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Add-ons, accessories, customization
updated 1 hour, 36 minutes ago 27 Members · 45 Posts -
Perhaps the Aptera is an opportunity for invention of many automotive aids specially designed to the Aptera uniqueness. Perhaps steering yoke covers will be invented. Perhaps lights. Perhaps this is an opportunity for a young entrepreneur.
What are some modification kits and aids that could (and perhaps should) be invented for the Aptera?
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Halloween mask covers for the yoke?
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I’d like a steering wheel to replace the yoke or an upper part of the wheel to modify the yoke to be a wheel.
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Looking forward to Peter J making his bubble doors. I’ll happily lose the ability to roll down the tiny window in exchange for simplicity and a great view out.
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How about a weathertech quality rear deck mat with built in solar. Many might not want the rear window blocked continuously if they could get just a little less solar from a mat.
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Good idea in theory. How do you prevent the load from cracking your solar cells?
How about a sheet of cells that would suction themselves to the underside of the glass?
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With the right solar cell “encapsulation” (material and technique), it is certainly possible to keep cells from cracking.
I do like your idea on the “sheet of cells that would suction themselves to the underside of the glass”! Hook and loop would, I would imagine, also work.
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Looks like the centre console is ripe for “pop-fastener” interchangeable accessories 👍🏻
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Will Aptera be licensing 3rd parties for customizing the Aptera? If so, Is there a list of companies who are planning 3rd party add-ones? Does anyone have ideas of things they would like to see offered to customize their vehicle? Personally, I think some type of wood graining kit for accents on the dash or interior doors would look nice. I’d also like to see a removable (or hide away) panel that could go between the seats and cargo area to help retain heat and cooling in the passenger area and save on the battery.
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Just watched the webinar and, as a shareholder, gladly switched to the Launch Edition.
I’m reopening this thread as a general conversation / wishlist place for after market add-ons, specifically in relation to the Launch Edition.
Starting the ball rolling: heated seats.
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Steering wheel, move rear view screens to rear-view-esque areas, split window delete or modify options. Adding solar capacity?
I will be doing some or all of these changes myself whether or not they are offered in the aftermarket.
I am exploring a full interface conversion to make the dash and controls look and feel somewhat like 1970’s era Riva speedboats, but of course tuned to suit the appearance of the airbag and so forth. Pending reverse-engineering the Aptera, I expect to use Linux controllers interfaced with Aptera’s native system. The idea would be to make this change while lowering power consumption and total weight, but failing that at least no sacrifices should be made.
I will almost certainly be doing a sound system delete.
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Doors/windows that do not block outside view (see Peter J’s ideas elsewhere in forum)
Steering wheel (to replace yoke)
Paint (to replace wrap)
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It doesn’t have heated seats? Oof.
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It’s possible I’m mistaken but that was what I gathered.
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Aptera originally said there would be heated seats though that has not been re-confirmed or announced as a definite feature since Gamma/Delta. This might indicate that the feature did not make it into final production, but it would be good to positively confirm with them either way.
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Aftermarket heated seats?? No dongle to plug one in?? No heated steering? I’m in Chicago. C’mon!
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Agreed. Even a simple 12v (cigarette lighter) port would allow easy aftermarket seat covers. Want me to put in another $10k and handle the transport/import/localization myself they gotta make it still viable. Maybe they will get $20 million from California and nearby but they are making the vehicle a non-starter for many by removing a very simple feature.
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I always thought aftermarket meant other companies providing products. My request would be Weather Tech floor mats and rear storage mats.
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I believe that is what it means. I’m hoping some clever company can figure out how to install heated seats.
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@Noah Blumenthal Aptera has long said that the vehicle WILL have heated seats – what they weren’t sure about was a heated steering wheel. If you look closely at the renderings you can see heated seat icons along the bottom of the center screen.
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My aftermarket accessory wish list includes:
A soft curtain/net to hang from the overhead clips in order to separate the cabin from the cargo area.
A cargo cover for those whose rear hatch will be a window and NOT a solar panel.
A Qi-charging pad for the phone rest.
A clip that attaches under the armrest to hold sunglasses out-of-view.
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> “A soft curtain/net to hang from the overhead clips in order to separate the cabin from the cargo area.”
Would be better if it was strong enough to stop luggage/debris/etc entering the cabin area in an accident.
