Aptera reservation link

News

August-- Aptera is being sued.
21st-June-2024
I bought an GWM Ora to drive while waiting for Aptera to reach Australia.
August 2025 - Launch Edition will not be AWD and will not have in-wheel motors.

Aptera

Aptera is a light, sleek, three wheeled, two seat electric auto-cycle. In most places it will be treated as a car. EVs include vehicles which aren't cars but here I'm using it as shorthand for electric cars/autocycles.
Aptera is about three times more efficient than most similar sized EVs. Driving range is between 400Klm (250mi) and 1600Klm(1000mi) depending on the model. It will come in front-wheel drive and all wheel drive versions. The AWD 0-100Klm(60MPH) time is expected to be 4 seconds - to be confirmed. In wheel motors provide the traction (not for early editions). The body is made of forged carbon fibre and is extremely strong. The drag coefficient is expected to be 0.13 to 0.15.
It has built in solar panels with up to 700W power for the full solar version. This can provide up to around 65Klm/40Ml of range per day in the sun in the right conditions. It can also charge via a NACS connector for both AC and DC charging.
The cargo space is almost a cubic meter (0.9) or 32.5 CF. It can hold a surfboard or a sheet of plywood. The weight of the 1000Klm range version is listed as 820Kg/1800 lb - much lighter most passenger EVs.
The vehicle will be compatible with Comma's Open pilot drive assistance package. Aptera also embrace the "right to repair" philosophy. This is law in many places but often resisted by automakers.
The base price is listed as around $26,900 USD but may be higher by the time it reaches the market.
The first model sold, the "launch edition" is $33,000 USD.
At the time I'm writing there are about 47,000 pre-orders/reservations. I was about place 42,000 in the queue - lower now with investment but largely irrelevant as I need a RHD (right hand drive) version .
Reservations are $70 USD using a referral code - $100 otherwise, fully refundable if you bail out.
Prototypes - Alpha,Beta and Gamma have been built with the Delta model/PI expected soon. Delta/PI is the model for mass production.
Mass production is expected mid 2025 but is dependent on funding.
The first 2000 Aptera produced are reserved for the "accelerator program", its members are investors who have invested over $10000 USD.

The Aptera company has an interesting history and is now Aptera V2.0 The first time round the joint CEOs - Steve Fambro and Chris Anthony - were forced out of the business. After the collapse of Atera V1.0 they eventually bought the IP back (we hope) and tried again. Both CEOs appear to be very capable people and both started successful businesses in between leaving Aptera V1 and relaunching Aptera V2.

Why go Electric

Sorry if I'm preaching to the converted, many of you will know this already.
EVs in 2023/24 aren't for everyone but will become more compelling over time. In my country - Australia - many drivers would be better off making the switch now. Prices are dropping and cost saving may justify paying interest on a loan for people without the up front cash. The average driver from Oz stands to save a few grand a year in fuel alone. Good EVs require very little servicing so there are more savings to be had.
In high use cases EVs are likely to outlast ICE (internal combustion engines) several times over. EVs usually have long warranties covering batteries.
As they say "your mileage may vary" depending on your needs and what state/country you are in.
Some people like engine noise but many of us don't. We also want to reduce not only green house gas emissions also particle emission and harmful pollutants.
Some of us just want one. People like new cars even if it doesn't always make sense.

Why not to go Electric

People towing heavy loads or needing serious off-road capability may not have great (afforable) EV options now. Capable EVs exist but deep pockets may be required.
AWD is an advantage due to where I live. I bought a AWD PHEV (plug in hybrid) and now an EV while waiting for a good pure EV AWD to reach the market.
Drivers who drive very little may also be better off waiting.
If your power comes from coal and is likely to stay that way - EV is not for you if your motivation is to be green.
EVs may be inconvenient if you rely on public chargers. Home charging is easy for most people.

Purchase Cost

The high end of the market is well serviced but not my focus.
Tesla is the top selling car brand in the world and make a good product. For many they are still out of reach. For me off-road capable EVs are still too expensive for the amount of use I would get out of it.
Low end EVs are still a bit pricey but total cost of ownership is likely to be cheaper the ICE cars if you make use of them. The situation is complicated because there are a bunch of incentives which vary from state to state and country to country. Some incentives come as tax credits which are useless if you don't pay tax(retirees/pensioners etc). Small EVs tend to be better value than large ones. Big EVs need big batteries and big $$. In Oz the Ora,atto3 and MG4 are under AU$40K before on road costs. Prices and range will improve over time. The car industry is expected to look very different in the 2030s. Tesla and BYD are a fairly safe bet and maybe Rivian. I hope Aptera will be there too but they can't dominate without larger models.
It will take time before there are many good second hand EVs. Fleets are often a good source of used cars/EVs but the reliability of EVs may mean they keep them longer before selling - but high repair costs are discouraging some EV fleet uptake . Unless batteries age better than we expect I doubt we will see the same number of old cars on the road as now.
Eventually most states here will probably add a road tax - probably around 2.5 cents/Klm. I don't mind the concept but it seems a little on the high side.

