Issues of concern

Aptera Community Aptera Discussions Issues of concern

Aptera Community Aptera Discussions Issues of concern

  • Issues of concern

    Posted by craig-graber on March 20, 2023 at 6:19 am

    What are the issues that concern you? I have a growing list: Battery, Wrap, Lift points, body repair ability, specialty tools, final sale price…

    WesMan replied 1 month, 2 weeks ago 21 Members · 25 Replies
  • 25 Replies
  • Issues of concern

    WesMan updated 1 month, 2 weeks ago 21 Members · 25 Replies
  • john-malcom

    Member
    March 20, 2023 at 1:33 pm

    Only two at this point. 1) Aptera gets enough investment to start production 2) Production ramps quickly. Any other than these two are moot at this point and not worth the mental cycles to worry about.

  • ROMAD

    Member
    March 20, 2023 at 5:09 pm

    1. That Aptera will go belly-up before I get my Aptera.

    2. That I will go belly-up before I get my Aptera.

  • BigSky

    Member
    March 21, 2023 at 8:22 am

    I am a bit concerned they have not applied for the ATVM loan yet. The concern to me would be that, perhaps, they are not yet confident they can make the most important case for approval which is the likelihood to repay the loan. The vehicle technology is perfect for what this administration is trying to do and I would think a lot of people want to see this succeed.

  • Pragmatic_to_a_Fault

    Member
    March 21, 2023 at 11:20 am

    Missing deadline after deadline and continual moving of the goal posts.

    1 year wait 3 year wait now a 5 year wait

    That is a major issue and concern.

    It’s always better to under promise and over deliver, not over promise and under deliver. Now they have proven they can’t be trusted.

  • mark-hardin

    Member
    March 23, 2023 at 1:04 pm

    With Aptera’s light weight , I’m concerned about traction, both forward and reverse.
    In other words:
    – slippage on icy surfaces, especially slopes
    – but mostly regarding braking on wet surfaces – and especially wondering about increased chances of hydroplaning?

  • Min

    Member
    March 25, 2023 at 5:39 am

    I’m wondering how we get service for this thing.

    Side impact protection is also another.

    The rear view mirror looks like it’s full digital? That’s a real pain. Your eyes get tired from having to chagr focal points.

    • ROMAD

      Member
      March 25, 2023 at 12:35 pm

      Service: either DIY with parts shipped direct from Aptera or a local mechanic under Aptera’s Right-to-Repair policy using documentation and/or training.

      Side Impact: Metallic beams/panels in the doors plus body design and structure.

      Rear View: Monitor at standard rear view mirror location for camera mounted at the center top of the hatch and dual monitors mounted in front of driver for left and right outside door cameras.

  • dan-spencer

    Member
    March 25, 2023 at 6:11 am

    Disclosure: I do not have a reservation, and that’s kind of my point. I’ll get to that in a minute.

    My main concern is that it may take a very long time (decades) to get to where Aptera ought to be, making solar cars for the masses. I love the concept, and I hear it’s super fun to drive, but I think too much has been sacrificed in the name of extreme efficiency. I, for example am interested, but my wife is not on board primarily due to it not having enough wheels, and only having seating for two. And we are actively looking to go electric. I personally believe that adding solar to EVs should just be standard practice, but the number of seats and wheels is going to be a deal breaker for most people.

    I think they should have gone the Tesla route. Expensive sports car (very low demand, very high profit margin) first, then a high end car (low demand, high profit margin), then the affordable cars for the masses (high demand, lower profit margin). It may take ten years until the average person can afford it, but by then they’d have made enough to build factories that can pump a million of these out every year. I think the way they are trying to work backwards is going to be riskier and a lot harder. Building at scale is the hardest part.

    Again, I love Aptera, I think the cars great. I hope they inspire all of the others to start adding solar. I just think it’s going to be a long ramp up and an even longer time until they can put out a 4-5 seat, 4 wheel vehicle that everyone will want, including myself and my wife. Just my opinion, please be kind.

  • UnidentifiedDrivingObject

    Member
    March 25, 2023 at 12:56 pm

    My #1 Concern..Aptera going belly-up (with the current banking crisis in our midst, now spreading globally..the “canary-in-the-coal mine”).

    #2 Concern…won’t matter for the time being.

  • fgSOL24

    Member
    April 4, 2023 at 6:44 pm

    In 2024 Aptera could become The Car of the Century… or it could shut down bankrupt due to lack of funding.

    Aptera still hasn’t been able to raise a measly $150M in institutional capital or better yet, in nondilutive government loans to start production.

    Retail investors and reservation holders alike, all loyal supporters for years, deserve an update on Aptera’s funding victories and losses to date.

    Yes, congrats on the $22M California grant recently awarded and yes, congrats on decent success with the Accelerator Program. But neither one will get Aptera to production.

