• 1115 Days Ago
• 01/26/2009

2 Words

Death Trap ... Only slightly safer than a crotch rocket.  No way am I taking that thing on Michigan highway in winter time.

• 1115 Days Ago
• 01/26/2009

three wheeler

If it's small enough, it may be modified to limit it's speed and allow them to be used on the bike paths all over California....

Or....

....Use them exclusively in the sunbelt areas, and only on surface streets and car pool lanes.

...And....

....make Nancy Pelosi and Arnold Scwartznegger the proof of concept riders. If they crash and burn there's a better chance of getting reasonable CAFE and Emissions Regulations finally passed in California.

• 1115 Days Ago
• 01/26/2009

Wow - Let's Roll Out The Negative  Comments

O.K. enough with the negative comments already.  Let's try a couple of positive comments. 

Lot's of engineering went into this vehicle and I sincerely wished Detroit had something that was even close to this aerodynamic vehicle.  I agree 3 wheels may not be "the norm" but that certainly wouldn't stop me from driving one.

Having been born and raised in Minnesota it also might not be the best vehicle for those days when it's 20 below zero and icy.  But then again it might be pretty cool for the other 300 days of the year for people to enjoy the gasoline free driving. Does anyone else remember the gasoline heater in the 1960's Chevrolet Corvair; probably not.
 
So I might not be in love with a three wheeler but I "am in love with electric cars" and this one is at least 75% right.  Add another wheel, maybe a small internal combustion engine to take me 600 miles to L.A. and back and I might buy one of these suckers. 

I am quite frankly sick and tired of the yearly slightly modified boxes and 4 wheels that Detroit and everyone else has been turning out for 50 years.  Frankly I want something more streamlined and fuel efficient.  I want 100% electric or 80% electric and maybe 20% something else.  I want to plug the darn thing into my solar array and charge it.  And I want it to cost less than $30,000 to haul my butt from point 'a' to 'b'.  You do that and you will sell a million of them.  And does anyone else know how fast race car drivers hit the walls at Indianapolis and live to drive again.  Give me a safety cage and some Carbon Fiber any day against sheetmetal. 

Don't count something out just because it's different - some people like different. 

tomgarven@hotmail.com

• 1114 Days Ago
• 01/27/2009

You Said It Tom

I agree.  There was a lot of engineering that went into this vehicle and the technologies that came out is a great benefit.  Frankly, a car that gets 100 mpg is awesome.  I just wish you didn't have to plug the thing in every night.  Really, who wants to do that?  Plus, if you live in an apartment, there's no outlets to plug into.

One concern is that our electric grid is in poor shape and if there are a lot of plug-in cars being produced then there will be another issue arise.  I'd prefer cars be independent of the nation's power grid.

• 1114 Days Ago
• 01/27/2009

Playing Fair

Ok - I admit my comment was uncalled for. However, the idea of a smaller and lighter electric vehicle is a good idea, but will something like this truly be accepted by regular commuters and more to the point hold up across all driving conditions.

The fact that winter driving in the snow belt make one of these almost unuseable. The other concern is that a larger vehicle will easily crush the occupants in an accident, so how safe are these things going to actually be.

My comment on the bike paths was for real. There is an excellent matrix of bike paths already built up in southern California, and these 3 wheelers may be great on the smaller roadway they present.

If Aptera can put a throttle on them that prevents the drivers from "speeding" and endandering bike riders and walkers (and roller bladers), then there is an opportunity worth exploiting. Segways can scoot around on these paths too.

Finally, the solar- electric home program in SoCal dovetails very nicely with the 3-wheelers from Aptera. Some type of joint marketing and incentive plan from the Governator may just jump start everything. Clean Power + Clean Commute + Less Traffic Congestion is a winner.

Just ask anyone who jumps on the I5 or I405 freeways every morning to try and get to work how bad it can get.

• 1114 Days Ago
• 01/27/2009

Local vs. Long Distance Vehicles

I favor manufacture of a light vehicle like this one for local errands. I don't think it needs to be for interstate highways. A 2 ton vehicle is not needed to get to the store on a daily basis.  This could safe money for the consumer and increase revenues for the manufacturer if it is not used to compete with trucks and vans.

• 1112 Days Ago
• 01/29/2009

An Invention

My invention will allow small vehicles to be safer in collisions.

www.safersmallcars.com

• 553 Days Ago
• 08/11/2010

Three Wheel Design

BTW, I design three wheelers.
I wanted to let you know, this vehicle should go up icy hills more easily than any other vehicle layouts with 2 driven wheels.
The Aptera is a reverse trike with front wheel drive. Likely, in this case that means 60-70% of the weight is over the driven wheels.
If that is true, it should climb very well indeed.
Zero slip in the differencial would improve it more. Something like an electric actuated diff-lock for example.
So, to review; for the same given drive hardware, this wheel layout is better than rear wheel and front wheel driven, 4 wheeled cars, when going up icy hills.
-Ari