Range

All my ICE cars have had a range of 650ish Klm(400ish mi). Adding bigger fuel tanks is fairly cheap yet automakers opted not to make long range cars for the average driver. Few people want to drive non-stop for more than that without a break.
For EVs adding range is expensive and decreases efficiency and performance due to the extra weight. You can't save weight by partly charging the battery. I think few people would get value from a >1000Klm battery and is not good for the planet either.
Having a bit if spare capacity might make sense to stretch the battery life beyond %30 capacity loss.
For me an honest 400Klm is the minimum I'll accept - 600-800 would be ideal.
Actual range will differ from the stated range - possible by quite a margin. Many things will decrease range. Different testing methods will also give different results.
For me the highway driving range is what is important. For city driving you should not be too far from a charger. It is long distance driving where chargers are a long way apart. If accurate range per charge is important then don't assume you will get the range the manufacturer has stated. Many EVs will have independent range tests results online (try you-tube).
At the time I write this - driving in remote regions is still a challenge. Looking at plugshare.com shows a drive from the East coast of Australia to Birdsville in Western Queensland should be possible with a 400mi/644Klm range but it is marginal. You may also be relying and very slow charging (a power point) to get you there. Bad weather or roads could see you stranded. A bigger battery would be nice for that sort of trip. A few more years and we should see the gaps in the charger networks being plugged.
https://Abetterrouteplanner.com seems like a work in progress but may be of interest. I think you can do better manually.
The ATM the default Aptera settings are wrong. Registration $$$$ are needed to access all the features.
There are also phone apps for EV route planning.

Regen/Single pedal driving.

Most EVs have regen (regenerative braking) - basically the motors become generators and convert the EVs momentum into current to recharged the battery. This not only improves the EV range but also reduces wear on brake pads. The mechanical brake is only needed for extreme braking or when coming to a full stop. Regen when driving down a mountain can add quite a bit of energy/charge to the battery. Coming down Cunningham's gap in Queensland Australia adds about 17Klm range to my PHEV battery.
Many EVs allow the accelerator pedal to also be used for braking. Lifting the foot off the pedal initially reduces motor power, lifting it further progressively applies regen. How aggressive the braking is is often adjustable. My PHEV had 6 settings 0-5. True one pedal driving allows one to completely stop without using the brake pedal. My PHEV needed brake for a full stop. My Ora has up to 60 kW of regen braking, the brake pads don't get much use.
Regen won't work when the battery is completely full. When fully charged - my PHEV needs to drive about 4Klm before regen begins to work and much further to work fully. The Ora doesn't have full regen above about %90 SOC (state of charge).

Climate control

Inside the EV that is. Energy use to heat and cool the EV cabin is significant and reduces range. Heat blocking windows and EV body insulation may help.
For cooling we'll use a regular AC but heating has more options. Most budget EVs just use a resistive heater - cheap and simple but power hungry. A heat pump is more efficient - especially if waste motor heat could be used as a preheat. Another option is to run the cabin cooler and use heated seats/yoke and seat-belts.
Early Apteras are likely to have resistive heaters. Later versions may have heat pumps and heated seats.

Charging

If on board solar meets your charging needs the rest of this section becomes irrelevant. Most EVs will still need charging.
Charging deserves its own page so I've moved the charging section here.

Battery types.

EV batteries are not all the same and the differences are quite important. By the end of 2023 we can expect at least four major types of battery in use with many variations. Three of these are lithium based on one is based on sodium.
This is not a complete list.

1. Lithium NMC/ternary. Older and high performance EV batteries are usually of this type. Cathodes are made from nickel, cobalt, and manganese. The proportions used vary so there are many NMC types. They have good energy and power density but have a shorter cycle life than some other types and they can catch fire if mistreated.
2. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4/LFP). Slightly lower performance but have a longer cycle life and are unlikely to self ignite. They're are also cheaper.
3. Lithium M3P(LiMnZnAl). Similar to LiFePO4 but with improved energy density.
4. Sodium Ion. Slightly down on energy density but cheap. Sodium is cheap and abundant. Some of the chemistries are water based and non-flammable. I don't know much about them. Good at low temperatures.

