This is definitely the most comprehensive interview that I've seen with these guys. And I love the fact that they didn't hide anything. They answered every single one of your technical questions openly and without hesitation. I too wish I was a billionaire so that I could get these guys to the finish line.
@@TailosiveEVTheir openness is refreshing. I can't think of another startup company that has given out so much information during the development process than these guys. Even though the Aptera is not right for me personally (I have a wife and a teenage son), I am really hoping they succeed.
@@JustWasted3HoursHereyou’re only a few years from the Aptera being a good match for you, if your son is anything like I was as a teenager. I couldn’t wait to be out on my own despite having great parents. ;)
I am continually impressed with how these executives make themselves available. They are present and seem to show no favoritism. They are there at events and test drives, not hiding in the background.
That's a strong indicator for vaporwares or scam actually. But I guess they got the product far enough where they can show it around for the next round of investors. This will be all about long-term cost and reliability, which is hard to prove and get the word out before the company folds.
their marketing guys are geniuses. They understand the key concept of the modern internet: you don't need millions of fans, just a few dedicated superfans. Relatively speaking, this company's following is small, so we will see how it goes
im just impressed they decided to keep certain things like the wheel covers manual. Yes its a futuristic car, but that doesn't mean it needs absolutely everything motorized and automated. Thank fuck they kept the wheel covers manual, thats one less motor and wire to worry about
Chris is the most down to earth and honest seeming person I’ve ever watched in any of the thousands of EV videos. Knowledgeable and intelligent and very dedicated to seeing this great little vehicle to the end of the production process
The cybertruck and the aptera are on the opposite sides of the spectrum in terms of vehicle type and functionality. How could you so flippantly jump between them? Cybertruck blows also.
If I was not so damned old, I'd have signed up for an Aptera except for 1 additional thing. While a thing of beauty, I just cannot imagine how quickly the front wheels would get jammed packed with snow, ice, slush from our Western, NY winters. That does NOT make this a bad vehicle, just not the best for Western, NY [or similar regions]. For those old enough to remember the removable "Skirts" over wheel wells know exactly what I'm talking about with snow. You might as well remove them before the first snow and leave them off until spring. Still, I hope nothing but the best for the manufacture of Aptera and those who have weather more conducive to enjoying this beautiful vehicle.
Thanks Drew for addressing all of these additional topics. You asked great questions, and got some good additional design details and clarity from Chris and Jason, which is new to most of us. Kudos.
I watched an interview and it was clear that one reason Aptera took so long is they had to change plans constantly as the reservations kept growing and they realized they would have to make real a high volume production line as it became clear that the concept was very popular and realized they could not afford to have major difficulties in their first Production units so they made more prototypes to wrong out issues. Their initial plan was to basically hand build them, but quantities ordered made them change plans. Thanks goodness we have some founders who really want this to succeed.
This conversation makes a lot more sense, when the HVAC system is discussed. It is not the cup holders, the tail light that makes the car. It is the motors, the HVAC, the brakes.
I was lucky enough to visit Aptera a month ago and got to spend time with Gamma indoors; spent almost an hour sitting in it, looking around, and talking with Audra. This is a good reminder of that fun time, and with some bonus information in there too. I know both Chris and Jason have been great at working with Steve over at AOC channel, but it was interesting to seem them together answering questions and deferring to the other when that was best.
I am just a bit jealous. My wife and I met Audra and Quincy in November 2021 when we had a chance to ride in Luna. Aren't they great people? Still, I get to interact with them in my brand ambassador role on a regular basis. Forming great personal relationships is one of the bonus features of interacting with Aptera.
Excellent video. I'm asking Santa for an extra thousand dollars to invest in Aptera once more. Better to invest in hope for clean air and a livable world than curse it. Do wish someone could talk about cold weather/snow/ice performance in the northern states. Sad also but realize crash tests are necessary. Last comment.... I can't believe the amount of patience Chris, Steve, Jason and others have had with the public. I've done outreach before. It is exhausting. Hang in there guys and girls!
I figured that the split window was so the section that rolled diwn could be straight, to fit in the door. But it never occurred to me that it was to minimize the drag when you roll the windows down. That makes so much sense when you think about it. I was also driving around in my Beetle the other day, and realized that solid upper window would shield against the rain coming in when you roll down the lower window. Its not as much a split window as a small side window, with a transparent section between the window and the roof.
Well done Drew and wife! (I'm sorry I don't know your name.) We appreciate your simple style of just good conversation and where it takes you. Chris and Jason, thank you again for your direct openness, for taking time with average people like us and being willing to answer almost anything thrown at you! The more we see, the more we love! Can't wait for the factory tour...
That large windshield if your driving west is gonna bake you if you don't have some great AC. Wonder if they could make a dimming glass like the Transitions eyewear for it... Something that doesn't even draw any power but dims with light could keep the car cooler when parked as well.
I asked about that later in the factory tour. CEO says the carbon fiber body is more like a thermos meaning it doesn’t collect a ton of heat from the sunlight. Most people will have the solar hatch so the back hatch won’t be clear
@golfish8589, I think the solar panels absorb quite a bit of solar energy to convert it into electricity and would reduce the heat in the cabin. The dash solar panels acting the same way. I think the Aptera cabin would be much cooler baking in the sun compared to conventional cars subjected to the same conditions.
I want to suggest that Aptera use a direct heating windshield defroster. This is just like the rear defroster - but without the lines. These can do this *critical* function for a couple of hundred watts, very quickly - think driving in an ice/snow storm or is very low temperatures. Blowing hot air onto the windshield can take *thousands* of watts. Likewise - heated seats and heated steering wheel, and maybe even heated floor mats, are all required for those of us in colder climates. An important concept of safety - is deflection vs engagement. As Jason and Chris mention, the shape of the vehicle and its structure is excellent with the Aptera. By increasing the time available to decelerate - means *much* lower G-forces, which means much better safety.
