We got some great enthusiasm and even better answers from the engineers of the aptera team. This was another quick edit and well worth the watch in my opinion.
The VW Beetle is a perfect example of how great design can stand the test of time. Over 25 years, from the early 1950s to its departure from the American market in the 1970s, the Beetle underwent countless improvements, becoming an entirely different car by the end of its run. It was so well-engineered that the final iteration continued production in Brazil until 2003-an amazing testament to its enduring brilliance, and something many people don’t realize. The Beetle's design was, and still is, an iconic blend of simplicity, innovation, and reliability. The Aptera shares a similar resonance with the Beetle. It’s radically different from everything else on the market-equally forward-thinking and intelligently engineered. The beauty of the Aptera’s design is that, like the Beetle, it lends itself to ongoing refinement. Solar panel efficiency will improve. Battery technology will advance. In-wheel hub motors will eventually reach their pinnacle. We’ll perfect heat pumps, belly pan radiation, and countless other innovations that we haven’t even imagined yet. The Aptera is the spark that opens the box of solar mobility, a momentous leap in automotive history. We just witnessed this leap on January 5th or 6th. A production-ready Aptera vehicle drove on public streets, replenishing the energy it used entirely from solar. That’s monumental. That’s history being made. And you were there to see it. If you want to understand where we’re headed, just look to the past. Innovation doesn’t stop-it’s a constant force. Think about where we were five years ago, ten years ago, a century ago. Change is inevitable and unstoppable. But the direction of that change? That’s where we come in. Every Aptera supporter, every engineer, designer, and visionary at the company, is helping to steer this change in the right direction. Change left to chance often veers toward negativity-it’s human nature. But when guided by passion, intelligence, and purpose, change becomes a force for good. It’s a responsibility and a challenge, but it’s incredibly rewarding when we steer that change in a positive direction. The energy and enthusiasm you feel-whether in that room or in the broader Aptera community-is what drives this forward. Passion and commitment are the key ingredients. Add intelligent decision-making and, yes, funding, and you get something extraordinary. That’s what we’re witnessing right now: a living example of the best humanity has to offer. This is our moment, and this is just the beginning. Cheers everyone!
I think Aptera should stick with this design and make minor improvements for the foreseeable future. It worked for the Beetle and it worked for the Model T. Of course, they might want to expand out to a include a 4 wheel design someday but there's no rush. They only have to produce 6,000/year to break even. If they get to 20,000/year or more, that's a considerable profit margin.
They kind of have to stick with the design unless they can come up with another shape that gives the same results. Of course, people who don't like the shape can sacrifice some efficiency for more room or a different appearance. The Aptera is the very edge of maximizing efficiency, any other compromise would kind of have to be less efficient.
@@theninjineer Absolutely! I don't envy the editing you have in front of you, but I can't get enough Aptera content and look forward to what else you have!!
Love the enthusiasm! Thanks for sharing this.
Great discussion - exciting stuff!
Thank you so much Jeff for recording and posting this!
The VW Beetle is a perfect example of how great design can stand the test of time. Over 25 years, from the early 1950s to its departure from the American market in the 1970s, the Beetle underwent countless improvements, becoming an entirely different car by the end of its run. It was so well-engineered that the final iteration continued production in Brazil until 2003-an amazing testament to its enduring brilliance, and something many people don’t realize. The Beetle's design was, and still is, an iconic blend of simplicity, innovation, and reliability.
The Aptera shares a similar resonance with the Beetle. It’s radically different from everything else on the market-equally forward-thinking and intelligently engineered. The beauty of the Aptera’s design is that, like the Beetle, it lends itself to ongoing refinement. Solar panel efficiency will improve. Battery technology will advance. In-wheel hub motors will eventually reach their pinnacle. We’ll perfect heat pumps, belly pan radiation, and countless other innovations that we haven’t even imagined yet. The Aptera is the spark that opens the box of solar mobility, a momentous leap in automotive history.
We just witnessed this leap on January 5th or 6th. A production-ready Aptera vehicle drove on public streets, replenishing the energy it used entirely from solar. That’s monumental. That’s history being made. And you were there to see it.
If you want to understand where we’re headed, just look to the past. Innovation doesn’t stop-it’s a constant force. Think about where we were five years ago, ten years ago, a century ago. Change is inevitable and unstoppable. But the direction of that change? That’s where we come in.
Every Aptera supporter, every engineer, designer, and visionary at the company, is helping to steer this change in the right direction. Change left to chance often veers toward negativity-it’s human nature. But when guided by passion, intelligence, and purpose, change becomes a force for good. It’s a responsibility and a challenge, but it’s incredibly rewarding when we steer that change in a positive direction.
The energy and enthusiasm you feel-whether in that room or in the broader Aptera community-is what drives this forward. Passion and commitment are the key ingredients. Add intelligent decision-making and, yes, funding, and you get something extraordinary. That’s what we’re witnessing right now: a living example of the best humanity has to offer.
This is our moment, and this is just the beginning. Cheers everyone!
I think Aptera should stick with this design and make minor improvements for the foreseeable future. It worked for the Beetle and it worked for the Model T. Of course, they might want to expand out to a include a 4 wheel design someday but there's no rush. They only have to produce 6,000/year to break even. If they get to 20,000/year or more, that's a considerable profit margin.
They kind of have to stick with the design unless they can come up with another shape that gives the same results.
Of course, people who don't like the shape can sacrifice some efficiency for more room or a different appearance. The Aptera is the very edge of maximizing efficiency, any other compromise would kind of have to be less efficient.
Really good to see and hear from more of the team!! Thank you Jeff!
Thank you for tuning in good sir! This weekend is going to be pretty busy with all of the footage I have to sort through. This is just the beginning.
@@theninjineer Absolutely! I don't envy the editing you have in front of you, but I can't get enough Aptera content and look forward to what else you have!!
As a middle school math teacher it brings tears to my eyes seeing engineers treated like rock stars. 🤓
Awesome post!
Plane car boat submarine the ultimate dream 😍😍😍😍
Why are they howling that is driving me nuts
they're Furry's
Joy, whimsy, hope, alcohol, she's stoked that's awesome
They shouldn't have mics so close to the audience. I think a lot of the audience are investors and they're trying to rev up the excitement level.
He is a gay wolf from the desert.
To the lady howling like a dog, please don't
I tried, but I can’t with the lady
That person hooting and hollering is obnoxious.
That person needs to get out more.
Aptera continuing the myth that no one but they could make low weight, curved "automotive grade" solar panels is just pathetic at this point.
That’s not what I heard, man. I heard, no one DID, not no one COULD. They did because they HAD to
Please tell me which company is making low weight curved automotive grade solar panels. Go ahead, I'll wait.
@@richardryley3660 Off the top of my head, SunCat Solar, Gochermann Solar and Mito Solar. Gochermann, by the way, had the original patent from 1988.
@@American_Rambler Then you either can't hear or have a very poor memory man.
It’s all fake will never go too production remember elio all talk no results