be a valuable and necessary visionary (and I am sure he is fulfilling that role admirably), but I hope others at Aptera are keeping him and the vehicle grounded in sensible functionality. Generally, that seems to be the case.
exactly
Send the ticket to Jason. He will pay it. It is his dessign
I've always liked the Heads Up Display that projects speed on the windshield. I think that would work great with this vehicle interior layout. It wouldn't interfere with the side camera displays that are above the Yoke and you wouldn't have to take your eyes off the road to look at the screen in the center.
Re: temperature gauge. Fucking yes. I don't want the entire vehicle to fail when a single part stops. I want the tactile interaction so i can keep my eyes on the road. This disconnect between the design and drivers is unbelievable.
I think he is living a little in his own world. Perhaps a characteristic of designers in general also perhaps partly responsible for their success as the purveyors of new ideas. I agree that he missed the mark on temp gages. Even more, he missed the mark on competition for the Aptera if he thinks that the Aptera will not be competing with every other EV in the market place especially the low cost family EVs
@@yanpingyang9028 yes and no. Most family's will dismiss it on the grounds of seating. However most of the people I know would get a motorcycle if it was enclosed, climate controlled, and stable. And critically, it's (in my fairly biased opinion) the only viable offering under 30k.
We poor out here
I have driven EV's for so long I had forgotten about a temperature gauge. Knowing the ingenuity required to design and produce a revolutionary vehicle like the Aptera leads me to believe there will be a warning if a critical element of the vehicle exceeds its normal limits of operation.
As to exceeding the speed limit, most vehicles today will announce the posted speed limit on the center screen. I drive a Chevrolet Bolt which allows me to set warnings which tell me I am approaching or exceed the speed limit. Then there is always cruise control.
@@IBMara On 2013 Nissan LEAF's you really need the battery temp gauge because when you push the vehicle limits and do road trips the damn thing overheats frequently. Nissan was lazy for so long about giving their buyers active battery temperature management! But they did give us heat pump interior heating, and steering wheel and seat heaters almost from the get go, so that was a plus ;->.
Thanks a bunch Steve for posting this. Your info is always appreciated. And thanks to Jason C. Hill for insight into his design for the Aptera, his story and his design thoughts on the Aptera. As a pre-order holder and investor, this information is what I always look forward to seeing/hearing while I wait for production to start. Aptera is doing a great job and getting the design locked down before going into production so that us, as customers, will get the most refined and quality product. It takes a little more time to do this, but it will all be worth it when the day comes to take delivery or our own Aptera and show the world that this paradigm of change has finally happened.
Thank you for sharing, that 4 wheeler gives me goosebumps
Great video! Thanks for this. Very informative video.
The 4 wheeler looks cool. I like the solid non-glass hatch.
Great content as usual. Thanks.
Skip to at least 9:20 to get to the content.
Thanks Steve. I like the design and flow more and more. I do hope they produce twice as many front suspension assemblies as full vehicles. (I was going to write "units" and then "autocycles" and then just "cars" but I think I broke through that technocratologists barrier this morning. I'm even warming up to the frumpy interior. The whole thing is quite a breakthrough in automotive design.
Awesome is inadequate to describe the Aptera design. Thank you!!!
Thank You for all the updates 🎉😊
I am disappointed you had to cover up Delta design but understand why Jason asked you to. Look forward to seeing the final version/delta!
@@adimchionyenadum2962 🤔I just looked and all I see is a photo of the interior of the Gamma prototype, same as shown at the Fully Charged Live show.
You don’t design for what YOU want, you design for what the BUYERS want. Josh, this guy is all over the place. I’m glad I didn’t pay to listen to this. Either way, THANKS STEVE for all you’re doing for Aptera! ❤️
Who famously said that the people out there don't know what they want, we design it for them?
Your perspective on design is not law.
I agree with your prospective on design. Successful cars in the market place do that. Those that are not successful (The infamous Ford Edsel) do not. When the day is done the design has to be appealing to a target market and readily producible and a low cost, high volume. This mantra is why we seldom see the exact vey popular, futuristic prototypes displayed at car shows reach production.