Yes a thousand times to the heated windshield. I had one in a Toyota EV and it worked great, much faster and more efficient than blowing heated air to defrost.
Thanks for getting into the weeds on some topics with Chris and Jason! Look forward to more Aptera reveals/updates along with your continuing reporting. I will be educating my Discount Tire technicians as how to check/top off the air pressure, changing wheels, lift points, etc… as we all learn. I held them by the hand…. with my existing EV to assure to only use proper lift points for tire servicing…. Seeing scanning of the QR codes to understand repairs instructions /ordering, etc….will be exciting to learn.
I would really love to have that V2H/ V2G/ V2L capability on aptera built in even if it means installing an extra $4,000 box on your electric panels. For those who does not plan to install that, they could use the V2L feature to work remotely or even to run your fridge/ heater at home in case of an emergency power outage.
Although I'm getting one of these as soon as I can, I suspect I'll want to replace it with the 2.0 version that should have V2L, heat pumps, heated seats, and other things that will be Nice To Have. Edit: LFP battery, too!
@@michaelbramel5771 I totally agree with this. It is such a shame to see so much free energy going to waste. PS: I hold both a reservation in this and am an Investor too.
I think it would be great if the excess energy could be put in a portable solar generator that you could use at home in a power outage or on the road camping by loading it in to the back of the Aptera. The Aptera solar cells are at least twice as big as the solar panels that come with the solar generators. Maybe it could also "range extend" The Aptera if charging is inconvenient on a trip.
Listening to these two designers makes one realize how much thought has to go into a new vehicle, and then how difficult it must be to get to the point where they actually have a running car! These people deserve so much admiration.
I feel like Team Tailosive asks all the Q? I'm thinking of (and few more I wish I had). Kudos to Drew for (un)officially joining the Aptera development team by naming/coining the "porthole" on the rear wheel air intake. Another great vid which saved me the cost of a plane ticket to/from San Diego that I can put towards the payment of my Aptera.
Fantastic video. Thank you. Can hardly wait for the next video on the bench testing of the HVAC system. Since I live north of the 49th Parallel, we do get temps down to the -30's, either Celcious or Fahrenheit, it gets cold up here for at least 3 months of the year
This is a very well done informative video. I can’t wait until there is more information and especially the first PI builds completed. I’m high on the list for my 600/white variant, but I can’t wait.
Excellent!!! Great interview - I look forward to the next part. Every time I see more information I get even more excited to have MY Aptera. How long after production commences until the 600 mile variant starts shipping???
These guys have their heart and soul into this car...I hope they sell 500,000 of these a year...great people, great car, great for the environment and wallet...everyone wins....
Ok they are right about heat pump vs conventional non reversing HVAC during the warmer months but a standard HVAC system means we need a PTC cabin heater which will cause range to be significantly less when needed. That is the main benefit of a heat pump, the rest of the country is NOT California. Absolutely worth the additional R&D / vehicle cost. That said, I absolutely cannot wait to see these on the road.
Sunbelters, particularly, seem to want to dismiss needs they don't have as "outliers" or "edge cases". This is why I'm especially concerned about their glib dismissal of the need for wiper coverage on the right third of the windscreen. It's not about passenger visibility. It's not about rain.
@@robertkirchner7981 Hmm… I remember during one particularly nasty snow storm… where the traffic was really slow… the slush was piling up on my car. If I'm remembering correctly, I had to get out of the car to clear off the additional buildup on the sides of the front window. This wasn't some remote location. This was New York / New Jersey. I wonder how the Aptera would have fared in such conditions. 🤔
@@robertkirchner7981 Your view of sunbelt types is 'on the mark'. The Aptera is the consummate California car. I eagerly await REAL WORLD news of how this SEV will deal with a Lake Effects Blizzard in Buffaloe, N.Y.S. or a good New England snowstorm, espc. the ones with 03 inches of rain mixed with the snow, to give you 'lead[the metal pronunciation ] snow'; the sort that breaks the shear pins in a snow thrower. I am so far down the List, that I should have ALL the real world info to decide if this will work for me.
I wonder if you could put a film protection on the glass solar panels, like what's on your phone? My concern would be damage from rocks. Great interview! Lots of great information. I can't wait to get mine!
@@TailosiveEV I agree, it's quite strong and probably won't crack. My concern would be with chips and scratches from large rocks bouncing off the road and hitting the hood solar at the worst possible angle. This would be more of an aesthetic issue. A 3M self healing clear bra kit could be an option.
It would be great to have the side mirror displays also be able to look directly left and right at intersections to see oncoming traffic. Also hybrid to see obliquely back for suicide merge lanes (45-60 degrees back).
In regards to entering and exiting the vehicle while its raining; besides the rubber trim along the inner edge of the door opening is there anything else that will possibly catch the rain water so if and when you open a door you don't get a downpour of water on you? I ask because I had a Ford Probe do that to me every time until I installed a small thin piece of curved rubber to channel / catch the water and divert the same fore and aft away from me.
Interesting. Whenever you make a new vehicle or connect to the power infrastructure you get into mandatory certifications and homologation. How close is Aptera to a fully globally certified, exportable (CofC), insurable, sellable product?
The 5,000 or so LE vehicles projected will all probably be delivered from Carlsbad. I plan to travel to California to pick mine up in person. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes a couple more years for East Coast deliveries to commence, but I hope I am wrong.
@@n.brucenelson5920 I can’t wait that long for east coast delivery. Will people who live on east coast pick up in Carlsbad and ship it themselves via a closed carrier or drive it cross-country themselves? Why doesn’t Aptera establish east coast deliver depots such as one in NJ and other in FL? Start-up Lucid and Rivian don’t make you pick it up at factory.
