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77% Positive
Analyzed from 1042 words in the discussion.
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#more#aptera#off#solar#vehicles#charging#fully#bike#https#build
Discussion (30 Comments)Read Original on HackerNews
I'm pleased that E bikes are taking off, but I'd love to see something like a fully faired series hybrid E bike.
More info here: https://youtu.be/Hk6aTKV-des
Also, I doubt this thing will be able to pass the NCAP (EU) or IIHS (USA) safety certification so they wouldn't be able to sell it in those regions even if there was demand for it.
Edit: the fact the official aptera website has a banner at the top with their stock ticker is very suspicious, I assume it was a spac that didn’t go well?
Edit 2: actually, not a spac, direct listing as a public benefit corporation. They seem to have a very messy and complicated history with a lot of over promises and no delivery
There's also been plenty of vaporware from existing manufacturers, and the majority of what they've built have been more compliance vehicles than serious, no compromise, mass production EVs, so seeing that approach refreshing.
$40k is pretty high though. They've had endless drama and turmoil. It does take a huge amount of money and effort to bring a new vehicle to market. I'm skeptical but I guess I hope they make it.
Effectively the same discount, while being more outrageous.
They still have a niche for some, like people without easy access to charging, people who want the absolute lowest charging/driving costs, and off-grid usability.
20-40 miles of charge per day means you can slowly travel/camp in a bunch of places as long as you have food/water, people have done this with Model Ys too, but dragging a large portable solar array is a pain.
I just wish they were faster to market and captured more of it.
We need more 2 seat/hyper efficient commuters, ala the first gen Insight and (begrudgingly) cybercab.
For me the bigger problem is that it's classified as a motorcycle, which may mean wearing a helmet, and needing to have a class M license. Insurance may also be interesting. And of course sharing the road with giant heavy vehicles.
1: https://aptera.us/discovery-center/
The only state that requires a motorcycle endorsement for the Polaris Slingshot (an "autocycle" style trike) is Massachusetts, but that state's motorcycle definition exempts fully enclosed vehicles so it shouldn't apply to the Aptera. It's trickier to find a quick summary for helmet laws though. At least some states have exemptions for fully enclosed vehicles and some exempt all autocycles even if they're not fully enclosed. California has an exemption for enclosed trikes that meet certain minimum size and weight requirements which I expect the Aptera to meet.
A lot of the safety standards and regulations we have is because everyone is buying and driving 2T pickup trucks with 6ft hoods casually.
I also think an extendable canopy (for a car, not a bike) should be a better approach. I wonder if anyone tried it.
You might like this documentary that covered the first Sun Trip that happened in 2018: https://youtu.be/P1LB0jPh7QQ
Think I will wait till the first 1,000 roll off the lines before I get interested in plunking down money.
I want them to succeed, but too many outfits like this one went broke early.
I just don't think the folks who have taken 50k preorders over the last 20 years and have yet to fulfill one are going succeed.