Aptera - 230 mpg Miracle or Death Trap?

[T-Diddy]

So, Popular Science had a write-up on the brain-child of a California engineer, the Aptera. They have produced a 230-mpg 'car' that will be available, they say, for under $30k. Looking at the thing, though, I really have a difficult time believing it will be safe, or really that cheap.

They got the mileage up by making it a tear-drop and dropping the weight to 1400 lbs, but:
1--> Although they claim it's stable enough, It seems less stable then a [motor] trike, which can be rather difficult to effectively corner unless you know a few tricks. High-siding in this thing could be deadly, and a fat driver could make it rather unbalanced.

2--> It's more aerodynamic because it's tear-drop shaped, but that also makes it dangerously close to wing-shaped. I'm wondering what actually happens if you are headed down-hill around a corner and, say, hit a curb or small animal.

3--> They haven't crash-tested it yet outside of the computer. I have little faith, even though they claim it should pass safety tests. A Prius can pass too, but if you've seen what's left of one after it gets hit by a Suburban, I'm not too keen on the idea of riding in one. Even if it is modeled after a Formula 1 frame, those things only have to worry about bouncing off walls - not getting crushed.

And for $30,000? I'm rather skeptical. Toyota can barely sell cars that cheap, and they have a lot more experience and a lot fewer high-tech ideas in them.

 

[BenBurch]

The Prius is actually quite safe in a wreck from what I have seen... You will be OK, but you'll need a new Prius.

 

[Ziggurat]

So, Popular Science had a write-up on the brain-child of a California engineer, the Aptera. They have produced a 230-mpg 'car' that will be available, they say, for under $30k. Looking at the thing, though, I really have a difficult time believing it will be safe, or really that cheap.

They say they hit 230 mpg at a steady 55 mph with a diesel. And maybe they did, but a tail wind could have helped too. But they won't be manufacturing it with a diesel, and 55 mph steady isn't really the dominant driving condition for most people. So there's no way they're going to get that kind of mileage in a production car under real-world usage. But it might be pretty high.

1--> Although they claim it's stable enough, It seems less stable then a [motor] trike, which can be rather difficult to effectively corner unless you know a few tricks. High-siding in this thing could be deadly, and a fat driver could make it rather unbalanced.

Hard to say just looking at it. I imagine a low engine in the front probably helps, though.

2--> It's more aerodynamic because it's tear-drop shaped, but that also makes it dangerously close to wing-shaped.

Probably not a problem. Spoilers are just upside down wings, and they push the car down onto the road, not lift it. The high tail suggests to me that this thing won't produce lift.

3--> They haven't crash-tested it yet outside of the computer. I have little faith, even though they claim it should pass safety tests. A Prius can pass too, but if you've seen what's left of one after it gets hit by a Suburban, I'm not too keen on the idea of riding in one. Even if it is modeled after a Formula 1 frame, those things only have to worry about bouncing off walls - not getting crushed.

That's indeed something that will have to be demonstrated. Low but passing safety ratings are probably OK, though, if the customers don't intend to do much (or maybe any) highway driving.

And for $30,000? I'm rather skeptical.

That's what I'd say is probably the biggest challenge.

Toyota can barely sell cars that cheap, and they have a lot more experience and a lot fewer high-tech ideas in them.

They can sell cars quite easily for well under $30K. A corolla can be had for under $20K easily enough. But they have the advantage of large volumes which these folks most definitely won't.

 

[The_Animus]

I read somewhere that most car companies sell their cars to dealers for 4x the cost to make them. Then dealers sell them to you for 2x the price they pay from the manufacturer.

 

[T-Diddy]

They can sell cars quite easily for well under $30K. A corolla can be had for under $20K easily enough. But they have the advantage of large volumes which these folks most definitely won't.

But the Prius starts at $21k (equipped for ~$24k), and in the area I live in (Norther Virginia) there is an extra several thousand dollar premium b/c you can drive them in the HOV lane (another politically correct crock of #$&^, since I've seen hybrid SUVs cruising along in the HOV lane while economy cars getting better mileage are stuck in traffic). That only puts them a little behind the Adaptera's stated starting price of $27k, which seems pretty unlikely as you agreed. All I'm saying is that I expect a greater than $5k premium for all of this new technology in such a small vehicle run, with startup costs to pay off to boot.