@@johnpoldo8817 Yes. Some LE edition order holders will even ship their vehicles overseas. I plan to travel to California to pick up mine and drive it back to Iowa. I may drive my 2001 Honda Insight to Carlsbad, and sell it when I get there, or fly out and drive back - I haven't quite decided yet. Aptera has sufficient demand for all the LE editions they can make with Carlsbad only delivery. At this point, Lucid and Rivian have far better financing in place as well. Aptera is not in a place at the moment where they can do all the same things as these two companies, but look at how long it took them to get to that point. Lucid was founded in 2007, and Rivian in 2009. Aptera is doing well in comparison.
I've got my pre-ordered and this did answer some of my questions... But I live in MN and I'm still wondering how it does in snow or very cold weather. Someday I'll find an answer.
I'm thinking that it would be like driving a normal car. If the weather's really bad, best to say inside. It is a lighter vehicle so I would like to see how it does as well in pouring rain with standing water. Is there a greater chance to hydroplane? Definitely going for the all wheel drive option.
@@TailosiveEVunderstand snow could be an issue but I want to make sure cold isn't an issue. Snow gets plowed soon enough but cold is 4 months (or even more).
When they started talking safety, I was thinking, "This thing is like a 2 seat F1 car," seconds before Chris started comparing it to F1! I'm expecting only minor changes will be needed when real-world crash tests are done.
They talk about the bespoke solar panels which are amazing.. just wondering how many spare parts will be available... what the plan is for that.. Long way to get to Australia if we need a set... im sure they have thought about it. I know Tesla still suffers from this years on.. has got a little better....
Appreciate the video and information. Emphasis, comments, thoughts, analogies etc. on Tesla are nauseating. The addressable EV market is much larger than Tesla, which is still an emerging player. We still have many years for the energy transition to play out. I understand playing the ‘Tesla fanboy’ base, but the opportunity is actually much larger than the Tesla fan base. Thanks again for posting, and, Charge on!
I really hope that this thing comes to the UK. The idea of a buttload of range, effectively just for transporting me and one passenger and some luggage is exactly what i want. i do a lot of longer distance stuff, and if I can make those longer trips affordable without too many breaks then i'm all in.
What tests have been done to see how the camera system works in the rain? I live in the Pacific Northwest and I *love* the rear view camera in my Bolt, but it's useless when it rains.
Same here, but I believe that what gunks up that camera is dirty water splashing up off the road, not the rain. The rear view on the Aptera is near the top of the vehicle. The backup camera is much lower, but it will not be sucking dirty water into the huge low pressure area that the Bolt has at the back, so I am hopeful.
Can you even _imagine_ Mary Barra discussing anything about her vehicles’ engineering with such detail and depth?!? I know Elon Musk and Ferdinand Porsche and/or Piech could, but the last two and their ilk are long gone, and that’s why GM and VW will not be a part of our collective future unless they change direction and philosophy drastically.
Hopefully in the future you will be able to go to full color e-paper (or similar) non-emissive displays that are easily visible in bright light AND that neither emit eye and health destroying blue light, nor flicker at any frequency - also debilitating at 100-120 hz.
1 - Was the question about solar over charging answered? While it's nice to send power back to the grid, what if the Aptera is parked on a NYC street during a sunny but cool day? Is that going to be a problem? 2 - So the AC is overkill. That sounds cool, but what about cold weather? Can the Aptera handle -20° Fahrenheit? 3 - The side mirrors are cute. 4 - Are we just going to glance over the part where Chris says he built the first electric DeLorean? 5 - While the doors look cool, how do you get out of an Aptera in the event of a rollover? 6 - While it sounds cool that Aptera is playing nice with the charge networks, do you need an Aptera account to use the vehicle? What if someone never uses the charging networks? 7 - Rainex sounds like a good idea to keep the passenger happy… and nice to know about less bug guts on the vehicle.
Guess we can safely assume that there is a battery management system (BMS) that would never "over charge" the battery. If the battery is "full", just not drawing the current from the solar panels is not a problem, the panels won't explode if you do that. 🤣
@@davidmaddon554 If the vehicle is a twisted mess and you're pinned somehow, then hopefully the fire department makes it in time. But what if the Aptera simply rolled, and the battery is now on fire? Is the Aptera roof ridged like a weeble-wobble? How would the rounded top work in a crash? Would it favor one side? As mentioned in the video, the autocycle is front heavy, so wouldn't it likely fall forward in a roll over? Wouldn't that make it tougher to escape through the front window? On a regular car, I'd probably focus on escape through the side window. But since the Aptera has bars across those side windows, I'm not sure if it's possible to escape by smashing the side windows. Like if I'm driving down the street, and I see a flipped Aptera with the passenger in the side, I'm not sure what I could do with the window smasher in the glove box. Is it possible to escape through the rear hatch, or would the car tip the other way if there's too much weight in the back? Again, with the rounded roof, is that going to create a seesaw effect? It might be unlikely… but going with the beachball analogy… what if the vehicle simply bounces weirdly in a collision? The way the doors open, and the way the side windows work, isn't that a safety concern for rollovers? Does the Aptera have cool explosive charges, to blow the hinges off the doors, in the event of a rollover? Is there an emergency release? I saw a "Release" handle mentioned in a different Aptera fan video, but what does that thingie do? Is that to open the door? Is it for the chair? Does it grant access a secret compartment? It wasn't clear.
@@ThomasWaldmann I wasn't thinking solar over charging was a problem until Drew asked the question. 😄 I think a technical answer would have been nicer than hypothetical. What if you can't plug the Aptera into the grid to take better advantage of excess power? What is the Aptera going to do if it's really sunny, at 100% battery life, and the cabin is already cooled. …open the windows and air-condition the planet? 😄
Regard your question 1. I suspect that the BMS will allow you to set a charge limit. Like 80 % fir example. If you are solar charging and you hit the limit charging will stop and the power being generated by the panels will go unutilized. .