  • jakob-bogenberger

    Member
    April 16, 2023 at 9:30 am

    My main concern is the width and with accelerator program I am anyhow much later in line compared when I made my deposit. So I can wait for reports of the first owners in real life experiences. Aptera is apparently fixed on 3 wheel design but I found that car design https://www.riversimple.com/ which is a 4 wheel design reminiscent to Aptera with in wheel motors and composite lightweight construction but smaller dimensions than aptera. I have not seen how much drag this design has. The main problem with that car is it is based on Hydrogen and I would prefer solar and batteries but will Aptera ever consider a 4 wheel design with small penalty in efficiency but much higher utility in urban life?

    • wingsounds13gmail-com

      Member
      April 17, 2023 at 7:00 pm

      My question is: would you rather have a lower Serial Number (VIN) or would you rather take delivery of your Aptera months earlier than you would if they didn’t have the Accelerator program (but have a VIN some 2000 higher number)?

      • glenn-zajic

        Member
        April 18, 2023 at 2:22 am

        They need accelerator funds to start production. If they already had enough funds then they would not have done the accelerator program. The program will enable them to start production sooner, not delay your delivery.

        • wingsounds13

          Member
          April 18, 2023 at 12:44 pm

          Yep, exactly my point. The Accelerator program gets EVERYBODY delivered earlier and reduces the likelihood of Aptera folding even before production begins. Some people are pissed that others are jumping the line and completely ignoring this point. I get it, but think that this attitude is silly.

          • This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by  J.P. Morere. Reason: Completing the thought
  • Markus

    Member
    April 18, 2023 at 10:28 am

    My only concern is that everybody might ask me to have a ride once my Aptera will have arrived and I could not say “no” despite being in a hurry! 😂

    • ROMAD

      Member
      April 18, 2023 at 4:01 pm

      Just take them along to where ever you’re going. After that, it is up to them to get back!

  • david-marlow

    Member
    April 21, 2023 at 8:56 am

    My current concern other than when will production start, is with the new BIC. While I understand that it may be lighter even with the frame and will be a higher quality production. The body may not be as well insluated from outside temps and road noise.

    • christopher-barrett

      Member
      April 21, 2023 at 9:37 am

      I am not sure the carbon fiber will be less able to hold heat, or noise be easier to hear than steel. In any case, the way it is designed, I trust wind noise will be very low, and that suits me fine. Hearing the semi-trailer truck is ok with me. CPC knows what they are doing, and I believe Sandy Monro and the Aptera folks are building something we will be happy with. 🐬🐬🐳🐬🐬

      • john-malcom

        Member
        April 21, 2023 at 10:37 am

        Agree! I believe very strongly that Aptera engineered and will build an amazing vehicle! Until we have a chance to see/drive a production Aptera is is useless to try to project vehicle characteristics accurately based on little information on the composition of the vehicle.

  • leo-shapiro

    Member
    April 21, 2023 at 10:51 am

    1. When will they deliver their first car? At this point I could go for any other car to replace my sentra. Thinking if the base model 3 hits 35k ill jump on it. Lucky for aptera i am bad with money and need to save up another 30k over this year and maybe next year.

    2. The width of the vehicle is gonna be an issue on roads, parking, and just general driving. How good of a driver do I have to be to avoid hitting stuff meant for regular cars?

    3. What the heck is the actual price and range going to be? At this point their customization and estimates are just props. They need to sell and deliver a single vehicle before I can take any of this seriously.

    • NapalmCricket

      Member
      April 21, 2023 at 12:53 pm

      The best guess as to when they will deliver their first car is sometime in 2024, assuming they find financing. There are rumors that they have some deals in progress, but nothing solid yet (probably NDAs on all the deals in progress). The accelerator program has supposedly helped a lot with getting some long lead time equipment ordered.

      The width is about the same a pretty average pickup truck, I wouldn’t expect you to need to be a particularly good driver to avoid hitting curbs etc. There are quite a large number of astounding bad drivers with pickup trucks.

      Price range is undecided, I am working under the assumption that final pricing will be similar to the estimates given on the configuration screen. I suspect they would have updated that if it looked like it was going to be different

    • Greek

      Member
      April 21, 2023 at 1:02 pm

      Number 2, yes this vehicle is wider than most anything else out there, with the exception of some suvs and trucks. Typically the larger the vehicle the slower you would travel to find your comfort zone…eventually it will be like the back of your hand until your learning curve has adjusted.

    • ROMAD

      Member
      April 21, 2023 at 7:23 pm

      The width is about 2″ wider than an F-150 without mirrors – with mirrors the F-150 is wider.

      • Greek

        Member
        April 21, 2023 at 8:16 pm

        A bit heavier too😛

  • WesMan

    Member
    April 22, 2023 at 7:20 am

    My only concern is the average person’s perception of reality.


    Everyone needs this car. But I don’t think most people will take a serious look at Aptera until they have more than two seats.

    I also struggle with reality. I want to own only one car, but sometimes we need two cars. I guess time will tell if I end up buying two original Aptera, or if I can hold out for Aptera’s second model.

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