Myths Debunked: Aptera fact or fiction

[Shawgrin]

I liked the video and I think we need more of these from the EV industry. This type of information brings more of the middle of the road people onto the EV side from the ICE.

[Biker]

Second, in what I assume will become a series:

Aptera Myths Debunked — Episode 2 – YouTube

[Biker]

Took a while for this one:>https://youtu.be/8HVWocgWJq4

[john-malcom]

Thanks for making sure this is posted on the forum so available to everyone.

I am glad Aptera made the effort to address these issues officially. Good to see Aptera using the Tesla side of the super charger (Not the CCS1 side with an adaptor) and not having to park in an adjacent spot for the cable to reach. Now need to have the specifics of charging at a Tesla charger not just how to plug in. Reaffirmed wrap. (I am ok with that) good to know they are testing a number of products to find the one with the most durability. I live in FL so never concerned about the miles per day from charging from the sun. Did not address the elephant in the room, availability of an optional wheel. I am also OK with the yoke.

[Mike-Mars]

Putting my pedantic hat on, they didn’t explicitly show that it could charge from the Tesla cable, just that the cable was long enough to reach.

I certainly hope that is the case though (would be a really odd thing to demonstrate if they couldn’t charge). Hopefully they will state/announce that they have now got an agreement with Tesla on this point.

Previous statements have been cagey, the website still says this : “.. so if Tesla agrees to open their network up to Aptera owners, your Launch Edition vehicle will be ready to go.”

[Biker]

The Alpha prototypes don’t have DCFC so they couldn’t charge at Tesla Supercharger stations. They were only showing that the cable could reach. The ability to charge and perhaps do it automatically, like Teslas, is probably way down the road.

[wingsounds13]

Do note that she said “select supercharger locations”, so only superchargers that have been opened up to charging non-Tesla vehicles. They clearly expect to not be treated as a Tesla in the Tesla charging network even though they are using the Tesla (oops: NACS) connector. I also noticed that he did angle the back end of the Aptera a bit to the left, towards the dispenser. The charge cable did fit easily, but I might shift the back end a bit closer yet, there’s plenty of room to do so.

[BigSky]

I caught that too. It will be interesting to see how this works because I am imagining the “magic dock” for the Non-Teslas to come with the CCS1. Will we, then, need to use a CCS1 to Tesla adapter? That would be a shame to have to play Legos just to charge there

• This reply was modified 7 months, 3 weeks ago by  BigSky Country.

[kerbe2705]

As others have said, so say I:

In the section about using Tesla chargers, Quincy states, “You’ll have access to select Supercharger stations”, which implies the “select” v3 & v4 locations that are equipped with the MagicDock CCS adaptor. We then see Chris M plugging a Supercharger cable directly into an Aptera Alpha prototype – before the camera cuts to a sign stating, “Tesla Vehicle Charging Only”.

Unless Aptera enters into an agreement with Tesla to enable Aptera to be recognized as a Tesla vehicle by Superchargers – or Tesla adds an option to its app to allow Aptera access – the only way to charge an Aptera at a Supercharger will be to use the Tesla app to activate and release a MagicDock adaptor and then inserting a CCS-to-NACS adapter into the Aptera. So that’s a NACS connector inserted into a NACS-to-CCS adapter inserted into a CCS-to-NACS adapter inserted into the Aptera’s NACS port. Is it just me or does this seem a bit too “Rube Goldberg/Heath Robinson” for prime-time?

[Jeff]

One does wonder what communication, if any, there’s been between Aptera and Tesla about potential access to the Supercharger network.

With as unprofessional and mercurial as Elon can be in running Tesla, it wouldn’t surprise me if they haven’t responded to any overtures from Aptera at all.

[john-malcom]

Agreed! I doubt that Elon himself knows Aptera exists. Tesla time is spent strategizing on their competitors and how to improve market share and margin on their own products.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 3 weeks ago by  John Malcom. Reason: Corrected spelling
• This reply was modified 7 months, 3 weeks ago by  John Malcom.

[kerbe2705]

@john-malcom Apparently, at one point, Elon tweeted that Aptera was, “Cool”.

[john-malcom]

Really! Surprising

[curtis-cibinel]

Managed to find the tweet. It was in reaction to the Aptera petition to standardize the the industry on the Tesla connector (before it was called NACS). It is unclear if Elon knows much about Aptera as a vehicle and even if he did some personal research I doubt he would ever comment publicly.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1547252254326935552

Cool

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2022

[Mike-Mars]

In the recent 3andB factory tour video (Friday?), Chris M is talking about the port, and it is clear that permission has not yet been granted by Tesla to use the NACS cable.

Incidentally, the upcoming V4 (CCS) superchargers have increased the cable length by about 50%.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 3 weeks ago by  Michael Marsden.

[kerbe2705]

@michael-marsden Actually, ANYONE can use the NACS connector (or “cable”, as you wrote) – what Aptera CAN’T do is access the Supercharger network. But anyone can use a Tesla Destination (L2) charger or a Tesla Wall Connector or Tesla Mobile Connector – even though they might require a NACS-to-J1772 adapter.

[Mike-Mars]

I got into the habit of using that terminology when the CCS1 enabled superchargers were rumoured to have two cables, one with a CCS connector, and one with a NACS connector. However the actual design changed to use the magic dock adaptor, but I’m still stuck on the original.

[curtis-cibinel]

Chris seems to be of the opinion that based on Tesla’s public statements Aptera should end up with full access. Regardless also nice to see official confirmation that CCS adapters will work. That said I do think he is taking Elon’s “Cool” quote out of context – see above.

https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx1CSXWY9QE-cNxAvvq1w-8IJj3HvBDefx

[kerbe2705]

@curtis-cibinel Is that “official confirmation” or is it just a statement? The only CCS-to-NACS adapters currently available (from Tesla and Lectron) are designed specifically to fit into Tesla charging ports – they even have a stand-off post to compensate for the curved surface. I doubt that either of those adapters will work with Aptera: We may be looking at a custom-designed adapter just for Aptera…

[ROMAD]

Sounds like Aptera should buy an adapter from Lectron and borrow one from a Tesla owner then make a video showing that they actually fit the NACS port on an Aptera. Of course the problem then becomes WHICH NACS port: Alpha’s, Beta’s, Gamma’s, or the not-yet built Delta’s since there is probably different spacing between the designs.

[curtis-cibinel]

A2Z also makes one and is probably the cheapest at $190 CAD ($140 USD). Assuming the gamma license plate mechanism is the same they will ship in delta can simply physically test it but if not then some careful measurements should determine what adapters work. If not it would not be hard for them to 3d print something dimensionally accurate to check fit. Regardless of if Aptera or someone else needs to make new adapters this it is a dumb hunk of metal and plastic – it will not be difficult to design and get them made in China if needed.