230 MPG Hybrid

Matthew R. Rodwell

Matthew R. Rodwell

Well-known member
http://www.aptera.com/

Looks like something from Star Wars. It is being released later this year in California for around $30,000. It just proves the potential for future car developments.

As much as I hate the raising gas prices I do think that some good will come out of it in terms of less oil dependent technology.
 
we'll be getting more and more electric cars in the future. it just sucks we have to wait a few years to get them.
 
I was surprised to find out this one was coming out this year. When I was reading about it I was expecting it to be around 2010. It will still be a couple of years for the rest of the country and Europe but atleast its hitting the streets in Cali soon.

VW has the 69.9 MPG Gulf coming out but I would imagine it being pretty expensive.
 
I would not want to get in an accident in that. Looks like its a death trap. And eco-friendly death trap.

At least when you die, you know you helped the world.
 
I think it looks cool, but you'd never get out of that in an accident. Great idea too and it shows that if up and coming car companies can do it, why can't the bigger ones?

-Kegan
 
I am fine with more efficient vehicles, but I am tired of the "space craft" fetish these companies seem to have. You know, Chevrolet is suspending their SUV and Truck lines to make room for their new electric Volt coming out in 2010 and other more fuel efficient cars.

The only problem is, GM is talking about getting rid of the Hummer. But I am saving to afford an H1 (base MSRP $140,000 :cry:) :violin:

Once they have a good looking car (to my standards, of course) that gets mileage like that, is safe and has the power I crave all for a decent price, then I'll by it. But until then I'll stick to my '79 Trans Am and 16 MPG SUV! (Unless I go broke...)

EDIT: Another problem with all electric cars is the battery. This may be different, but I heard they don't last long and when they do go out it is a beotch trying to get rid of it and expensive to buy a new one.

EDIT 2: Actually starting to warm up to the design of this one...
 
This really bugs me, that car could have been designed to look like a normal car, bu they have to make it look "different" just to make a point that it is different.

Damn it at least make it look sexy.... (not digging the geeky look)

example like this:

003.jpg
 
ConspiracyPenguin said:
. . . Once they have a good looking car (to my standards, of course) that gets mileage like that, is safe and has the power I crave all for a decent price, then I'll by it. But until then I'll stick to my '79 Trans Am and 16 MPG SUV! (Unless I go broke...)
Click to expand...

LOL! I hear ya! I have a '74 Camaro that I've been slowly restoring. Really sh!tty gas mileage and no pollution control whatsoever. And I love every bit of it! I'm actually thinking about installing a hydrogen kit to increase gas mileage. Should be interesting. :)


ConspiracyPenguin said:
Another problem with all electric cars is the battery. This may be different, but I heard they don't last long and when they do go out it is a beotch trying to get rid of it and expensive to buy a new one.
Click to expand...

My biggest gripe with electric cars is the charging process. For instance, the Aptera says you can go about 120 miles before recharging. Recharging takes a few hours. What happens if you need to drive for more than 120 miles before recharging? You're just stuck on the roadside at that point? Even if you make it to a recharging station in time, you're looking at probably at least 3 hours to get some real juice back into the thing. So then what, you just sit there, likely losing valuable time? Gas stations are still more practical in real world scenarios. A 5-minute pit stop and vrooooooom!
 
DC said:
LOL! I hear ya! I have a '74 Camaro that I've been slowly restoring. Really sh!tty gas mileage and no pollution control whatsoever. And I love every bit of it! I'm actually thinking about installing a hydrogen kit to increase gas mileage. Should be interesting. :)




My biggest gripe with electric cars is the charging process. For instance, the Aptera says you can go about 120 miles before recharging. Recharging takes a few hours. What happens if you need to drive for more than 120 miles before recharging? You're just stuck on the roadside at that point? Even if you make it to a recharging station in time, you're looking at probably at least 3 hours to get some real juice back into the thing. So then what, you just sit there, likely losing valuable time? Gas stations are still more practical in real world scenarios. A 5-minute pit stop and vrooooooom!
Click to expand...

If it's using lithium ion batteries, they can usually be charged to about 85 percent capacity in ten minutes or less.
 
That's the mileage spec on the "e" variation. They explain the mileage scenario for the hybrid as one of decaying value of between 1000 mpg and 120 mpg based upon your distance traveled and averaged speed.

California only - at least for the moment. We're first in line in NC for one of the VW SportWagens. 60 mpg highway ain't bad.

Diesel is at $4.50 / g here now, so we'll not save too much money in the bargain, but it's a huge difference against the 4.5L Inifiniti (less than 20 mpg with a tailwind) or the 4.0L Rover we're driving now.

e
 
I would so drive that. With all the money you save on gas, you could impress girls with your bling. And let's face it, in something that small, sooner or later your hand is going to miss the gearshift and fall on her knee. Perfect in. I've used that one tons of times. Even when I had the three on the tree.
 
Anhar Miah said:
This really bugs me, that car could have been designed to look like a normal car, bu they have to make it look "different" just to make a point that it is different.
Click to expand...

I totally agree 150%

DC said:
LOL! I hear ya! I have a '74 Camaro that I've been slowly restoring. Really sh!tty gas mileage and no pollution control whatsoever. And I love every bit of it! I'm actually thinking about installing a hydrogen kit to increase gas mileage. Should be interesting. :)




My biggest gripe with electric cars is the charging process. For instance, the Aptera says you can go about 120 miles before recharging. Recharging takes a few hours. What happens if you need to drive for more than 120 miles before recharging? You're just stuck on the roadside at that point? Even if you make it to a recharging station in time, you're looking at probably at least 3 hours to get some real juice back into the thing. So then what, you just sit there, likely losing valuable time? Gas stations are still more practical in real world scenarios. A 5-minute pit stop and vrooooooom!
Click to expand...

Excellent, working on resoring my bird too at the moment. I guess if it can charge in ten minutes, I'm cool with that. Luckily for this one (and others I am sure) is they also take gas, so you can go several hundred miles without having to fill up or recharge because, as I understand it, the battery recharges somewhat when you are using gasoline.

Erik Olson said:
Diesel is at $4.50 / g here now, so we'll not save too much money in the bargain, but it's a huge difference against the 4.5L Inifiniti (less than 20 mpg with a tailwind) or the 4.0L Rover we're driving now.

e
Click to expand...

Disel is $5.09 here! My T/A is 6.6L, ouch!
 
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