All about Gamma (2)

[craig-merrow]

I think it’s in Italy.

[llewellyn-evans]

I understand it may be in Italy and I know it has important work to do at CPC.

My point is that Aptera got this far because it had a big buzz on youtube. I look for Aptera news daily.

Feed the buzz or watch funding dry up.

By feed the buzz i DON’T mean employees riding around reading scripts. I mean get some proper feedback like they had on the previous ride arounds.

If it is at CPC …. there has to be a race track close by. Give us some sugar!!!!

[ImAlwaysMIA]

Gamma is really just a showpiece model, remember it’s only “80%” complete, doubt it could handle a track. Also the Aptera is not a sports vehicle, it’s 0-60 is just a byproduct of the drive train choice and the vehicle’s low mass, CA has said as much multiple times. The Aptera was not designed to do laps around a track, it has a low top speed, little to no downforce, and it has aero covers blocking air circulation(cooling) on the vehicle’s brakes.

[llewellyn-evans]

oh, My bad.

I thought Gamma as a drivable vehicle that was 100% finished but used 80% production parts.

IFF it is 100% finished then a race track would be a good safe place to do demonstrations …. Gamma is way too valuable to race.

[Biker]

While in Switzerland……..

[john-malcom]

Second advantage of being there is some snow performance testing

[Biker]

Another pic from St. Moritz:

[craig-merrow]

Great pictures! Bet that skier was surprised to see it!

[david-marlow]

Now I know Chris and Steve are working hard to get the capital needed for the production equipment, but we havent heard much from them recently.

Maybe with Gamma they are testing shipping by boat?

And speaking of shipping by boat, that must be how the Delta bodies are comming so we wont see a Delta until about a month after we see Gamma again (maybe they could ship the first body by air?).

So things always seem darkest just before the dawn.

As they said, regular production will not start until about 9 months after they get the money for the production equipment, meaning some time next year.

Just show me the light at the end of the tunnel.

[ROMAD]

Good question, David. It seems to have just vanished somewhere after St. Moritz. It is probably in Modena, Italy being torn apart by C.P.C. to be used for pattern making.

[kerbe2705]

@dennis-swaney Jason said that the patterns were being cut from CAD files so a tear-down is unlikely. I think they mentioned – at some point – that they were headed to the middle-east (maybe Dubai?)… So the safe answer to “Where is Gamma?” is “T’ain’t here.”

[glenn-zajic]

I was told that it has one more appearance to make in Italy in early May before it flies home.

[mxlan]

I guess I’m more surprised that there’s been very little social media presence and pictures of the gamma being spotted by the public. But I guess there’s not a lot of knowledge and presence across the pond and I guess maybe they’re shipping it around in a covered trailer or a box truck so there’s very little exposure from the general public on snapping up the random photo wondering what company makes a spaceship car.

[glenn-zajic]

I do not know if it can be legally driven around over there. It may have to travel enclosed or on a flatbed. Should be on its way back soon!

[Mike-Mars]

I seem to recall Abu Dhabi being mentioned. Steve F used to work there on an investment fund IIRC, and probably still has links to investors.

[david-marlow]

When Gamma returns will it be upgraded to full solar before it is shown again?

[Mike-Mars]

The problem with Gamma was that the curves are a bit different. The moulds used to form the panels for Delta cannot be used for Gamma.

Note that Gamma’s panel at the Fully Charged Show wasn’t that great – it had bubbles and was threatening to delaminate. That was because it was a last minute decision to add solar for the show, and they didn’t have a proper mould for it.

• This reply was modified 4 months, 2 weeks ago by  Michael Marsden.

[alain-chuzel]

Note that Gamma’s panel at the Fully Charged Show wasn’t that great – it
had bubbles and was threatening to delaminate. That was because it was
a last minute decision to add solar for the show, and they didn’t have a
proper mould for it.

You may be conflating two different “events”. I do not believe it was a last minute decision to add solar for the show (Fully Charged) nor do I believe that they didn’t have a proper mold for it. What Aptera has claimed, however, is that, after Fully Charged, a second Gamma hood panel was, indeed, “rushed” and that panel very much suffered significant delamination upon minimal exposure.

[craig-merrow]

That would be great if they did! It would show the full potential of solar charging.

[david-marlow]

Sense we will not see an actual working Delta until at least fall, letting us see what Aptera can be this summer will help increse assurence that it will happen and what its pontial will be.