Thanks, Steve. This talk illustrates the inherent design-driven tension among marketing, functionality, and usability. Aptera does a better job of syncing all three in its aerodynamic form than it does in its driver interface. After it makes it to production and gets reviewed and driven in real world conditions, perhaps a future iteration can bring those elements together in a more practical balance.
Thanks for still being able to include the Delta image with the text overlay. Glad they did not make you while it all out. Even though we can use the image, which was what they were preserving for the big reveal. But we love all that we can get.
That isn't the Delta. Thy Delta was hidden by that picture
I hope we could customize the way the central screen show us the information!
I believe we will be able to. Having driven many newer vehicles I find most of them allow one to adjust the display to suit their needs.
The CTO has even spoken of giving customers programming access to the firmware, perhaps with a failsafe reset provision if it gets messed up too badly.
@@n.brucenelson5920 The CTO is no longer involved in the vehicle. I doubt there is much left from his influence so long ago
@@yanpingyang9028 It is true that Nathan Armstrong's main role is prototyping, which is largely done, but I haven't seen that he has left his CTO role. As of late June he was still giving Aptera interviews.
The 4-wheeled design looked dope AF! :)
The 4wheel Aptera looks AMAZING. After watching this I came away EXTREMELY impressed by Jason and Aptera as a whole even more.
I am not sure that is the design for the four wheel Aptera or that the design for the four wheel Aptera is in progress. To much left to do on the current Aptera and the EU version. I would be concerned if Aptera is using sparse capital to work on anything other than getting the current version into production and into the market place at a competitive price. If they fail to do this, there may not be a four wheel Aptera in anyone's future
Great presentation. No fluff, just the facts. I would have liked to hear Jason comment on the extent that Munro Associates integrated with Aptera in the design process or were they strictly on the manufacturability side of the equation.
That was interesting. One clue is that a 27 minute video went by very quickly - it felt like less than half that time.
Now... to get eyes on the Delta. 🙂
I wish Jason Hill was a hypermiler and knew how to design a car interface to be driven efficiently. If you want to get the best mileage out of your car you need a cockpit style, or at least a headsup speedometer. And any info on fuel consumption front and center. Putting the gas pedal further right so you can pin your foot to the sidewall and have better throttle control. What i would love to see are elevation gauges and slope gauges like an in aircraft. Airspeed, angle of crosswind. Things that make it easier to operate a car like a glider on the roads. Even the electric version of BSFC to know the correct amount of acceleration to keep the car in it's optimal efficiency range.
Seems to me a lot of what you are after could be implemented in the software. My smart phone knows half of that data about its circumstances already. Add a HUD projector peripheral. Chris A. has said they are eager to have after market suppliers get involved in customization efforts. All to say, could happen.
Yeah, it would be really scary for them to spend all that development time and increase the cost of the car by how many 100s or 1000s of dollars for the wishlist of a small audience. Aptera is supportive of right to repair and mods so these are probably projects the hypermilers should take on themselves.
There are not many hypermilers in the target market. Designing for hypermilers wold significantly limit the number of units sold into the EV market. The vehicle is designed for the correct market, average drivers commuting or taking trips under normal driving conditions
I want the ability to self impose a speed limit and acceleration limit. This would help for cities with speed cameras. Plus limiting acceleration (I might not need all of it all the time) would help with improving mileage. Like an eco mode button. With how quickly and smoothly this thing can accelerate, I don't want a speeding ticket.
Interesting
I wish we had more options to have a HUD like that render of the inside around 16min mark
I would love to see a McLaren F1 inspired 3 seat configuration as an option. . ..
Illegal in the US, it's primary market.
maybe on the 250 mile version (because less battery might allow it)
I need to see the speed constantly. I don't want tickets.
