The Return of the Electric Car Thread

The car of the future? It has 300 mpg in its tank, only costs a couple bucks for an overnight charge, and can go 0-60 in under 10 seconds with a top speed that will exceed 85mph. Its safety features are above and beyond the typical car and offers 360 degree protection that you won't find in most automobiles. It's classified as an enclosed motorcycle, but you do not need an extra license or helmet that is usually required for such vehicles. It will only be sold in the state of California for now, but you can spend up to around $30,000 for the hybrid model.

Aptera.com wrote: Here's an overall description of the Aptera

The Aptera has a 2 plus 1 seating configuration. The two front seats are arranged as standard side by side seating. There is also a center infant seat behind the driver and passenger. The side doors open to the front and upward completely inside the front wheel track so you never have to worry about hitting the vehicle parked next to you or damaging your door while exiting your Aptera in a tight garage. There is enough storage in the rear for 15 bags of groceries, or 2 full size golf club bags. And the Aptera is even big enough for a couple of seven foot surf boards and any associated beach accessories.

Here is what's available in every Aptera
# Driver and passenger side Airbags

# Energy absorbing and impact deflecting passenger Safety Cell

# Advanced drive computer with GPS navigation, CD/MP3/DVD player, XM satellite radio, Large View Rear Camera, and complete vehicle diagnostic system

# "Eyes Forward" vision system with 180 degree rear sight picture displayed in the driver's field of view to enhance situational awareness

# LED interior and exterior lighting for maximum energy efficiency

# Solar assisted Climate Control System so you always enter a comfortable Aptera that is never too hot or cold

# And an RFID (Radio Frequency ID) key fob so you never have to pull out your keys to enter or start your Aptera. The key fob simply remains in your pocket or purse.

Here is where you have an option (drive topology)

(Do you want to drive long distances or do you just want to use your Aptera for your daily commute, chores, and as a general around town vehicle?)

All Electric: This Aptera is powered exclusively with batteries and will get you around town to the tune of approximately 120 miles depending on your driving conditions. At night you simply plug the Aptera into any standard 110 volt outlet and in just a few hours you will have a fully charged vehicle that will take you another 120 miles. The approximate cost of this option with all the features listed above will be $26,900.

Plug-in Series Hybrid: This Aptera is also powered by an electric drive train but it is assisted by a fuel efficient gasoline powered generator which stretches your range significantly. In typical driving you may achieve over 300 miles per gallon and you will have range far beyond any passenger vehicle available today. The approximate cost of this option with all the features listed above will be $29,900.

With gas prices at record levels, spending some extra cash in order to do over 300mpg sounds like a dream come true for most people (although I'd personally like it if there were tax breaks involved when buying this vehicle like with the original electric car). Most hybrid cars are lucky to hit 40mpg. The added bonus is that this car is a real head-turner, which I personally like (that's why I got involved with my dad in tuning cars). It looks to be very safe and a wonderful ride.

So the question is, would you guys be willing to shell out the cash for ones of these bad boys? I myself would opt for the $26,900 version, but that's just because I don't expect to be driving that much. 120 miles is just perfect for me.

Edited by (in order): Karuto, Karuto, Karuto, Karuto, Karuto, Karuto

This is fine and dandy but with gas prices at record highs why not just stop using gasoline altogether most cars will run on hydrogen the only thing you need to change is the tank and ignition computer(if the car is newer90+ ) burns clean more abbundant and cheaper.

Edited by: KaptianKrunch

Thats nice and all, but for one it looks ugly.
And i like power so id go, Teslamotors.com looks nice and all the other swag.

@ Kaptain -- And Hydrogen cars will be arriving this year. The problem before is that they ran the risk of literally becoming bombs (hydrogen bombs, if you will). Only recently were they able to fix things. However, OPEC has such a stranglehold on the industry that they have to at least offer a little leeway. I highly recommend watching the documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car?" to find out why we can't immediately jump to a different resource, but make the transition. Personally, electric cars are far and beyond the best alternative. The problem with hydrogen cars is that they still rely on fossil fuels to be created, and you're talking about a huge systemic change in both the distribution and storage of these hydrogen cells are years away. At the rate things are, we're far more likely to transition to electric and then hydrogen, mostly because the technology is already there. At least they're far less polluting than today's cars and far more efficient, save for the fact that the batteries will probably cost a lot of money to replace (like with the ones from years ago before they were ordered to be destroyed).

@ Tkaza -- The Tesla certainly looks drop-dead secksay, but it costs $100,000, and requires a $5,000 downpayment (the Aptera only asks for a $500 deposit). Not only that, but if you live outside of their metropolitan markets (basically, the biggest cities in the USA), they charge another $8,000 on top of that. I'm sure most of the people interested will only be able to afford the Aptera for now. It's only typical that such expensive cars will ultimately look better, but that's just because of the high price tag. You also have to take into consideration that the Aptera is an enclosed motorcycle, not your typical roadster, so the look is more justified.

Edited by: Karuto

The Chevy Volt is looking nice, completely exlectric, only problem is that its estimated cost is going to be 30-40k.

Spector wrote: The Chevy Volt is looking nice, completely exlectric, only problem is that its estimated cost is going to be 30-40k.