Delivery date will depend on how quickly financing comes in but could be towards the latter part of 2024, or early 2025. You would have to take one of the few remaining accelerator slots to avoid being at the back of the line - in which case, due to demand is likely to be several years off yet.
With the concealed wheels. What happens when it snows? My car with open wheel wells will pack with snow and will get so bad that it will lock up my tire in turns. What keeps the snow back from just destroying the wheel wells?
Most of the heat that is produced by the vehicle is from the motors in the wheel pants. It is likely that Ice and snow will melt before this can happen. I may have an early vehicle in Iowa and will report on my winter driving experience.
I can’t wait until this car comes out, I’m much more inclined to buy one as my work commuter. On top of everything they’re doing I just hope the cars sound system will be amazing as well 🤞🏽
Any information on how the car performs in colder temperatures? does the 3 wheel design affect how it would drive in snow or ice? Or even just bad roads with pot holes and cracks, i feel like that third wheel in the back would bounce pretty hard in that design?
Is there any company MORE open/transparent than Aptera?! They've created an amazing culture to surround their amazing product. Even their staunchest critics need to admit the only reason they know as much as they do about what does/doesn't work is because Aptera is the one exposing their own work. One way to eliminate "leaks" is to install a massive pipe flowing out the front door from the product, the process and the purpose to the public. Which is precisely what Aptera has done. Never have I rooted for a startup company to make it as much as this group. Keep driving forward Aptera!!!
Good point @@aussieideasman8498. I'd say they have created a product. BUT we need to see if they can create a product which they can mass produce. That is THE real test for every startup. As Elon said (when asked about Aptera during a Q&A earlier this past '23), "Anyone can talk about going to the moon. But very few actually get there."
Does the half window design create a blind spot for taller drivers? I noticed in some of these videos that the window divide was right at some of the guys eye level.
As light as it is I want to known how it does with a strong side wind. For example how does it handle when side winds when passing a semi that can create both push and pulling forces with different side winds.
I'm not a fan of EVs. An online computer on wheels is just not something I'm interested in. HOWEVER, the Aptera team is designing for the people: affordability and practicality are king as we move into tough economic times. To that I say, WELL DONE. Aptera is everything the Cybertruck is NOT.
Next you'll tell me there's no difference between my basic flip phone and a smart phone... I understand that computer chips are being put in EVERYTHING, and that all new cars have buckets of electronics. But it is very dishonest to suggest that an EV-with a large touch screen front and center and a small army of cameras-is the same as a standard ICE car. @@maxiferrari08
This is definitely the most comprehensive interview that I've seen with these guys. And I love the fact that they didn't hide anything. They answered every single one of your technical questions openly and without hesitation. I too wish I was a billionaire so that I could get these guys to the finish line.
There hasn’t been a single question they’ve denied answering in all my experience. If they don’t know, they’ll refer me to someone who does!
@@TailosiveEVTheir openness is refreshing. I can't think of another startup company that has given out so much information during the development process than these guys. Even though the Aptera is not right for me personally (I have a wife and a teenage son), I am really hoping they succeed.
@@JustWasted3HoursHereyou’re only a few years from the Aptera being a good match for you, if your son is anything like I was as a teenager. I couldn’t wait to be out on my own despite having great parents. ;)
@@JustWasted3HoursHere Order one - even if he's 13, lol.
@@TheScottShepardSupposedly there's going to be a 4 seater in the pipeline in a few years.
Your wife’s a great camera operator I must say. Actually impressive
I am continually impressed with how these executives make themselves available. They are present and seem to show no favoritism. They are there at events and test drives, not hiding in the background.
This is the most endearing thing about this project
I really hope they achieve Tesla-like success.
That's a strong indicator for vaporwares or scam actually. But I guess they got the product far enough where they can show it around for the next round of investors. This will be all about long-term cost and reliability, which is hard to prove and get the word out before the company folds.
their marketing guys are geniuses. They understand the key concept of the modern internet: you don't need millions of fans, just a few dedicated superfans. Relatively speaking, this company's following is small, so we will see how it goes
im just impressed they decided to keep certain things like the wheel covers manual. Yes its a futuristic car, but that doesn't mean it needs absolutely everything motorized and automated. Thank fuck they kept the wheel covers manual, thats one less motor and wire to worry about
PR tour. They've invited in a load of gullible influencer types who are not asking them any difficult questions.
Pretty sick to see you interviewing and interacting with Aptera so much. I'm rooting for them!
Loads of people were wondering about getting air to the rear wheel, even with the hole. The lack of needing to index it is fantastic!
Yup. Airless tires cannot come soon enough.
Chris is the most down to earth and honest seeming person I’ve ever watched in any of the thousands of EV videos. Knowledgeable and intelligent and very dedicated to seeing this great little vehicle to the end of the production process
I hope they can keep the price, at least for reservation holders. I was considering the cybertruck but after their event I’m 100% in Aptera.
Agreed.
What the... for a second I thought this was my comment. I said the exact same thing and I am in the exact same boat.
The cybertruck and the aptera are on the opposite sides of the spectrum in terms of vehicle type and functionality. How could you so flippantly jump between them? Cybertruck blows also.
If I was not so damned old, I'd have signed up for an Aptera except for 1 additional thing. While a thing of beauty, I just cannot imagine how quickly the front wheels would get jammed packed with snow, ice, slush from our Western, NY winters. That does NOT make this a bad vehicle, just not the best for Western, NY [or similar regions]. For those old enough to remember the removable "Skirts" over wheel wells know exactly what I'm talking about with snow. You might as well remove them before the first snow and leave them off until spring. Still, I hope nothing but the best for the manufacture of Aptera and those who have weather more conducive to enjoying this beautiful vehicle.
The motors are in the wheel which generate heat passively. Should easily melt anything in there
@@TailosiveEV If so, then FANTASTIC!