That's such an easy problem to solve with geotagging. They could add force feedback to the accelerator for example if your at the speed limit. You could push through if you desire. My Infiniti has an eco feature where if you try to accelerate to quickly the accelerator pedal gets stiffer so the technology is already here and there are many other ways to do it even better
Yes, that comment gives me pause. It's a slippery slope to Elons comment of "All input is error." I don't need a car to tell me if I should be in reverse or forward. I tell the car what i want it to do.
I too believe in maintaining a “healthy” level of engagement while driving and, indeed, in most any circumstance. Having a robot anticipate and provide for your every need and want is not healthy in any sense. Having that robot looking over your shoulder and keeping you out of trouble that may be beyond human capacity to anticipate and deal with; that there is sense in.
So many of his comments in this section make it seem like to him the cars job is not to make it easier for you to drive, but to make it easier for you to NOT drive.
@@JamaicanMeCrazy that's unreliable information.
the split window should have an led light strip that connect it to the head light. make it part of an element of design
I like the zig zag headlight, but I guess complexity and desire for more solar killed it. It was also interesting that he wanted to completely redesign the shape when they respawned. Those would have been interesting conversations to be a fly on the wall
Awesome over view of the design process
The viability of production is in the composite lay-up. Every thing revolves around that.
Thanks for the video. It was interesting and reassuring to hear from a leading designer. One thing that keep popping up in my mind... been forgetting to mention it. The windshield wipers. They sit down in a gap. Seems like this gap would create a vacuum and perhaps a vortex when traveling at speed. Seems like it would have a detrimental impact on coefficient of drag. Perhaps they could design something where the wipers are an extension of something that is an almost seamless transition from the "hood" to the windshield. When the wipers are engaged, the whole thing - the body extension and wiper - move to clear the windshield.
The space at the bottom of the windshield which the windshield wipers occupy is also an intake for an auxiliary cooling system for when the aptera is at rest or in a very hot environment.
Thanks for this insight into Jason's work. Always interesting to see how designers work. Each in his own way. My take is all design is a series of compromises spread in a sequence of time that the designer/engineer has to manage from start to finish and not lose sight of their goal. The sequence of the compromises is important and if moved around can have an amplified effect. As you get close to final production you have always painted yourself into a very expensive corner. Often you can look back and wish things were different and that the order of compromises was different.
Aptera looks like a product that has worn the design process well and has landed on a spot that is efficient, cost-effective and financially viable. No easy task and it has the look of the future, not a rehashing of an ICE car so all should be congratulated.
Now my 2 questions - Where in the design timeline was the front track width set?
Was it set when the sole criteria of success for maximum efficiency with little thought about the drivability compromise and it just became a fixed datum of the design? How dominating is the desire and goal for 'maximum efficiency' so that it has to stay at the width chosen? I understand the CD is significantly increased if the track is reduced. And the goal was a very low CD. However at 2.1m width I have difficulty seeing this as an easy car to drive in a city or constricted rural environment (especially in Europe) While the design might be showcasing efficiency, the experience of driving on constricted roads and traffic could be very stressful. I have driven open wheeled kit cars on the road , but the difference is you could see both wheels and there was a great pleasure to be taken in planting the car around corners and through gaps. I just don't know how brave I'll be with a 2.1m track with a hidden passenger side wheel. Or maybe I just need a passenger and then just watch the terror on their face as the guide to how close to the edge we are as we skim through traffic.
2nd question - how easy will it be to change the track width if this issue materializes?
Changing (reducing) the track width will be difficult due to stability concerns. Since this is a known (and even more highly, _perceived_ ) limitation of a 3-wheeled design, it needs to be much higher than average, not just adequate. Any chinks in that armor would be a death knell.
Hopefully, the Aptera will be fabulously successful, and further developments, by Aptera and competitors, will be able to buck public perception and narrow it to a moderate, albeit slightly aerodynamically compromised, degree.
