Anyone else excited about the Aptera Launch edition?

...and they'd suddenly have to bolt on all the things that cars need but motorcycles don't. Regulatory thing.

 

So it’s all about avoiding auto regs?

 

Yes, but because they don't want to make the vehicle safe. The design, testing, and paperwork needed will increase the price. They couldn't get the base priced around that of a Bolt with a mere fraction of GM's resources if they made it a 4 wheel car.

 

Well sure, anyone would want to make their vehicles safer if it was free

 

Aptera knew the criticism about safety would be brought up, so they do design for it. Even back with the first company failed they were doing so. The testing and certification to meet 4 wheel car certifications would just add a lot of expense. Perhaps more importantly, it would add more time to development. That could be worse for a start up.

Tesla started with a conversion, because working with Lotus meant less cost in cash and time.

 

No.

But in the case of physics, handling, etc, you do.

3 wheelers (two in the front is WAY better than than 2 in the rear) have most of the disadvantages of 4 wheelers and few, if any, of the advantages of two wheelers/single tracks. This is why one doesn't see them dominating on the race tracks or morning commutes. They are a huge compromise. Basically the only place one sees a 3 wheeler is in ultra-low cost and low speed uses in the transportation world (peddy-cabs).

 

It will come down to how many would be interested in such an unusual vehicle, and if that will be enough to sustain them.

 

Range hit and $15m of regulatory and crash

 

vs limited market? not sure it's a better option

 

Four wheels won't expand the market much for a two seater. Add a back seat for greater range loss, and then it will directly competing with the likes of the Bolt. Which won't go well for a start up. It would be like Tesla trying to start with the Model 3. Aptera hopes to do other models, but this has to be successful first.

 

We already have successful niche front three wheelers. Think the Can-Am, and most notably the Slingshot...

I don't think Aptera will have any problem attracting even more of a niche audience.

 

did those companies have to make the same investment as aptera?

 

In short, no.
They were already successful motorcycle, off road, snow mobile, etc. companies, and the products mentioned are ICE. They already had the power plants and much of the other components already available. Plus, the facilities and human power for development and production already in place.

Edit: If looking for a start up EV company for comparison, Zero Motorcycles is one.

 

It has 25% more cargo volume than a Model 3, is 0-60 in 6 seconds base or 4 seconds in AWD version, and has four versions with 250, 400, 600 and 1000 mile rated ranges. And it has a dash display system, unlike the Model 3 or Model Y.

Oh...and it's rated at 100Wh/mile. And the entire car has the same air drag as an F-150 rear view mirror.

 

"We are designing to meet or exceed all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards and use industry-standard testing protocols to ensure reliability and durability." -- Aptera FAQ