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A foldable solid cabin divider to help in heating and cooling the passenger area.
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A long Sun Visor Extender, to shade the sun shining thru the fixed, non lowering curved top window door glass.
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I once had a car with slide-out visor extenders, and it was nice. Neither my Leaf nor i3 have it. So I bought a legal size mailer envelope and slide it over the existing visor. That works great, but then the visor can’t be stowed in the up position, so I remove the envelope and stash it between the seat and the console. That’s a nuisance, and arguable a dangerous distraction while driving. I see there are pretty good aftermarket kits, so unless Aptera’s visors won’t accept them, I wouldn’t bug Aptera for this.
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Tinting will help there, James.
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Right Dennis. I’ve suggested the tinting route as well, in some old thread. I’m thinking in dark reflective mirror tint, to block the glare. But visibility thru the door glass windows is somewhat limited as it is, esp with that thick door window frame is right smack at your eye sight level (at all times; mildly annoying tbh), I tend to lean with no tints at all (easier to drive at night). A simple retractable sliding sun visor extender, would be perfect.
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I am hoping, the rear hatch itself can be easily removed and replaced by pulling pins from the hinges on which it moves.
The reason is I want to replace it with a small windshield that would block the wind from the Homecoming Queen’s hair as she rides on a bench (rumble seat) that fits in the centered wheel well and clamps to the side of the now empty rear hatch surround.
Coupled with a way to remove power from the rear wheel and the suspension of that wheel on a special under wheel dolly, you’ve got a great parade vehicle for operation at speeds under 15mph.
You could display a banner from open door to open door and have a great parade experience for less than $500, jump-seat included.
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Don’t forget the solar panel disconnect point.
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perfection eludes us all Dennis 🙂
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But Aptera will ship no vehicle before it is perfect! (Apologies to Orson Wells)
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That’s one hell of a reach back?!?!
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I remain hopeful they retained the ‘take it apart’ with a set of hand tools philosophy. I am particularly hopeful that some of the fasteners and hinges are cleverly designed to be easy to execute but secure.
For instance the rear view camera feeding the mirror is part of the rear deck and if hard wired, it would have to be unplugged along with the solar power feed. The order of operation on removing the hinges and struts is also a question.
This what gets me about the potential for parade mode is the ability to do tank turns with the addition of a dolly. I think that would be primo fun.
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Aftermarket adaptive/directional LED fog lamps. Located at the leading edge of the front wheel pants, where the old sensors used to be on the Gamma mules (between the front upper tip of foam assembly and lower front edge of amber strip lens.
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I’m surprised and disappointed that these are not already part of the design.
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I remember seeing it, in an off road render. Surprised too that it wasn’t included in the basic design. Hopefully some enterprising aftermarket outfit would pick up the slack.
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Steering wheel with a center horn switch. Three wheel mud flaps.
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A startup currently listed on Indiegogo is developing a Bluetooth set of physical buttons and knobs to mate with Teslas.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ctrl-bar–4#/
Perhaps this could evolve into broader application including satisfying those of us Aptera fans who would like some more of those same buttons and knobs?
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Auto-dimming rear/side view camera screens if not already so.
- This reply was modified 11 hours, 42 minutes ago by
Sam Adams.
- This reply was modified 11 hours, 42 minutes ago by
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Aftermarket Volume/Subwoofer Control Knob (esp for the standard EA subwoofer) akin to an Alpine RUX-H02.
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The trouble with custom aftermarket parts is fairly simple, they have to be able to “ cross platform” to other vehicles , with apteras unique form shape etc. the only vehicle any aftermarket parts are going to fit will be aptera , that means you need to design molds , tooling etc that may only produce parts for a handful of people who want them. It’s not going to be cost effective at all for any business to invest in
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I disagree. This Aptera will be more popular than many special vehicles that have many aftermarket items. Think Corvette, Porsche, etc.
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@harry
Remember this ?
https://www.topspeed.com/cars/aptera/2008-aptera-typ-1/
Or this
It was going to be so popular
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Thanks for the trip back!
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If there’s a subwoofer delete option, an aftermarket lid could turn that spot into some nice storage space.
- This reply was modified 7 hours, 46 minutes ago by
Craig Merrow. Reason: Forgot to check off the notification box
- This reply was modified 7 hours, 46 minutes ago by
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