Gamma has made more public apperences in Europe than in the US, I understand that the thought is that the chance of getting large investors is greater there but so far that hasent happened. The general thinking that Aptera is a risky startup needs to be corrected. Why have other automotive startups recieved so much more in investments? They have show there prototypes around the country a lot more. Most people are very reluctant to invest in what they can not see or touch.

What ever the reasons are that they have been so reluctant to show Gamma, they have had plenty of time to resolve these issues and should be prepard by now to correct them when it returns. This will also help them to antisipate problems thatcould occure with Delta.

[david-marlow]

While I am an Ambassador,Investor on the leader board and have 2 preordrs, this summer is the time for Aptera to put up or shut up. While Delta will not b ready to do this, Gamma could be with there perfected slar pannels and improved battery packs. I have not seen evidenc that it can go over 20 miles on a charge or any real siginificant solar charging.

If by this summer that gamma can go ofer 250 miles and the solar can provide at least 30 miles, its no wonder that major investors are not investing in this vaporware.

[curtis-cibinel]

Looking forward to a Gamma getting some good attention with MKBHD. https://twitter.com/aptera_motors/status/1654231393222762502
This will introduce a lot of new people to Aptera as he has an absolutely huge following. Chris McCammon confirmed on AOC discord they are coordinating for his review with the gamma build. It has really surprised me how little Gamma has been seen since it was completed for fully charged but it obviously spent a lot of time in europe with CPC and hunting for big fish investors.

Let's do it 👊

— Aptera (@aptera_motors) May 4, 2023

[Biker]

From Chris M at Discord:

Gamma upgrades are complete, I’ll be whipping it up some hills tomorrow. 😎

[Kamakiri]

That’s a nice hint about what next week’s update will include. 👍

Hoping it’s the full belly pan cooling setup. But there’s more on my wish list than that. 🤞

[craig-merrow]

Pikes Peak or Mt Washington would be a good challenge! Hope Chris M will have some video to share of where he takes it and how it performs.

[ROMAD]

Looks like they have Gamma cooling done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar_6RtTmKv8

[john-malcom]

Thanks for this!

Now, I would like to see several successive runs up that hill with some data on the hill grade, length, ambient conditions, and average vehicle speed.

[Mike-Mars]

They did 3 runs, the hill is named in the video so you can check the grade, no idea of the other conditions, motor temperatures were stable

• This reply was modified 2 weeks, 5 days ago by  Michael Marsden.

[Kamakiri]

Unfortunately, Gamma has been in a small accident on the way to the ride along event this morning. Everyone involved is reported as safe. Rides will be rescheduled for those who booked once Gamma is fixed.

[BigSky]

Where can I send a Get Well card?

[Kamakiri]

I guess corporate HQ in Carlsbad, but I think Issuance.com or Republic would work just as well! 😉

[ROMAD]

Hopefully Aptera will be open about this and show any damage along with the repairs.

[wingsounds13]

That would be really nice for the curious among us. Yet… Delta is so different from the Gamma build that little real information will be learned.

[ROMAD]

True, though it will depend on where the damage is located. If it is to the body, we know that the Gamma body is supposed to be more resistant to damage than the Delta body. However if it is to either of the front wheels and connecting items, damage there should be similar to damage there on a Delta.

[Mike-Mars]

Also the circumstances, since it may be relevant to future owners. Did another driver get distracted when they saw the Aptera? Did something fail on the prototype? Misjudged width?

[Kamakiri]

Like everybody, I’m hoping we get some details on the incident. But they are busy at the moment and it may not serve them well to share considering the involvement of insurance and who may be at fault.

[craig-merrow]

Yikes! Hope the damage was minimal.

[Kamakiri]

Passenger front was hit. A BMW backed into it. Wheel spat/pant cracked and outer panel broken off. Possibly minor body damage on that side? Maybe suspension link damage. My guess is that the repair will be done within a few weeks, perhaps sooner.

[Kamakiri]

[ROMAD]

In the video Steve does mention how the gray Luna wrap tending to blend in with concrete might be a reason to misjudge the distance. I originally ordered mine with the white Sol wrap so that may be the first upgrade to do, replace the Luna wrap with the Sol wrap.

[craig-merrow]

Hopefully that is just superficial damage and an easy fix. Awhile back someone photoshopped an Aptera in different colors that really made it stand out; maybe down the road they can expand their color options to include some brighter hues.