Not only is it more expensive, but it can only go 40mpg without gas, compared to Aptera's 120 and Tesla's 220. The good thing is that a Chevy vehicle will obviously be much more available to purchase, and there's a chance for better financing. I think if I had the money, I'd be more than willing to make my first new (or new-ish) car to be an electric. Considering the fact that people are spending $50+ a week for gas, the long-term benefits far outweigh the short-term cost.

Kiwiev.com

TKAzA wrote: Thats nice and all, but for one it looks ugly.

I don't understand why they have to make prototypes like this look like Star Wars.

Hydrogen is safer than gasoline if contained properly yes its more explosive but it dosn't burn continuely just a big boom and thats all since its a gas. I listend to a teacher talk about how safe and easy it is to change to hydrogen cars. The biggest issue is OPEC and changing the way we distrubte fuel all the technology is their. Hrydrogen is a fossil fuel and like every non renewable resource just a tempory solution till something better comes on lone i.e. better battery technology.

Edited by: KaptianKrunch

Where's my nuclear-powered flying car? These researchers need to get their priorities improved

I personally think that car looks cool And Id buy it if I had enough money But untill then I have this



Its a 72 mini that I bought while I was in england it gets amazon gas milage (up to 50 mpg) I like the fact that despite all this technology going into making cars more fuel efficent my 36 year old car puts them to shame.

Edited by (in order): STRATCOM, STRATCOM, STRATCOM, STRATCOM

Well it's a cooper, coopers are awesomely engineered!

Not only are they awesomely engineered, but just a tap with a bicycle and they go flying through the air like rag dolls.

Great car, indeed, but not something I'd want to be driving down a busy street with.

Hydrogen needs vast amounts of electricity to be produced. The BMW-Hydrogen series is actually more damaging to nature than the same car, with a conventional engine. We have to be very carefull about where the energy is coming from, for these cars. Electric cars have better acceleration (my favorite being the Ariel Atom, re-build with electronic engine), but they never reach as far as conventional engines. So I don't see, how this will help, as there won't be trucks with electric engines in the close future.

Transport is a main problem, but the biggest pollution is coming from planes and trucks - which hardly ever see any real innovations. The electric cars of today are a laughing stock. The Tesla roadster being a bomb on wheels. Explosions and heat are a big issue with the powercells - the Tesla uses a thousand laptop batteries connected with each other; the hazardous potential is enormous. I don't see a future for electric cars, until either the batteries are getting much cheaper and are maintained monthly by the vehicle vendor, or we find a way to transmit energy without using cables, so the cars could suck up their fuel from eneergy emitter along the road. Charging batteries can be done quickly, but the quicker you do it the more dangerous it becomes and may also damage the batterie.

I certainly don't want to race around in a big RC-Truck, even though this may seem tmepting for a second. Car manufacturers should be admitting the incredibly high follow-up costs you will have with maintenance, and about security issues with their hazardous battery-pack.

Karuto wrote: Not only are they awesomely engineered, but just a tap with a bicycle and they go flying through the air like rag dolls.

Great car, indeed, but not something I'd want to be driving down a busy street with.

Like they say no guts no glory When you in england there is no better car to drive wether you are in a busy city or a narrow country road you can get into any place you want to go with plenty of room on both sides. I personally felt safer driving it then any other car on those roads.

I'd love a tesla car, then I could zap all other cars and blow them up because we all know(according to RA1) such cars blow up with one tesla zap.
If there's a tank It'll take one or two hits depending on Iron Curtain

Karuto wrote: Not only are they awesomely engineered, but just a tap with a bicycle and they go flying through the air like rag dolls.

Great car, indeed, but not something I'd want to be driving down a busy street with.

AMEN!

I only feel safe when I'm driving my Denali. I'll settle for a Land Rover Discovery... but thats just for going hunting.

Gibberstein wrote: Where's my nuclear-powered flying car? These researchers need to get their priorities improved

The radioactive materials would have to be surrounded by lead, and excessive amounts of nuclear waste would be made, and it would cost a lot to full your tank full of Uranium.

duckedtapedemon wrote:

Karuto wrote: Not only are they awesomely engineered, but just a tap with a bicycle and they go flying through the air like rag dolls.

Great car, indeed, but not something I'd want to be driving down a busy street with.

AMEN!

I only feel safe when I'm driving my Denali. I'll settle for a Land Rover Discovery... but thats just for going hunting.

D00d you have a Denali? Man I'm rolling on shoes. =P

With the way gas prices are going I think i am going to build my own alternitive fuels vehical since they are not coming fast enough, and I want to say F you to the oil companys.

I thought the thread said, "The Return of the Electric Chair"

You got me all excited and everything, but I guess this is cool too.

go for stratcom, should run you abut 10 grand for 40 mile range... fine for daily commutes.... Kiwiev.com

uberjager wrote:

Gibberstein wrote: Where's my nuclear-powered flying car? These researchers need to get their priorities improved

The radioactive materials would have to be surrounded by lead, and excessive amounts of nuclear waste would be made, and it would cost a lot to full your tank full of Uranium.

Not my problem. scientists promised flying cars, so working out the technicalities is their problem. Wanted to find a youtube of one of the infomercials, but YouTube has failed me

I found this though, which isn't entirely relevant, but is very funny

Social eningeering is the long term option, people should live by where they work as opposed to b living where a works and a living where b works and versa visa.