All about Gamma (2)

[Kamakiri]

Official statement from Chris M:

“Our Gamma vehicle was in a minor accident when another car backed into us while we were driving. Everyone is safe, and we’ll be performing the necessary repairs.”

[Solana]

Wheel pants are easier to replace than fenders.

Plus you can do it yourself.

[curtis-cibinel]

Thanks to Steve at AOC for putting together a video. It looks like a BMW backed into gamma and repairs will be needed before they can do more rides or media events. This is an unfortunate real world example of the kinds of accidents that can happen because drivers do not expect outboard wheels.

PS: I wonder if Aptera will change the plastic housing of the lights on the wheel pants to orange rather than just the internal light strip to improve visibility. Obviously not the fault of the Aptera if someone hits it but it seems a legitimate concern with parking lots (probably best to back in so other drivers clearly see the wheel pods.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc4wNR47Tko

[kerbe2705]

@curtis-cibinel …or it could have nothing to do with the outboard wheel (which is only a few inches from the main body of the Aptera): Had the BMW backed into the same location on a 4-wheeler, it would have taken out the front fender, the headlamp, the turn signal and the DRL.

I would venture that accident this wasn’t about “not expecting” to see a wheel but, simply, about not looking at all.

[craig-merrow]

As a nice gesture, I sent a “Get Well Soon” card yesterday.

[Sam]

I wonder if it’d be possible to get the tougher wheel covers without the increased ground clearance in the off-road package. What actually makes it tougher anyway.

[Kamakiri]

To get to the root of your questions…other parts would be made ‘tougher’ by increased sheet thickness and/or added web reinforcing to the interior faces. The bad news is that the time and cost for such upgrades and options will be high as it would require a new die set cut into steel which has not yet been purchased. I’m sure It’ll be quite some time before they’d even communicate the plan to provide these options.

[Sam]

Anybody?

[Biker]

Given the very custom nature of the wheel pants, it maybe a long time before anyone other Aptera offers them.

[curtis-cibinel]

With open designs and costs of custom fabrication dropping every year it may be viable to 3d print your own at a local shop in a few years.

[Kamakiri]

This is what I assume would happen and I would guess that Aptera could support such efforts with technical support and CAD files for the connection points and surfaces as well as the clearances needed.

[john-malcom]

Perhaps a long time for Aptera s well as the off-road wheel pants are not a part of the LE configuration which presently is forecast for 5,000 production units nor has Aptera included that wheel pant configuration in any LE announcement or possible future enhancement for an LE. Another wait and see until production funding and planning are firmed up.

• This reply was modified 1 day, 4 hours ago by  John Malcom. Reason: added additional response