Aptera is expected to use 811 NMC batteries - this means %80 Nickel, %10 Manganese and %10 Cobalt.
There are many other battery types in development. By the time a Aptera's battery needs replacing some of these may have superseded the types above. We may have practical solid state batteries, silicon anodes, Aluminum cathodes, metal/air or whatever.
Existing batteries are good - future ones will be better.

Battery life

How long will they last? This is the billion dollar question.
The short answer is I don't know.
Some EV skeptics claim all EV batteries will be dead and buried after ten years use. Some EV fanatics claim 100 year batteries are here. The truth is somewhere in between but certainly closer to the skeptical end of the spectrum.
Most of the talk is about the cycle life of the batteries. We have a good handle on that and the news is good.
What is rarely mentioned is that they also have a calendar life, they die eventually no matter how well the are treated. This we don't have a good handle on. You are unlikely to wear out a reputable EV battery with use. Even old battery technology has be known to outlast ICE engines by quite a margin when life is measured in distance driven. LiFePO4 batteries are expected to last 2,000-3,000 cycles for a %100 discharge and up to 10,000 for %60 discharge. A LiFePO4 fitted car with 600Klm/400Ml range should get a minimum of 1.2 Million Kilometers or .72 Million Miles before wearing out.
However that tells us nothing about how long it will last in years. I see no reason to assume long cycle life implies long calendar life. The LiFePO4 batteries in my power wall are expected to have calendar life of 10 years. Similar batteries in a friend's car lasted 10 years.
EV batteries often have a distance warranty on 160000Klm/100000Ml but a calendar warranty of 7-10 years. The Ora has 8Year/unlimited distance warranty.
Some cars now come with lifetime battery warranty.
End of battery life is usually defined as %70 capacity remaining. Youtube's "EV man" is guessing battery life will be 15 to 20 years - I think that is a reasonable guess. We are getting close to knowing that answer for the older (mostly obsolete) batteries but by the time we know the lifespan of newer chemistry they may be obsolete as well.
If batteries keep declining at the same rate beyond %70 they may still be of use either in the EV or in a second life for stationary power storage. A 1000Klm EV which has become a 700Klm one is still useful.
At current prices it isn't worth replacing a battery out of warranty. In future battery prices should drop and the situation may change.
My experience with EV(ish) batteries has been sad. My PHEV battery declined very quickly and at 3.5YO is well past the point where it should be replaced. It has a 10 year warranty but it would be a hassle.

EV fires

EV fires happen, ICE car fires happen more and Hybrids are the worst.
EV fires videos go viral while ICE car fires hardly get a mention.
Not all EV fires are caused by the battery or involve the battery burning.
Unfortunately when batteries do catch fire they can be very hard to put out.
It many cases it is better to just let them burn but if it is indoors, in a ship or some other situation where huge damage will occur to surroundings - this isn't wise.
I don't have any data on when fires are most likely. I would assume many are from charger faults or damaged batteries. Age may play a factor but possibly not in the way you might expect. I'd probably do the first few charging sessions outside (I didn't).
EVs charging can also cause fires when the external wiring is inadequate such as when house wiring is very old.
Not all EVs have the same risks. NMC chemistry is much more likely to burn than LiFePO4/LFP, M3P or sodium.
NMC will burn without an external oxygen/air supply this makes them hard to put out - LFP won't burn without air so they can be extinguished.
Water-based chemistry such as lead-acid will never burn.
Limiting charging to say 80% might reduce fire risks while charging. Lithium Ion batteries (not just EV batteries) should be shipped with minimal charge. State of charge make a difference to the intensity of a battery fire.
Accord to "EV FireSafe" Youtube today (Sept 2023) only six EVs have caught fire in Australia. Four of those were not caused by the battery. Two were from battery damage and none from charging. That is two in >120,000. This probably doesn't include the two fires we had recently but one of those was under weird circumstances.
A Norwegian study found EV are 20 times LESS likely to catch fire than ICE cars.
Fire risk is real but small enough that I'll continue to charge my PHEV/EV indoors.