I live in rural Iowa and have an early model on order. I will report on my experience.
Thanks Drew for addressing all of these additional topics. You asked great questions, and got some good additional design details and clarity from Chris and Jason, which is new to most of us. Kudos.
Glad it was helpful!
Won't lie. I'm not buying a vehicle until aptera is available. This is my future , this is THE future
SAME!
Hope you work from home?
@@aussieideasman8498 or I own a vehicle and am waiting for aptera to sell and switch :)
@roxasrox123 What is it I don't know, young fella?
@roxasrox123the only thing that will shit up this fool is the vehicle going into production and the company turning a profit. Just ignore him.
I watched an interview and it was clear that one reason Aptera took so long is they had to change plans constantly as the reservations kept growing and they realized they would have to make real a high volume production line as it became clear that the concept was very popular and realized they could not afford to have major difficulties in their first Production units so they made more prototypes to wrong out issues. Their initial plan was to basically hand build them, but quantities ordered made them change plans. Thanks goodness we have some founders who really want this to succeed.
This conversation makes a lot more sense, when the HVAC system is discussed.
It is not the cup holders, the tail light that makes the car. It is the motors, the HVAC, the brakes.
And the controls/user interface.
I was lucky enough to visit Aptera a month ago and got to spend time with Gamma indoors; spent almost an hour sitting in it, looking around, and talking with Audra. This is a good reminder of that fun time, and with some bonus information in there too. I know both Chris and Jason have been great at working with Steve over at AOC channel, but it was interesting to seem them together answering questions and deferring to the other when that was best.
I am just a bit jealous. My wife and I met Audra and Quincy in November 2021 when we had a chance to ride in Luna. Aren't they great people? Still, I get to interact with them in my brand ambassador role on a regular basis. Forming great personal relationships is one of the bonus features of interacting with Aptera.
Fun interview. Great to see Jason in a more relaxed mode.
Excellent video. I'm asking Santa for an extra thousand dollars to invest in Aptera once more. Better to invest in hope for clean air and a livable world than curse it. Do wish someone could talk about cold weather/snow/ice performance in the northern states. Sad also but realize crash tests are necessary. Last comment.... I can't believe the amount of patience Chris, Steve, Jason and others have had with the public. I've done outreach before. It is exhausting. Hang in there guys and girls!
I figured that the split window was so the section that rolled diwn could be straight, to fit in the door. But it never occurred to me that it was to minimize the drag when you roll the windows down. That makes so much sense when you think about it.
I was also driving around in my Beetle the other day, and realized that solid upper window would shield against the rain coming in when you roll down the lower window. Its not as much a split window as a small side window, with a transparent section between the window and the roof.
Thank you for your excellent content, sir. I'm more than slightly jealous that you got to meet them and chat in person! Such a great team, there.
My pleasure!
This is such a great video for information. I love your questions and their usual transparent answers.
Well done Drew and wife! (I'm sorry I don't know your name.) We appreciate your simple style of just good conversation and where it takes you. Chris and Jason, thank you again for your direct openness, for taking time with average people like us and being willing to answer almost anything thrown at you! The more we see, the more we love! Can't wait for the factory tour...
Thank you kindly!
THE PASSENGER WINDOW'S LACK OF "WIPER SWEEPING" MAKES "SHOTGUN" DRIVER ASSISTANCE "IFFY?" BUT THE RAIN X SOLUTION WILL WORK.
A curtain, possibly clear. Behind the front seat could drastically reduce the heating and cooling load.
I did this one year on my Chevy volt
That large windshield if your driving west is gonna bake you if you don't have some great AC. Wonder if they could make a dimming glass like the Transitions eyewear for it... Something that doesn't even draw any power but dims with light could keep the car cooler when parked as well.
I asked about that later in the factory tour. CEO says the carbon fiber body is more like a thermos meaning it doesn’t collect a ton of heat from the sunlight. Most people will have the solar hatch so the back hatch won’t be clear
@golfish8589,
I think the solar panels absorb quite a bit of solar energy to convert it into electricity and would reduce the heat in the cabin. The dash solar panels acting the same way.
I think the Aptera cabin would be much cooler baking in the sun compared to conventional cars subjected to the same conditions.
I want to suggest that Aptera use a direct heating windshield defroster. This is just like the rear defroster - but without the lines. These can do this *critical* function for a couple of hundred watts, very quickly - think driving in an ice/snow storm or is very low temperatures. Blowing hot air onto the windshield can take *thousands* of watts. Likewise - heated seats and heated steering wheel, and maybe even heated floor mats, are all required for those of us in colder climates.
An important concept of safety - is deflection vs engagement. As Jason and Chris mention, the shape of the vehicle and its structure is excellent with the Aptera. By increasing the time available to decelerate - means *much* lower G-forces, which means much better safety.
Yes a thousand times to the heated windshield. I had one in a Toyota EV and it worked great, much faster and more efficient than blowing heated air to defrost.
This is amazing. You guys had great chemistry and the amount of detail is incredible. Awesome production too!
Thanks for getting into the weeds on some topics with Chris and Jason! Look forward to more Aptera reveals/updates along with your continuing reporting. I will be educating my Discount Tire technicians as how to check/top off the air pressure, changing wheels, lift points, etc… as we all learn. I held them by the hand…. with my existing EV to assure to only use proper lift points for tire servicing…. Seeing scanning of the QR codes to understand repairs instructions /ordering, etc….will be exciting to learn.
Like that they talked about jacking points, what I want is a lot of thought put into how to best carry it on a light trailer behind an RV.
I get so happy when I see another video with you at Aptera, keen for the next one!
No flat head or Philips screws is a major win!
55,000 flat heads is a major win for them.
I'd love to use the free power to cool the cabin before I leave for work, especially when it's easily 110°F when I leave for work sometimes.