@@altosack Thanks for the reply - I quite understand caution with the general public as the market, not car enthusiasts. Although the kit car I drove was 4-wheeled MGB based, I have been in 3-wheelers with Mini engines up front driving the two front wheels. Very very stable. While the CofG has to stay inside a triangle rather than a rectangle of a 4 wheeler - the CoFG was just behind the front axel. In an odd way, the 3 wheels always planted well because of the 3 point contact on the ground. Like a 3 legged stool never rocks, the three wheels never lifted and there was no transfer of weight across the wheels at the back as there was only 1 🙂 taking all the rear weight. Lets hope the wide stance is intimidating enough to clear space through traffic !! A sideways-looking parking sensor in the wheel pod would be useful !!😃
Other wide cars:
88" ..... Lamborghini Huracan (2016)
88" ..... Aptera
87" ..... Ford F-150, crew cab (2022) (95.7" when including mirrors)
85" ..... Rolls Royce Cullinan (2022)
84" ..... Porsche Taycan 4S (2020)
83" ..... Lamborghini Aventador SVJ (2022)
82" ..... Rivian R1S (2022)
82" ..... Tesla Model X (2023) (89.4" when including mirrors)
At least it is only the front wheels you'll need to think about in tight spaces, and not the entire vehicle. Hopefully the sensors, and any cameras you add, will give you a clear idea of where you are in traffic.
Also, it was my understanding that excluding some very specific cases (old-downtown & neighborhood city streets, come to mind), most roadways are supposed to be able to accomodate trucks and vehicles that are 102" wide.
@@jonathanstedman4149 - Thanks for the clarification that some of the numbers included mirrors, I wrongly assumed it was body width for all of them.
I've heard rumors, that the Europen model will be slightly smaller than the US version. ... but nothing official. All the official announcements say something like "we'll be working to get it into other countries."
😅p😅😅😢
Wonder how hard it is to pull the door down when its windy
Man o man o man did I love this.
The Aptera looks like a vehicle that belongs in the game Rimworld. Change my mind lol!
When owning and operating a vehicle you need all the information you can get. Not all of it right up front but available. Possibly an automated assistant or copilot that could provide information on command or if a problem comes up, I guess that is something for the future along with a HUD. Thanks, Steve, for all the work you do, you’re still the best even with all the new competition you have. That ‘Hello Kitty’ steering yoke has got to go. We need something that says you are in a high efficiency, high performance vehicle. Can’t wait the for new announcements.
I hope they keep a cluster in front of the driver. I kept my Tesla model S and didn't buy the model 3 because I hated only having a flat center screen. A beautiful curved screen like lucid would be nice.
Thanks for sharing.
You bet
Will Aptera also have a "Chill" mode? Maybe make it customizably variable? Just as with Tesla, it'd probably have a have a positive outcome o range.
WHY are the front wheels so wide? I am guessing stability, but, isn't it awkward?? We are so accustomed to wheels being beneath us... how big an adjustment is it to learn to navigate those 'wing-wheels'??
It is good to hear Jason's design methodology, and iterative approach that evolved the Aptera's design. But it does highlight the negotiation that has to be made between design concepts, and the reality of an affordable, usable, production vehicle. His point about not fixating on problems when designing a new EV is good in the sense that many new EV designs are shaped by niche "needs". Can it go 1,000 miles on a charge? Can you tow a trailer with the Aptera? Does it do rock climbing and float on water? Whereas most of us just want our Aptera actually built, soon, and be road legal for commuting. And as part of that, I do need to have minimal practical concerns met. I need to know my current vehicle speed, have it heat and cool the interior, and have a ballpark of remaining driving range. As a minimum, it needs to be as easy to drive as a 50 year old VW Bug. With simple controls, visibility, comfortable seats, and economical, reliable operation. Of course Aptera goes well beyond that, and has many tech, comfort, and safety features that I will rely on, and I will appreciate having. I am curious if you can say if the Delta model will have the solar hatch extend to the end of the Aptera? I saw in the preview video of the factory production line that the Aptera had the rear hatch extend right to the end of the body, with more solar panels. I really like that styling, in addition to getting more solar panels. But like so many CG renderings before, I understand if that was just an early design concept, but I prefer that look. It is also OK if you simply cannot say at this time.
