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Aptera center console
Yesterday, I watched the public release of the Aptera Gamma at Fully Charged Live 2022. I think the design looks amazing! You guys did a great job! The wheel housing looks also really good!
One thing that can be improved a bit is the center console, if you ask me. Now it looks like it exists out of three separate components and also the cupholders don’t look really solid (especially if you have the acceleration numbers in mind:) ).
What are your thoughts?
And maybe a question for Aptera… is this design ‘final’ or will there still be improvements on the center console? And will there be wireless phone charging in the center console?
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50 Replies
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Aptera center console
updated 5 months, 1 week ago
28 Members
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50
Replies
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The components for the center console are modular and easily changeable. The displayed cupholder unit could be the only one available for the first deliveries, but we have no firm answer for that. Other options are planned. IIRC there is talk of some sort of phone charging infrastructure.
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I had my concerns on the center console and cup holders as well. Actually from the first renderings of them but confirmed that they didn’t pivot and went with the original concept. The cup holder looks to require two hand operation and it looked like a zipper closer on the console. If those stay to final production, I’m thinking I will have to make some sort of insert for the cup holder and never zip the console closed.
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Center console was the least impressive thing of the interior.
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If the center console is designed for ‘replacement’ – i.e. easily removed fasteners/clips – I suspect it will be among the first ‘aftermarket’ pieces to feature specialized uses.
While it may provide an arm rest, a fully flat floor is also a wonderous thing.
Fortunately I don’t have any ideas on this at all. Kind of like a SCOTUS justice and porn, I’ll only know if it is any good if when I see it.
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@George Hughes The center “beam” is necessary for the rigidity of Aptera’s inner structural unit: The ambassadors asked about it more than a year ago.
There was some talk that it might be used to hold additional stacked battery modules but we now know that, while the 250 and the 400 range battery packs will use 2170-size cells, the 600 and 1000 range packs will use either 2665 or 4680 cells. The battery packs will be flat and rectangular and will fit under the floor of the cabin.
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SIMPLE: Offer a more traditional console like what was first displayed. Let people choose. See which one people prefer.
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With exchangeable modules you already have the choice. I prefer the removable modules because I want to be able to remove them all and put a cushion between/overhanging the seats for my occasional third passenger.
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I’ll opt out of that flimsy dollar-store quality looking bungee mesh cup holders, if that is the final end design. Looks awful, and it cheapens the interior.
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I heard from one of the employees from a show video that the cup holder has already been redesigned. The new design will be revealed when the Delta pre-production prototype is revealed, this November or December.
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The design is removable changeable modules, only three of which have been made. You have the choice.
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The mesh version of the center console is the first thing I will look at changing as soon as I get mine. Maybe a 3D printing project?
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Is this pineapple leather?
Whatever it is called, it looks like worn out, recycled vinyl, dug out of a dumpster.
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I didn’t taste it, but yes it was pineapple. It didn’t really match the cleanliness of the rest of the interior that is – the bungee cup holders . It has a nice thick leathery look to it but needs better trim work and finishing.
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I will just say it, that bungie cord nightmare is the dumbest thing I have seen in years.
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It looks completely impractical. Hopefully they’ll get the message and replace it with something usable.
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The console was designed by an artist and artists are only concerned with being creative.
Creativity equates to being different. It can be ugly. It can be impractical. It can be useless. The only thing important is being different.
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I also feel the center console design and material can be improved, although center console itself is no big deal in my list of things. The biggest disappointment to me is the structural central beam prevents the possibility of installing a after-market 3-person bench seat.
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Cup holders and pedal +/- need to go. Can do much better. Everything else mimics a Model 3, why loose that inspiration on cupholder and pedals.
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I agree the cup holder needs a more practical upgrade but the + and – pedals are quirky. I like them they fit the car.
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First thing to go away is this monstrosity.
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I don’t think you will because I’m betting it won’t be there. Whatever we’re looking at now will not be there at the end. Lot’s of hand wringing going on for no reason.
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If you remove the center console, how tall is the floor between the seats? Is there a ridge in the floorboard under the console?
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Yes there is a ridge there, it is part of the basic construction of the main body, it provides both an area for wiring and other items to pass through, but more importantly provides a great deal of the strength and stability of the basic shell. I do not have the measurements, there may be some photos somewhere (Especially of the Beta vehicle.) that will give you a fair idea of the size.
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Here’s a photo of Gamma; there is a transmission-tunnel-esque ridge between and slightly higher than the front seats. As OZ said it’s structural and used for wiring etc. (The beige parts are removable, the structure they’re attached to is not.) Might change slightly for Delta/production, but most likely not by much.
More pictures of the top of the center console:
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Thanks, the last image is really helpful.
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@Marcos Reyes Just adding to the dogpile to make certain you understand that there is no “center console”: It’s part of the cabin floor pan and provides structural rigidity. One of the very first images Aptera ever shared of the Alpha construction was the floor plan mold and that channel has been part of the vehicle ever since.
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After watching the latest update video that hideous console is still there.
I can’t believe they are reusing a bungee cord to hold top heavy drinks in place.
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They are obviously more into form over function.
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Not sure which “latest” video you’re referring to but in today’s AOC interview with Jason Hill, he says basically don’t pay attention to what you have seen as the console in Gamma. It’s going to be different. Gamma was a “snapshot” in time, and back then is not now.
Not sure why people aren’t understanding the process of what and how Aptera is bringing these iterations into physical form. Watch the AOC interview to hear Jason Hill explain the process.
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I liked how he was in favor of owners 3D printing their own designs for the console.
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If as it seems the center console and cupholder is the biggest concern amongst those who hold a pre-order, this means that Aptera has done a pretty darn good job so far! 👍
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The externals and tech seem to be pretty well on point, but a lot of the interior and human interface decisions have me scratching my head and second-guessing my decision to hold off a vehicle purchase until these hit the streets.