I would really love to have that V2H/ V2G/ V2L capability on aptera built in even if it means installing an extra $4,000 box on your electric panels. For those who does not plan to install that, they could use the V2L feature to work remotely or even to run your fridge/ heater at home in case of an emergency power outage.
Although I'm getting one of these as soon as I can, I suspect I'll want to replace it with the 2.0 version that should have V2L, heat pumps, heated seats, and other things that will be Nice To Have. Edit: LFP battery, too!
@@michaelbramel5771 I totally agree with this. It is such a shame to see so much free energy going to waste.
PS: I hold both a reservation in this and am an Investor too.
The footage from the iPhone 15 is really exceptional.
It’s better than a lot of DSLR cameras from a few years ago.
I think it would be great if the excess energy could be put in a portable solar generator that you could use at home in a power outage or on the road camping by loading it in to the back of the Aptera. The Aptera solar cells are at least twice as big as the solar panels that come with the solar generators. Maybe it could also "range extend" The Aptera if charging is inconvenient on a trip.
Great Interview! Thanks to both Aptera and you taking the time to make it! 👍
Super close-up overview of the production model
Listening to these two designers makes one realize how much thought has to go into a new vehicle, and then how difficult it must be to get to the point where they actually have a running car! These people deserve so much admiration.
I feel like Team Tailosive asks all the Q? I'm thinking of (and few more I wish I had). Kudos to Drew for (un)officially joining the Aptera development team by naming/coining the "porthole" on the rear wheel air intake. Another great vid which saved me the cost of a plane ticket to/from San Diego that I can put towards the payment of my Aptera.
Good call! Happy to help 🙏🏼
Put the rear view screen down on the dash.
Improve visibility out of windshield
Fantastic video. Thank you.
Can hardly wait for the next video on the bench testing of the HVAC system.
Since I live north of the 49th Parallel, we do get temps down to the -30's, either Celcious or Fahrenheit, it gets cold up here for at least 3 months of the year
I want this car so freaking badly. I cannot wait to purchase one when available
An absolutely excellent and exciting interview gentlemen!!! I love it! Thank you!
Beautiful blue sky in this video.
This is super well edited: y’all did an amazing job cleanly editing down the responses to the questions to something very succinct.
I love this vehicle so much! I'm not super into the weeds with the numbers but i understand enough to see this thing is awesome : )
Great questions and interview. I like this format it just like you are there at a car show asking them questions
Great interview and questions. The Aptera CEO is a class act.
Looking forward to seeing them start making these and seeing them on the road!
Awesome watching the three of you geek out. I can't get enough of this.
More to come!
VERY good video. Good video, good sound and informative. No jumpin' ahead to skip the 'slow' parts (cuz there ain't any).
Fantastic interview. I'm really excited for this to go into production!
Wishing the heating element wattage was user selectable. 1800W, 900W, give the use options to select the maximum continuous draw.
This is a very well done informative video. I can’t wait until there is more information and especially the first PI builds completed. I’m high on the list for my 600/white variant, but I can’t wait.
Great interview. I DC fast charge my ioniq 5 at 237kw on the electrify america stations. Pretty fast if you ask me.
Excellent!!! Great interview - I look forward to the next part. Every time I see more information I get even more excited to have MY Aptera. How long after production commences until the 600 mile variant starts shipping???
The taller batteries will need to be in regular production for that to happen. I think it likely that this could be 2026 or beyond.
These guys have their heart and soul into this car...I hope they sell 500,000 of these a year...great people, great car, great for the environment and wallet...everyone wins....
Thank you for this. It is very informative! I can not wait for this vehicle!
Glad it was helpful!
Ok they are right about heat pump vs conventional non reversing HVAC during the warmer months but a standard HVAC system means we need a PTC cabin heater which will cause range to be significantly less when needed. That is the main benefit of a heat pump, the rest of the country is NOT California. Absolutely worth the additional R&D / vehicle cost.
That said, I absolutely cannot wait to see these on the road.
Sunbelters, particularly, seem to want to dismiss needs they don't have as "outliers" or "edge cases". This is why I'm especially concerned about their glib dismissal of the need for wiper coverage on the right third of the windscreen. It's not about passenger visibility. It's not about rain.
@@robertkirchner7981 Hmm… I remember during one particularly nasty snow storm… where the traffic was really slow… the slush was piling up on my car. If I'm remembering correctly, I had to get out of the car to clear off the additional buildup on the sides of the front window.
This wasn't some remote location. This was New York / New Jersey.
I wonder how the Aptera would have fared in such conditions. 🤔
@@robertkirchner7981 Your view of sunbelt types is 'on the mark'. The Aptera is the consummate California car. I eagerly await REAL WORLD news of how this SEV will deal with a Lake Effects Blizzard in Buffaloe, N.Y.S. or a good New England snowstorm, espc. the ones with 03 inches of rain mixed with the snow, to give you 'lead[the metal pronunciation ] snow'; the sort that breaks the shear pins in a snow thrower. I am so far down the List, that I should have ALL the real world info to decide if this will work for me.
Excellent presentation. Very informative.
Im keeping my eye on this vehicle. I do 140 miles a day round trip to and from work. Plenty of sun at work while im parked .
Awesome interview! Asking all the important questions. I appreciate it, subscribed.
Thanks so much Jerry! Hope you enjoy
I’m still trying to win the Lottery so I can fully fund you. It’s such a worthy cause I can’t understand why it hasn’t happened yet.
I wonder if you could put a film protection on the glass solar panels, like what's on your phone? My concern would be damage from rocks. Great interview! Lots of great information. I can't wait to get mine!
The solar glass has been tested with hail chunks going 90mph. It’s quite strong
@@TailosiveEV I agree, it's quite strong and probably won't crack. My concern would be with chips and scratches from large rocks bouncing off the road and hitting the hood solar at the worst possible angle. This would be more of an aesthetic issue. A 3M self healing clear bra kit could be an option.