I believe that even the first delta Paradigm models will have the full rear extended hatch.
Sorry can not confirm or deny
@@ApteraOwnersClub Ha Ha! 😄 No problem Steve.
@@n.brucenelson5920 I hope so. Love the look!
Wonder what the Cd is for Jason’s design concept for the 4wheel Aptera is??
He has some strange and unfounded assertions about temperature gauges, speed readouts, and doors which don't function, claiming those concerns are fear-based. Your car ceases to be a car if the doors don't open, and this is a NEW problem unique to eliminating physical door releases, and not at all uncommon. Until the moment you never need to operate your car ever again, a speed readout is essential. As for a temp gauge, I'm sure it's exceedingly rare for an EV to overheat, but most certainly not impossible, as they have required cooling systems too. When your ICE has already overheated, it might be too late for your engine, with modern, highly stressed engines, whereas if you had a gauge, you have warning of a developing problem. Cars could be disaster-proof, not no OEM has ever put the effort into designing them that way.
I feel that you missed the point by taking his examples too literally. If Aptera approaches temperature limits, for instance, the vehicle will slow down to bring heat generation in line with its ability to maintain safe levels. Many cars can have damage occur before the owner has scanned the temp gauge, even if they know what it is and what it means, which many owners do not.
@@n.brucenelson5920 Perhaps they were meant literally. Why would you say such things if you did not believe them to a group of impressionable students??
@@yanpingyang9028 At least to me, one possible answer is obvious - to get them to think. Some of my best instructors would say things I found out years later they never believed in to foster our own thinking on various subjects.
@@n.brucenelson5920 I think not. I am a professor of upper level mathematics at a university in FL. Having worked with students attempting to get them to think , his approach will not stimulate thinking now or years later. Certainly not obvious to one who works with students every day. Perhaps your university teaching experience is different
@@yanpingyang9028 I found that what works with one student might not work with another - especially when you throw different cultural backgrounds in the mix. Teachers and students have different styles, not to mention different institutional systems. There is no one size fits all.
Wish the wheel had a top so I could rest my hand there while cruising. Also would be nice if there was an option for a smaller screen, I find those big center screens to be really distracting. Otherwise I love the design.
We will have a yoke as was in the gamma. Not so bad. easy to get use to driving with a yoke. You will learn to rest your hand on the bottom of the yoke to cruise and think about all of the money you are saving. 😃 The big screen is a result of the popularity of the Tesla. Nothing we can do about that either. I drive a Tesla Model 3. it is not so bad.
Great insight, thank you Steve!
Regarding designer's (wet) dreams: I REALLY want to know the exact speed at any given moment, because where I live speeding tickets are expensive and speed trps are all over the place. Most of the time I don't want to drive slower than the speed limit, that is I want to be spot on all the time as I often even use up the speed margin the police has to allow by law (depending on their trap type 3 km/h or 5 km/h).
So if Jason Hill gets his idea through to place the tacho display on a non prominent spot I'll have to install an additional tachometer on the Aptera, which of course will most likely be a suboptimally looking design.
I believe you can choose to display whatever you like on the center screen. There is also cruise control which I use extensively.
Unless there is some other way to reliably keep me from getting a speeding ticket, I agree. I can't help wondering if that designer does all their driving on roads where matching speeds with the other cars is good enough and is then forgetting that their experience is not the same as everyone's.
If the car could reliably figure out what the current speed limit is, it would be possible, but that strikes me as a big IF.
Will be ambient lighting in Aptera????!!
@ Mitchell Bushin,
In my car a 2009 VW, I did all those without ever have to take my eyes off the road.
How about for driver with speech impairment?
A pit speed limit would be cool so I can avoid a speed camera ticket.
Great info, even if "not new"
Why can't the Aptera have only one front wheel sticking out and the other is in the body it would be even more aerodynamic. It would also keep the rear wheel out of the snow, mud, dirt, grease, accumulation. It would just require shifting weight such as the battery to balance it out.
