Aptera electric car ready for drivers?
Once again, Aptera, the producer of a three-wheeled electric vehicle, is making big claims.
The Aptera Typ-1, a vehicle that can get 300 miles per gallon, will be available in early 2008 for less than $30,000 in both an electric plugin, and gas electric plugin hybrid version, the company announced Monday.
The vehicle will be able to charge from any stand 110-volt outlet, according to company specs.
The Typ-1 will have a range of 120 miles on electricity alone, with a 600 mile range for the hybrid version when fully fueled. The vehicle seats two in the front, with one seat in the back big enough to fit an infant car seat, according to company specs. With that seat removed and used as a cargo area, it can fit up to 15 bags of groceries or two full-size golf club bags.
The previous prototype of the Aptera had been able to get 230 mpg, according to the company.
The car is street legal, according to Aptera. Like many of the electric vehicles you can buy right now, the vehicle is registered with the Department of Transportation as a motorcycle.
Instead of typical side mirrors, the car has displays fed by embedded cameras that show a 180-degree view of the rear and side area of the car. Its safety features include a front-end crumple zone to protect passengers and air bags.
While it all sounds well and good, we still have yet to see an actual video of the car in action that's not a computer generated promo.
"We have posted some renderings (from CAD data from which the car made (sic)) because it's easier to control the lighting and effects than with real photos," Aptera CEO Steve Fambro said in an e-mail.
"Video of the real Typ-1 is here: http://www.aptera.com/media.php," he said.
(Credit:
Aptera)
(Credit:
Aptera)
In a software-driven world, it's easy to forget about the nuts and bolts. Whether it's cars, robots, personal gadgetry or industrial machines, Candace Lombardi examines the moving parts that keep our world rotating. A journalist who divides her time between the United States and the United Kingdom, Lombardi has written about technology for the sites of The New York Times, CNET, USA Today, MSN, ZDNet, Silicon.com, and GameSpot. E-mail her at candacelombardi@gmail.com. She is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not a current employee of CNET. 
One is a launch video that shows the vehicle rolling onto the stage. The other video is of it accelerating to top speed in a parking lot.
I am almost doubtful that the governor of California and our national government will allow this type of vehicle onto our roads until we stop Middle East and other oil folks from wiping these American genius away with million dollar bills!
Of course what do I know, I'm just a dumb old writer!
jjboss1
- by daspifster May 1, 2009 11:30 AM PDT
- Wow, such an amazing car! Still not sure if I would prefer the hybrid or all electric version. Have you seen the Loremo? It seems to have a lot of potential as well. Check out info, videos, and pictures of several green vehicles at www.EcoSoln.com .
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