@@johnbullers8647 Yeah, gravel trucks can be a menace.
It would be great to have the side mirror displays also be able to look directly left and right at intersections to see oncoming traffic. Also hybrid to see obliquely back for suicide merge lanes (45-60 degrees back).
very organic - form follows efficiency.
In regards to entering and exiting the vehicle while its raining; besides the rubber trim along the inner edge of the door opening is there anything else that will possibly catch the rain water so if and when you open a door you don't get a downpour of water on you? I ask because I had a Ford Probe do that to me every time until I installed a small thin piece of curved rubber to channel / catch the water and divert the same fore and aft away from me.
Interesting. Whenever you make a new vehicle or connect to the power infrastructure you get into mandatory certifications and homologation. How close is Aptera to a fully globally certified, exportable (CofC), insurable, sellable product?
Legally in the US they can sell it now, not as many certifications required for autocycles
Great questions, in a lot of interviews I've seen they ask the same questions that have been answered a million times.
Drew, keep up the great Aptera reports. Please find out when they will have east coast deliveries & service.
The 5,000 or so LE vehicles projected will all probably be delivered from Carlsbad. I plan to travel to California to pick mine up in person. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes a couple more years for East Coast deliveries to commence, but I hope I am wrong.
@@n.brucenelson5920 I can’t wait that long for east coast delivery. Will people who live on east coast pick up in Carlsbad and ship it themselves via a closed carrier or drive it cross-country themselves? Why doesn’t Aptera establish east coast deliver depots such as one in NJ and other in FL? Start-up Lucid and Rivian don’t make you pick it up at factory.
@@johnpoldo8817 Yes. Some LE edition order holders will even ship their vehicles overseas. I plan to travel to California to pick up mine and drive it back to Iowa. I may drive my 2001 Honda Insight to Carlsbad, and sell it when I get there, or fly out and drive back - I haven't quite decided yet.
Aptera has sufficient demand for all the LE editions they can make with Carlsbad only delivery.
At this point, Lucid and Rivian have far better financing in place as well. Aptera is not in a place at the moment where they can do all the same things as these two companies, but look at how long it took them to get to that point. Lucid was founded in 2007, and Rivian in 2009. Aptera is doing well in comparison.
One concern I have is drive stability under strong cross wind conditions. Does the rear wheel cowling act as a sail causing lateral tire slippage?
12:00 knock-knock! Loved it
I've got my pre-ordered and this did answer some of my questions... But I live in MN and I'm still wondering how it does in snow or very cold weather. Someday I'll find an answer.
Aptera Owners Club has done some great videos on that. It’s all wheel drive and has independent motors in each wheel so I think it’ll do great
I'm thinking that it would be like driving a normal car. If the weather's really bad, best to say inside. It is a lighter vehicle so I would like to see how it does as well in pouring rain with standing water. Is there a greater chance to hydroplane? Definitely going for the all wheel drive option.
@@TailosiveEVunderstand snow could be an issue but I want to make sure cold isn't an issue. Snow gets plowed soon enough but cold is 4 months (or even more).
When they started talking safety, I was thinking, "This thing is like a 2 seat F1 car," seconds before Chris started comparing it to F1! I'm expecting only minor changes will be needed when real-world crash tests are done.
Hey could it be used to charge another EV? Park one beside my model S to get that sweet sweet overflow!
Great questions! Good video.
Loved Thanks
They talk about the bespoke solar panels which are amazing.. just wondering how many spare parts will be available... what the plan is for that.. Long way to get to Australia if we need a set... im sure they have thought about it. I know Tesla still suffers from this years on.. has got a little better....
Appreciate the video and information.
Emphasis, comments, thoughts, analogies etc. on Tesla are nauseating.
The addressable EV market is much larger than Tesla, which is still an emerging player. We still have many years for the energy transition to play out.
I understand playing the ‘Tesla fanboy’ base, but the opportunity is actually much larger than the Tesla fan base.
Thanks again for posting, and,
Charge on!
Aptera ♥️
I really hope that this thing comes to the UK. The idea of a buttload of range, effectively just for transporting me and one passenger and some luggage is exactly what i want. i do a lot of longer distance stuff, and if I can make those longer trips affordable without too many breaks then i'm all in.
Curious about the software. Whats the OS? What language is the vehicle software written in? What about tue ability to repair? Service? Great videos.
Software? 🤣 they are still finalizing the hardware it seems
What tests have been done to see how the camera system works in the rain? I live in the Pacific Northwest and I *love* the rear view camera in my Bolt, but it's useless when it rains.
Testing of the Production Intent vehicles is coming.
Same here, but I believe that what gunks up that camera is dirty water splashing up off the road, not the rain. The rear view on the Aptera is near the top of the vehicle. The backup camera is much lower, but it will not be sucking dirty water into the huge low pressure area that the Bolt has at the back, so I am hopeful.
@@skeptibleiyam1093 🤞🤞
😆 I’m envisioning a fleet of these in a parking lot migrating autonomously to stay in the sun.
Can you even _imagine_ Mary Barra discussing anything about her vehicles’ engineering with such detail and depth?!?
I know Elon Musk and Ferdinand Porsche and/or Piech could, but the last two and their ilk are long gone, and that’s why GM and VW will not be a part of our collective future unless they change direction and philosophy drastically.
Hopefully in the future you will be able to go to full color e-paper (or similar) non-emissive displays that are easily visible in bright light AND that neither emit eye and health destroying blue light, nor flicker at any frequency - also debilitating at 100-120 hz.
Such a great interview👌
The questions you pitched are so valuable. Thanks for sharing it.
My pleasure!
Ask them about ccs and front license plate in Europe
1 - Was the question about solar over charging answered? While it's nice to send power back to the grid, what if the Aptera is parked on a NYC street during a sunny but cool day? Is that going to be a problem?