Thanks for the video. There are some aspects of the Aptera design make me very happy that Jason has been involved in the process, but that mostly remains on the exterior. I really disagree with some of his philosophy, especially as it relates to functionality in the interior. He seems very inspired by that director of design’s question about solving for failures or successes, and suggests that it’s not important to know the speed of the vehicle every second. This mindset and chase for simplicity has led to the removal of buttons, gauges, and even half of the steering wheel. Though they would probably say the opposite, this is entirely a form over function scenario. Somehow a cleaner, more simple interior is supposed to bring a driver closer to pure driving experience, but I’d argue it takes away from that. A more simple interior does not make a more simple driving experience. I’d rather have all of the info I want within reach and not behind menus and submenus. Having to hunt for information on a touchscreen distracts from driving.
I think they’re copying Tesla’s foray into extreme minimalism. The simplicity will benefit manufacturing much more than it ever will a driver.
Adding buttons and knobs is expensive, and adds to a vehicles weight and complexity. Aptera's goal is to produce the most efficient, aerodynamic vehicle available at the lowest price.
Many cars today recognize voice commands like, turn on windshield wipers, open sunroof, open glove compartment, call Susie, navigate to McDonald's etc.
My Chevrolet Bolt allows me to set alarms for various speeds i.e. the speed limit, a speed which is not to be exceeded etc.
Tesla's accepts the following commands:
"Make it cooler"
"Make it warmer"
"Turn on/off the driver's seat heater"
"Cool down the passenger"
"Direct airflow to my face"
"Sync climate"
"Increase/decrease the fan speed"
"Turn on/off rear defroster"
"Set the temperature/fan..."
"Turn on recirculate"
"Listen to [song name]"
"Lower/raise the volume"
"Skip to next"
"Pause/play song"
"Change the source to [media source]"
Agreed. I think the cool trend today is to get rid of all buttons. You can make a case that this the way of the future, but for now it's annoying. Millions upon millions of drivers are used to buttons. While that may change over time there needs to be an interim solution. My Chevy Bolt has a good mixture with volume, climate control, and speed control buttons.
The same goes for information. Drivers will still want to see constant speed readings - and likely battery/range information without flipping through several screens.
As EVs become more widespread, the customer feedback will become apparent the dashboard designs like the Aptera have gone too far.
@@randylewis4242 I agree with you as well. I think they’re designing for a future where vehicles are autonomous and the driver essentially doesn’t need information, especially immediately. But like you said, there needs to be interim solutions. I think a basic solution could be a single row of buttons/toggles bellow the center dash screen that can be mapped to specific functions. This way, any information that’s not readily available or functions that are needed, are just one physical movement away, and don’t require eyes away from the road.
I have a 2018 Golf Sportwagen and I can deal with the touchscreen to use carplay and adjust settings, but I’m very happy I have physics knobs and buttons for hvac, volume control, station tuning, etc.
@@IBMara I’d imagine a row of buttons would be lighter and cheaper than the mirror displays behind the yoke. If I get the car I’ll hold off on forming a strong opinion about them until that point, but I don’t imagine I’d use them in place of the actual side mirrors they will likely ship with - I prefer to turn my head and gain peripheral information when I want to see who’s beside or in a quarter position behind my car.
@@jaredfromspace I agree, but a row of buttons will not show you what's alongside or behind you. 😀
I like you am accustomed to using mirrors and wonder how I will adjust to cameras and screens. One thing I do know, Aptera is the best step I can take, in individual transportation, to fight global warming so I'll have to live with whatever they provide. I trust the genius and intent of those involved in producing this planet saving vehicle. 🌲
10 mins until the non-personal part
Point taken, Tom. We should note that one of the motivations for CIA to host this presentation with Jason's kind cooperation was to give the students some insight into the how designers come to decide they want to be designers. It was never intended to be exclusively the story of Aptera.
9:20 begins the actual design discussion.
I have a question for you. Will there be a 12V battery, Where will it live, How will you access it. I have a Ford Fusion Energi now and after 7 years I have had to replace the battery 2X. Thank you for the great videos.
