Rear Hatch view and info

[ryan-dowd]

Am I seeing this correctly- If you choose the rear panel solar option, you lose visibility from the rear of the car? Please let me know if I am misunderstanding. Thank you.

[Roshiyu]

As far as I know, that’s correct. However, the ‘rear view mirror’ is actually a camera view of what’s behind you.

[OZ.]

Indeed, with rear solar, the rear window is obscured. the vehicle is planned with a rear view camera, IIRC for all variations, I’m not sure I recall if they plan a standard interior mirror at all

[glenn-zajic]

I too am concerned about this visibility issue and will not make any decision on this until I have put my butt in the seat of both with and without full solar. I have mentioned before that if they would install a port for alternative charging in or near the rear deck then I would prefer to see out the back and have a small roll-up solar panel sitting on the deck. There are other things I have not made up my mind about too. I will delay many decisions until we have more answers and can view all models in person.

[henry-kitt]

The solar over the rear glass looks much better. That is a huge piece of glass that looks a bit weird with nothing on it. Visibility should be better with cameras, it’s a more direct view behind the car. With mirrors your view is from a further distance, plus with a wide angle lens you get a broad unobstructed viewing angle. Add on to that the 2 side view cameras. Then the increased privacy and additional miles a day of charge. Full solar please!

[noah-blumenthal]

I’m all for the full solar. My wife gets claustrophobic. Also our current vehicle has a pretty massive sunroof. The light gives a wonderful, airy, spacious feel. So we will wait and sit inside to decide. Either way, giddy with anticipation.

[sean-poulson]

So, I’m conflicted about having a clear hatch or a solar hatch. There are pros and cons to each. I’m interested to know what other people are planning and why.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by  John Trotter. Reason: Expanded title for clarity
• This reply was modified 7 months, 3 weeks ago by  Gabriel Kemeny.

[kerbe2705]

I keep my vehicles garaged when not in use so will have only basic solar – good for an extra 16 miles of range if I should happen to leave it outdoors on a sunny day.

I will most likely have an IR-reflective film applied to the hatch and the fixed upper windows in the doors. https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b00016683/

[len]

I am in Solar zone 8 ( AZ ) do full solar for me! Even though I have a net + home thanks to PV solar roof panels….

Garaged at night.

The fact that the Aptera 700w Solar array will charge anytime it is under the AZ sun ( Except possibly on a rapid DC charger) ????speaks to me..

I drive a vehicle now with an obscured rear window so only use the vehicle’s side view mirrors and back up camera… So Aptera Full solar will be the same deal …except video side viewing and rear viewing. Which could ne brighter for my okd eyes

I rarely drive at night

I even avoid driving in the rain, which is mostly seasonal here.

I will add a window tint, like all our vehicles, to at least the top half of the door windows

Everyone has their own considerations

[john-malcom]

I am not as fortunate as Len. I live in FL in area “4” so I want the full solar to get the biggest free bang for the buck. I also want that large window space covered to reduce the IR heating of the vehicle. I could do that with film as well but it would not be as efficient nor would it do double duty (Generate charge)

I leave the cost component out in my case because of utility (For me) of the feature is VERY high. If you include cost as one of your factors, then you need to make sure the extra 900 for full soar is worth it to you (Or the lessor cost of standard + the hatch $600 – perhaps the overall best option)

On the snitty side, I currently have a Tesla Model 3 as does my neighbor. We are pretty competitive on a lot of things in fun of course. I want to be able to rub his nose in it when I don’t have to plug in to charge and he does for our daily commutes????

[Scott]

Yes, it is an interesting trade-off, Sean. Although there are certainly benefits to getting the solar hatch (as mentioned by our fellow fans here), I am choosing the roof/dash/hood combination without the solar hatch. Reasons:

1) The car is already incredibly efficient, and getting the roof/dash/hood solar panels will still achieve a good chunk of the “trickle charge” goal.

2) I already have solar panels on my home which significantly exceed 100% of our home’s entire energy needs, with excess power generation intended to be fed to an EV.

3) I do not want to feel like I am driving a darkened coffin down the road. ????

4) I appreciate good field of view in a car. The current lateral/door windows already have unfortunate field of view blockage through the middle of the windows. Personally, I will frequently do a quick reality check head turn to see behind me in my current cars that have backup cameras, in addition to using the cameras (and their specific usage being situation dependent). Direct view is easy, reliable, adaptable, and quicker than some limitations (glare on display, grime on lens covering, preset angle and perspective, etc.) of being 100% reliant upon the display and fixed optics of rear view cameras.

The solar hatch is a good option and just depends on your personal priorities. I prefer a car that optimizes for a great all around experience over just going for the highest specs / numerical results. Have fun deciding!

[JRWiley]

So, I’m still trying to decide what I would prefer on the hatch, even though I reserved a car with full solar, including the hatch. The reason for the choice was that I am a violinist and almost always travel with one or more instruments that need protection from direct sun and excessive heat, The support team suggested my best option would be solar panels on the hatch to shade the interior. I would agree, but I would like to occasionally be able to view to the rear, directly. I wonder if there could be a compromise option, like only half of the hatch obscured with solar cells, but still be able to see a little out the back. I really only need to be able to keep the instrument(s) from the direct sunlight.

[p-m]

I reserved a solar hatch in case one of us ends up with a longer daily commute, but I have concerns because I wear reading glasses: when I direct my eyes from looking forward to looking in the rear view display, I will have to focus closer. This is workable with the main display and side displays, as I wear my reading glasses low on my nose when driving, and look over the lenses when looking out the windows. However, I think I’d have to tilt my head pretty far back to glance at the rear view display. I don’t know how workable or safe this head tilting will be. I have an after-market backup camera LCD display on my current mirror, and I can’t see it without my reading glasses.