2 - So the AC is overkill. That sounds cool, but what about cold weather? Can the Aptera handle -20° Fahrenheit?
3 - The side mirrors are cute.
4 - Are we just going to glance over the part where Chris says he built the first electric DeLorean?
5 - While the doors look cool, how do you get out of an Aptera in the event of a rollover?
6 - While it sounds cool that Aptera is playing nice with the charge networks, do you need an Aptera account to use the vehicle? What if someone never uses the charging networks?
7 - Rainex sounds like a good idea to keep the passenger happy… and nice to know about less bug guts on the vehicle.
Like any major accident, the Jaws of Life
Guess we can safely assume that there is a battery management system (BMS) that would never "over charge" the battery. If the battery is "full", just not drawing the current from the solar panels is not a problem, the panels won't explode if you do that. 🤣
@@davidmaddon554 If the vehicle is a twisted mess and you're pinned somehow, then hopefully the fire department makes it in time. But what if the Aptera simply rolled, and the battery is now on fire?
Is the Aptera roof ridged like a weeble-wobble? How would the rounded top work in a crash? Would it favor one side?
As mentioned in the video, the autocycle is front heavy, so wouldn't it likely fall forward in a roll over? Wouldn't that make it tougher to escape through the front window? On a regular car, I'd probably focus on escape through the side window. But since the Aptera has bars across those side windows, I'm not sure if it's possible to escape by smashing the side windows.
Like if I'm driving down the street, and I see a flipped Aptera with the passenger in the side, I'm not sure what I could do with the window smasher in the glove box.
Is it possible to escape through the rear hatch, or would the car tip the other way if there's too much weight in the back? Again, with the rounded roof, is that going to create a seesaw effect?
It might be unlikely… but going with the beachball analogy… what if the vehicle simply bounces weirdly in a collision? The way the doors open, and the way the side windows work, isn't that a safety concern for rollovers?
Does the Aptera have cool explosive charges, to blow the hinges off the doors, in the event of a rollover? Is there an emergency release? I saw a "Release" handle mentioned in a different Aptera fan video, but what does that thingie do? Is that to open the door? Is it for the chair? Does it grant access a secret compartment? It wasn't clear.
@@ThomasWaldmann I wasn't thinking solar over charging was a problem until Drew asked the question. 😄
I think a technical answer would have been nicer than hypothetical. What if you can't plug the Aptera into the grid to take better advantage of excess power? What is the Aptera going to do if it's really sunny, at 100% battery life, and the cabin is already cooled.
…open the windows and air-condition the planet? 😄
Regard your question 1. I suspect that the BMS will allow you to set a charge limit. Like 80 % fir example. If you are solar charging and you hit the limit charging will stop and the power being generated by the panels will go unutilized. .
It'll sell outside of the USA.
When can we buy one? I've been watching this car for years...when? When?
Delivery date will depend on how quickly financing comes in but could be towards the latter part of 2024, or early 2025. You would have to take one of the few remaining accelerator slots to avoid being at the back of the line - in which case, due to demand is likely to be several years off yet.
Now this was really something special. This vehicle will change the world even more than Tesla will...
Excellent. Thank you.
With the concealed wheels. What happens when it snows? My car with open wheel wells will pack with snow and will get so bad that it will lock up my tire in turns. What keeps the snow back from just destroying the wheel wells?
Most of the heat that is produced by the vehicle is from the motors in the wheel pants. It is likely that Ice and snow will melt before this can happen. I may have an early vehicle in Iowa and will report on my winter driving experience.
Is there going to be an option of a fixed side windows?
I can’t wait until this car comes out, I’m much more inclined to buy one as my work commuter. On top of everything they’re doing I just hope the cars sound system will be amazing as well 🤞🏽
Any information on how the car performs in colder temperatures? does the 3 wheel design affect how it would drive in snow or ice? Or even just bad roads with pot holes and cracks, i feel like that third wheel in the back would bounce pretty hard in that design?
Is there any company MORE open/transparent than Aptera?! They've created an amazing culture to surround their amazing product. Even their staunchest critics need to admit the only reason they know as much as they do about what does/doesn't work is because Aptera is the one exposing their own work. One way to eliminate "leaks" is to install a massive pipe flowing out the front door from the product, the process and the purpose to the public. Which is precisely what Aptera has done. Never have I rooted for a startup company to make it as much as this group. Keep driving forward Aptera!!!
They have created a culture but not a product.
Good point @@aussieideasman8498. I'd say they have created a product. BUT we need to see if they can create a product which they can mass produce. That is THE real test for every startup. As Elon said (when asked about Aptera during a Q&A earlier this past '23), "Anyone can talk about going to the moon. But very few actually get there."
Does the half window design create a blind spot for taller drivers? I noticed in some of these videos that the window divide was right at some of the guys eye level.
As light as it is I want to known how it does with a strong side wind. For example how does it handle when side winds when passing a semi that can create both push and pulling forces with different side winds.
I'm not a fan of EVs. An online computer on wheels is just not something I'm interested in. HOWEVER, the Aptera team is designing for the people: affordability and practicality are king as we move into tough economic times. To that I say, WELL DONE. Aptera is everything the Cybertruck is NOT.
I have bad news for you, every new car is a computer on wheels(sadly)
Next you'll tell me there's no difference between my basic flip phone and a smart phone... I understand that computer chips are being put in EVERYTHING, and that all new cars have buckets of electronics. But it is very dishonest to suggest that an EV-with a large touch screen front and center and a small army of cameras-is the same as a standard ICE car. @@maxiferrari08
In the 60's i just opened the wing windows. Does this vehicle have vent openings for going without using air ?
I wonder, if the glass in an Apt era is low emissivity???
It's shaped like a Prince Rupert's drop- probably going to be one of the strongest cars of all time.
Great point.