Yes there's a 12 volt battery. Other stuff I don't know
It'll need 12v to operate everything besides the motors. But a 12v battery itself is not needed. They can implement a DC to DC converter down to 12v for everything that needs 12v. My ZeroSR electric motorcycle has a DC to DC from 116v to 12v for everything besides the motor. So with the DC to DC converter you'll never have to worry about a 12v battery again. 12v batteries on EVs do not last very long cause they are constantly being used where as on a ICE the alternator/rectifier gives 12v while engine runs to take some load of the 12v battery
Awesome! Thanks!
Interesting. Scarab doors...
DFM, I'll haveta remember that=Design for manufacture
I detest the center console storage bin. Those strings will not hold up and start to sag, quickly setting down a drink in that is not possible, retrieving something out of it that has fallen through will be annoying AND IT LOOKS CHEAP . NO one with Aptera has mentioned Heated Seats. For those of us who have one on order and live in cold climate heated seats, remote start/heat etc are all vital !! There also needs to be some privacy screen on the back of the rear lid, its too huge for you to ever hide what you have inside. This is a great vehicle, will be planet changing, but it needs some simple tweeking.
I'm going to hit you with some harsh reality. You're not going to be done with production design in November. It's just going to start as you start manufacturing and finding out what doesn't work on the manufacturing floor that you have to redesign. Look at Elon musk's experience with the very first Tesla roadster that they made. Everything they thought would work turned out to be bad. In fact it turned out they would have been better off not even using the basic chassis that they had. Everybody just sounds way too relaxed and no one's lighting a fire under their butt. They need to know that if this company fails they are all going to be stitch together as the biggest second failures in business that ever existed. And they need to remember that and be out there on the assembly line putting endless mock-ups together and rolling them out the door and actually driving them on the streets to find out what's wrong with them so they don't get a hundred million of them back from the first customers.
Again as an investor when I hear this guy talking like they are already a success when they haven't built even the first car yet really concerns me. And why is this guy out giving talks and not gluing chassis together. They've missed several promised production beginnings and they seem to have fallen in love with the interest and the fluff. Meanwhile other car companies are out there who seen like they may put product out the door first. So instead of being the first car driven by its own solar power it's going to be another car driven by its own solar power it's going to be the weird looking one. And I have to say it's not a good thing to hear that the same people who were there when it failed the last time seem to be there today. What is the progress of the other company that was going to make their motors.? Do they have a backup plan if those motors don't show up in time for them to build product? Do they have other sources lined up and ready to go to be able to meet their first production deadlines if that other company can't provide them with the motors?
Thanks Steve.
I need to bring up something here.
I have always wondered why is the vehicle name the same as the company name.
So Aptera the company is making a vehicle called Aptera.
Why?
No other company does this.
Either the company name is Aptera and the vehicle headed to production is a model name that is not the company name.
Or
Do a diff name for the company and keep Aptera as the name of this model of vehicle.
Google had this issue. It was both the original company name and the name of the search engine.
Then they had so many products under Google, that they created a higher company name of Alphabet.
For right now, this may not be a big issue, but later when they come out with other vehicles, those will need to give actual model names.
If this is not fixed now, it will be really confusing later.
I suggest before actual production the company name and the 1st model name should not be the same.
🤓The full name of the company is Aptera Motors Corp. It is just called "Aptera" for short. As Tesla's next car will be the "Tesla Roadster", I'm guessing Aptera's next offering could simply be the "Aptera Sedan". Hopefully it will be something more creative and inspirational than that. Got any naming ideas?
Did he say that there will not be a speedometer? I'm sorry but that would be a requirement for me. Maybe I misheard him. And also what is this obsession with the Knight Rider steering wheel? Is it progressive steering? That would be a huge learning curve. Just because it's EV they think that they have to make it look like "THE FUTURE". I almost made a preorder of the Cybertruck, but then I saw the Knight Rider steering wheel. You do realize that I have to actually drive this thing right?
you'll be fine.