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You are not purchasing at this point only reserving with a refundable deposit which you can get back because it is in escrow. No risk. The longer you wait to reserve the longer you will have to wait to get the vehicle if you decide it is right for you
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John, I agree. Jason Hill’s background is originally in exterior automotive design and it is not in HMI design. Gamma has cockpit-related design decisions that someone optimizing for driver experience, usability, and/or safety would not have made. I have a degree in Human Factors Engineering and have applied it professionally in cockpit design, hardware design, and software/UI design. So, those missed opportunities particularly stand out for me, too. Generally, the Aptera is a terrific vehicle for which I am a reservation holder and investor, though human factors design is not one of its better strengths so far. Maybe some of that will be improved in delta, TBD.
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From what I understand they farmed out the UI development to a third party. That is probably fine but may indicate that they don’t have the skillset in-house to implement, refine, and improve the physical controls to go along with that UI, or lack/don’t want to expend funds to fully realize that potential. I would hate to see the potential wasted by being coupled with a sub-par operating experience.
One of the more glaring examples would be the choice of separate displays for left/right mirror views and a traditionally placed rear-view instead of a stitched 180 view in a single stretched panel above the yoke which would offer better situational awareness for the driver. The tech exists to do it and there shouldn’t be much of a barrier to implementation, but they have stuck with 1:1 (camera:output) feeds through several design iterations, to include the latest Delta renders. It’s “functional enough”, but clearly not optimized and the reasons for settling there when there is an obsessive design intent in pursuit of perfection in other areas are murky at best.
Another would be the apparent dropping of multi-function scroll/click wheels on the yoke itself in favor of simple up/down volume buttons and a dedicated button for the horn (???). I realize that I am a use case of one, but I enjoy music in my car and especially on long trips so one of my most-used human interfaces is the next/previous track switch on my steering wheel. Moreso even than the volume controls which tend to be set at a level and left there for hours. If I’m going to be stuck with reaching over to the main panel (and taking my eyes off the road) every time I want to skip a track (which happens pretty frequently if the streaming music algorithm isn’t in tune with my mood of the day) then that’s going to be a pretty big non-starter for me. Could I “learn to code” and replace the yoke under right to repair? Sure, but reprogramming the main panel to accept inputs from new controls that themselves may have to be custom wired into an available or additional microcontroller is not really where I want to be when those upgrades (read: fixes) are likely to be wiped out or require re-engineering after the next software/firmware update
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I agree that taking my eyes off the road to adjust the audio program is dangerous and avoidable. Something is wrong with a design process that results in just 2 little scroll wheels on the steering. There’s not a car on the road these days with so little tactile input. Someone is designing this whilst sitting at a desk, not negotiating amongst tractor-trailers.
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The problem isn’t the scroll wheels, it is that the scroll wheels are now apparently gone in favor of even more limited hands-on-wheel function. Scrolls that could be used for multiple functions would be superior to horn and volume control on the wheel with whatever functions cannot be tied to the stalk (which it also sounds like they are trying to do away with) forced onto the infotainment display.
If I’m reading the design progression wrong then great, but the impression is that things are moving the wrong direction with regards to human interface.
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John, the joke (Scandinavian, pronounced “yoke”) only has two buttons: the right one is the horn and the left one is volume up/down according to Jason Hill. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK6r9fhOqco starting at 21:30.
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That center console is fugly. There is no way those bungee cords are going to hold a big gulp or too heavy water bottle, the modular design makes me sad just looking at it. Seriously. I said it before. It looks like one of the designers kids came up with the design and they didn’t want to hurt their feelings and went with it. Or. They measured wrong 3 times and said oh F and made another section and said. Oh F I didn’t it again and came up with another section
Why make it modular ? That’s just silly. If you take one out. You now have holes that have to be patched or covered.
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The designer has lost all credibility now. Aptera should can him NOW! Form over function. Aptera, you’ve laid off many likely talented individuals; this overpaid fool, Jason Hill, must go, NOW.
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Lord, forgive him for he knows not what he’s talking about.
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As much as I abhorrently hate this dollar store cheap looking center-console-cum-bungee- strings “cup holders”…give Jason H some slack. It isn’t the EOTW (yet). I believe (and heard) that it will definitely be revised. Nothing to lose sleep over with.
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If you take a look at one of the latest Aptera videos with Jason Hill he specifically says that the current center console design will not be included in the Delta (or the production) Aptera design.
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I wonder if they’ll put the horn on the touch screen. Nothing distracting there
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The right button on the yoke is the horn.
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Remember every investment dollar goes to paying guys like Jason to design that monstrosity of a center console. Feel cheated yet ?
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No.
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Not sure what your talking about. Final iteration of center console has not been shown yet. Its already established that the console will be drastically evolved. As for Jason Hill, we are very fortunate to be able to use his talents.
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This reply was modified 5 months, 1 week ago by John Voules.
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This reply was modified 5 months, 1 week ago by
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Forgive me if I missed this but Isn’t Jason also responsible for a lot of the body design? Which I must point out is gorgeous. I agree that the center console is a swing and a miss but we don’t even know what the final console will look like. It’s a process of development. cut him some slack. You don’t have to buy it.
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The console “clashes” with the rest of the interior. (I think clash is the word designers use.) The interior of Aptera follows the “ethos” of minimalism, having a clean look with few lines. The console is “busy” with many components and many lines, with some lines even at a diagonal angle. A single piece console with clean lines would be my preference.
While I do not like the console, I believe Jason has done an absolutely fantastic design with the vehicle exterior! I normally do not like curved lines. I like straight lines and right angles. However, I very much like the exterior with its curves. Anyone who creates curves that I like, is talented.