If I don’t find a good solution, I may have to forgo the solar hatch. This would be a shame. When the sun is lower, I like the idea that i can raise the rear hatch and catch more sun rays at a camp site.

[Riley]

You can reposition the rear view screen to on top of the main display. May be a bit DIY but it could satisfy all your needs.

[dean-mcmanis]

I really want to see how the Aptera feels with the rear window blocked with the solar panels. I pre-ordered the full Never Charge solar package, but I do worry a bit that I will miss having the rear glass window view. Maybe it will be fine. Currently, I do rely mostly on my rear backup camera and side mirrors. Still, I would like the option to choose a flat solar mat in the back storage area instead of the solar covered hatchback panel. No doubt it would not be as good at producing electricity as the full solar rear hatch, but it might be good enough.

[randy-j]

Great discussion here. I don’t know which way to go but I do like your solar mat idea ” Still, I would like the option to choose a flat solar mat in the back
storage area instead of the solar covered hatchback panel. No doubt it
would not be as good at producing electricity as the full solar rear
hatch, but it might be good enough.” And I think someone suggested adding a way to plug in an external solar source…. as it sits in my driveway… until I the day I eventually install home solar.

[berri-jam]

I’m more concerned whether FMVSS federal safety standards will allow the solar hatch to block a rear view mirror see through. Can you buy a car/vehicle with such a blockage and also without side view mirrors? Even Tesla has complained of those side view mirrors they have to install, so how will Aptera get away from the same FMVSS requirment? Other than that, I’m for the solar hatch because it also gives the privacy as well as shade from sun. I have a hatch back and you always have to have a cover installed otherwise thieves look to see what’s in the trunk.

[Biker]

Aptera may want to meet the regs for marketing purposes, but, as an autocyle, they don’t have to.

[Jim-Pace]

I’ve decided to not get the solar back hatch for the following reasons:

• I have a nice garage, and live in country with snow on the ground for 6 months of the year.
• Cheaper
• Visibility improves without the solar hatch. At lease I guess it would improve.

If I really want maximum solar gain in addition to my hood, roof and dash panels, I’m guessing a V2V plug would take a charge from panels mounted on a trailer, with a cost of about the same as the solar hatch. I have the perfect trailer already to haul my canoes and kayaks.

What am I missing here?

If I lived in an apartment without a garage, you bet, I’d pay for the solar hatch.

[llewellyn-evans]

I park my car outside because the garage is set up as a workshop.

The car will be in full sun all day with no obstructions.

Not having a rear window scares me a little because of backing over stuff in car parks but I probably would not see much out of it anyway because I am short. I will have the solar panels and reversing camera.

[Titus]

In my usecase I would park the Aptera in zone 1/2. So I opt for the full solar hatch to harvest as much sun as possible. Plus, my Labrador joins me most of the time and I do not know how quick the car is overheating (can not leave the dog alone in the car for a minute then) – so some shade is welcome if not provided by a blind or divider.

On the other hand I guess I will feel uncomfortable driving without a rear window. I feel like I need that daylight and rear view. It turns out that both options have disadvantages.

So, if Aptera could think of a somewhat different or additional compromise approach for the solar hatch it would be super.

Maybe solar cells could be mounted partly onto the glass, leaving four diamond shaped cells out and let the sun shine past the edges or adding a solar mat as an option.

[mark-steinback]

Does anyone know if the feed for the center (mirror) rear view camera is from the backup license plate camera or a separate rear view camera on the roof? I think the low angle of the backup camera would be very limited for traffic behind you.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by  Norman Roberts.
• This reply was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by  Norman Roberts.
• This reply was modified 7 months, 3 weeks ago by  Gabriel Kemeny.

[OZ.]

Although not completely verified by Aptera yet (IIRC) It appears that the rear view mirror camera will be at the top of the rear hatch, and the backup camera was shown in the vertical portion of the rear fin below the license plate.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 4 weeks ago by  OZ (It's OZ, Just OZ).
• This reply was modified 7 months, 3 weeks ago by  Gabriel Kemeny.

[glenn-zajic]

‘Tis my understanding that the rear view mirror (camera) is fed by a high mounted camera in the rear top of the hatch window, whether it has solar or not. The back-up camera feed is mounted lower on the body.

[len]

Someone said it is high up on the hatch.

I have this picture I took in June , there seems to be something below the license plate too(?) Hard to assess the top of the hatch on the Sol given flush finish

Could back up view be different be different than the rear view?

Who knows what the production intent vehicle will bring!

[travis-fisher]

I’m curious how much of a safety issue covering the rear hatch with solar might be. I’m excited about getting as much solar charging as I can but not at the expense of safety.

[joshua-rosen]

The rear view “mirror” is camera based it’s not an actual mirror. The visibility should be better than in cars with conventional mirrors.

[kerbe2705]

@Travis Fisher What @Joshua Rosen said and to add that the combination of the roof-level cam for the rearview screen and the two side cams will give unparalleled rear vision. Also, there’s a cam below the license plate to provide the low view required when reversing.

There are many vans and trucks on the roads that don’t have rear windows AND don’t have camera systems: THOSE I would consider to be safety hazards!

[ROMAD]

So there are 4 cameras, but what about the screen? Will you be able to have multiple feeds from the cameras when reversing? Or will you have to cycle through each camera one at a time? The latter would be worse than the standard 3 mirrors use in cars now, as I can quickly scan them without switching camera feeds.

[kerbe2705]

This should be worth 1K words…