Aptera Pros

1. Efficiency. Even without on-board solar the lower energy cost is not only good for the owner/user but also for the power grid. If everyone drove efficient EVs - billions could be saved on infrastructure upgrades. Also less CO2 where fossil fuelled power is used.
2. Right to repair. Aptera won't require authorized servicing to maintain your warranty. They will also help make DIY and other repairs easy by providing parts and information. They plan to have QR codes on parts for easy ordering. They also support to concept of improving the EV over time rather than discarding for a newer model.
3. The main body will not rust.
4. Performance. With 0-100Klm/0-60Ml time of 4 seconds for AWD version and 5 seconds for 2WD it is not slow off the mark. Torque vectoring will provide improved steering and traction control.
5. Onboard Solar. Free charging for those in sunny regions. Also handy for powering fan, AC and accessories while parked in sunlight.
6. AWD/3WD option. At $2500US the difference between FWD and AWD is not excessive. Having the rear wheel not in the front wheel's ruts may be any advantage in mud and sand.
7. Strong regenerative brakes. The in-wheel out-runner motor design provides strong regenerative braking allowing more energy to be recovered and less brake pad wear. Good single pedal driving.
8. Very stable. The forward COG (centre of gravity) make it very stable and unlikely to roll over.
9. Strong carbon body for protection in collisions.
10. Replaceable sections where minor bumps are most likely.
11. Beam steered headlamp.
12. Open pilot compatible.
13. Large cargo space - with care 3M poles and pipes could be carried inside.

Aptera Cons

1. Long delivery times.
2. No rear window with hatch solar.
3. Digital rear view. I think older drivers will have trouble adjusting between distance focus through the windscreen and arms length focus of the digital screen - particularly at night.
4. Only 2 seats. It may be possible to add a small child seat in future.
5. Only 500lb/227Kg total load rating. Note than cars are often driven over their official weight limit.
6. Minimal physical controls. IMHO too many control have been moved to the touchscreen. The horn button should be big and central.
7. No non MNC batteries available at launch.
8. No spare tyre. This is true for some other cars including my PHEV. It is likely a pump and tyre slime will be provided. Tube-less tyres can often be repaired while still on the vehicle. YouTube is your friend here.
9. Little or no towing ability. It may have enough power but it simply doesn't have enough weight - particularly in the back.
10. Too wide. At 88in/2.2M there may be problem registering it in some places. It may have problems on narrow roads and parking spaces. Most cars are widest at the mirrors, Aptera is widest at the wheels. It is only about 4in/100mm wider than my PHEV mirrors. The winged doors don't need as much space to open as regular doors and this may help in tight parking spaces.

Aptera ProCons

Things which may be either good or bad.

1. No paint. It will come with some sort of wrap. Not as long lasting as paint but should be cheap to re-do. There is a lot of choice in colour,thickness and finish.
2. No dealers. Bypassing dealers should lower costs but could also make life harder if you need help.
3. Odd looking. Good if you like attention bad if you don't.
4. 3 wheels. Could make it difficult to register in some places but could also mean cheaper rego etc. May also allow use in transit lanes in some places.

When

Production was supposed to start last year, now it is supposed to be next year (2024) - this looks doable but there are still some funding hurdles.
I will not be surprised if it slips to 2025. With 44K preorders it could take years to clear the backlog but it is unknown how many people will follow through with their order. People are making guesses which all over the place. I'm guessing %50. There is talk of building more factories. I think they will be busy getting the bugs out of the first factory for a while - I hope to be proved wrong. Aptera are quite transparent about their progress. I hope they can quickly get to the part where we get vehicles and they make money.
The first 6000 will be local pickup from California. It will be a while before right hand drive and international delivery will be sorted out.

Preorder Referral program

If you have looked at Aptera on other sites such as youtube you will have seen links offering a $30 discount on an $100 Aptera reservation - only a few sites tell you what is in it for the referrer.
The deal is the referrer gets one point which potentially means $1000 off the cost of an Aptera. More referrals equals more points.
I say "potentially" because the referral has to be completed before the discounts apply. If the referrer already has a reservation for the same or earlier production model to the referee they will most likely get their Aptera first and no discount will apply. Points received late can be used to buy extras - such as the camping kit.
All reservation holders get a referral code but you don't have to have a reservation. I believe anyone can open an Aptera account. However you can't refer yourself.
My Aptera referral code link
Note that the signup page may say $100 - you should see the discount if you reach the payment section.

Funding

The money to start up the company and start production is in part crowd funded. There are also government grants, loans and tax exemptions. The "accelerator" program alone has raised >$20million USD. Non-accredited investment has been pause at the time of writing. It should resume once some red-tape is cleared.

Help

This page is getting almost no visitors. If you think it was worth reading please consider passing it on.
The shortest link is eddiem.com/aptera and the QR code is below.

Me

I am an Aptera fan and I spend too much time on the subject.
I am an Aptera reservation holder. I am an investor and accelerator but not an ambassador. I have no special relationship with Aptera nor do I have inside information. As I live on the other side of the planet to the USA I won't be touring the factory or seeing an Aptera in the flesh.
You can email me at - aptera23 at eddiem.com for now.
aptera.us

eddie