@@davidclark538 Yeah I reserved one today. It's basically an all electric VW XL1 that a person can actually afford. I hope that it catches on. I'm going to start investing next paycheck if that is still an option. I can't believe that I didn't hear about the Aptera before. I really prefer actual steering wheel though. It's such and important aspect of driving that it could potentially ruin the entire experience. Also now that I'm looking at it again, it looks like the Yoke was designed by Nintendo. Also the way that the two buttons are positioned and the the way the curvature is on the bottom it looks like it's smiling at you the whole time that your driving. I don't know that a person could get that out of their mind after they have noticed it.
Honestly, if I were an investor, i wouldnt be happy about the fact that certain comments had been shared sem-publicly, but are being withheld from the investors/ general public.
I am an investor and didn't hear anything that would affect my investment decisions. You can't control every bit of information release.
@@GNiessen the comments I'm referring to were edited out of the video.
I heard the whole thing. There's nothing left out that is of material interest to investors
@@ApteraOwnersClub t
Thanks. Good to know. I trust your opinion.
@@Disciple_Jon we'll see if they mention it during upcoming presentations for investors.
Great job
Try three wheel differential. Try three wheel steering. Don't try four wheels, too many rules.
You don't need to be looking through old computers to find proof that you put a center console in a car idea back in 2006 that never got built. You need to be out on the production floor putting cars together today. You don't get credit for vaporware.
I'm Pogging i'm pogging
Happy to see attempts at meaningful content...poetry elsewhere on YT is tiresome.
Mary Barra the CEO of GM is a engineer . It would be best for Aptera if GM made investment/ deal with Aptera. And it would be best for GM. The GM volt is not a cool car. It’s available and cheap. As an engineer she would get the design of the Aptera. She would see the value in. She would see the future of it. Aptera still has not crossed the finish line yet. Still needs a big financial investment.
My husband works for the GM EV Group. GM would have no interest in the Aptera as it has no place in the product plan philosophy for GM which Mary sets. GM is a mass market, family vehicle design company as are all major legacy auto makers. GM has only one two seat vehicle, the Corvette and there are no product plans for more. The focus of GM's EV business is on the most desired/highest selling form factors (SUV, Crossover, and light trucks) across the price spectrum from 27K (Chevrolets)to 300K (Cadillac custom build) These are the vehicles Aptera will compete against for one car family purchases. Aptera may be considered as a second car for families that have the above family oriented products. Also note that most all EV makers are building the SUV/Cross Over form factor because that is where the market is.
Mary is a corrupt liar and in no way would be an asset to Aptera.
@@yanpingyang9028 We will have to agree to disagree. Your husband works for GM. Not you. GM Hummer is not a mass market or family vehicle. Unless you consider the rich people mass market. I would say Aptera is mass market. Aptera is not a household name. No ads on tv or magazines. Yet it has around 50 thousand orders. About a billion dollars. I think it will do very well in the United States. But GM doesn’t only sell cars in United States. It also sells cars in Europe and Asia. I think Aptera will do even better over there. And you might call every 4 door car a family car. But I guarantee you that not at buyers are a family. The small cars like the volt , Mini Cooper, VW better and others. A lot of single people or couples with no kids are buying them. Aptera would also be a good first car for a teenager. Also I like the CEO of GM . Most people on Wall Street do not. The earnings report for GM came out today. The were talking about how the stock was up only 5 percent for the last 5 years. Or something like that . The Aptera can be produced quicker and cheaper than any other vehicle. GM wants to produce a set amount of EVs in a set amount of years. They can hit that target with Aptera.
is that the clown that designed that silly looking Yoke?
Clown or savant. Guess we will see.
You might wish to look up Jason's track record before making such uninformed comments.
Yes it is and the clown that designed that stupid cup holder.
@@n.brucenelson5920 don't care about the resume - there are lots who does not like the looks of that yoke.
PS: i don't have anything against yokes
@@Soothsayer210 Plenty of people who will call names who have no experience of their own to base their opinions on.
I will wait until I experience these features myself before I say what I think of them.