What Options Would You Want? (2)

[luis-rosello]

I would like to forego the center control touchscreen for actual analog controls. I don’t see a fragile touchscreen on a moving vehicle as an “advancement” from the controls we’ve had in vehicles for decades. If anything, it’s a liability for losing all controls of the vehicle by the failure of one component, and second, it forces the driver to take his eyes off the road to operate. Analog controls can be actuated by simple tactile feedback, which is not broken or obsolete by any means. If anything, maybe enabling voice control is a much better option for a vehicle, but as it’s already been documented on Teslas, loosing the center touchscreen equates to a disabled vehicle.

[lance-doyle]

I have been through the full list and there are some good ideas and some not practical ones. I have been through many product developments and what I have seen in the videos is very encouraging, especially the production process. That said, there are some features are a must. Some sort of spare tire, I have only had one flat in the last 35 years – no cell coverage for miles so AAA was not an option. AC and heater if only in the seats. Eastern WA gets down to 0 and up to 110+ so both are needed. Anti-glare screen on the monitor(s); the one in my Outback is unusable in many lighting situations. A nice touch would be a camera in the front wheel skirt(s) for parallel parking. Wireless charging isn’t hard to do or expensive (at least on spot).

[GNiessen]

It would be nice if we had a Heat Pump as an option.

[james-freedle]

Apple CarPlay is something that I want when I get my car. I do not have Android (I am in Cybersecurity) so that is not something that I would be interested in looking in a car.

[wayne.forkum]

Heated seats and a heated yoke/wheel.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 3 weeks ago by  Wayne Forkum.

[BigSky]

One pedal driving

[duane-lewis]

A standard circular steering wheel. I use a steering knob that appears to be a possible issue because the optimal placement is at the 10 o’clock position.

[robin-grnberg]

I’m about to invest to join the accelerate Aptera program. But the heated seats is a dealbreaker if it’s not included in the LE. What if I invest and heated seats aren’t included? Will I have to wait 1-2 years for my Aptera?

[Biker]

Unless and until Aptera confirms availability of the configuration you want, there’s no incentive to join the Accelerator program – unless you simply want to invest in the company.

[tom-friend]

Auto-Android is essential for me. I need music & nav in my cars, this is the best way to do it.

[john-young]

Heated seats by far. This should be standard in every EV now. Fantasy pick is ability to hook up external solar panels.

[larry-kaiser]

A 12V outlet!!!!

[robert-tran]

The ability to use external solar panel like 500w or 1kw to add additional 30-50miles/day of range on top of the 40miles.

[gregory-neff]

I would like to be able to purchase this also. It would be very helpful for camping.

[UnidentifiedDrivingObject]

Front & Rear Transparent Wheel Pant Housing (except the Amber strip area and fore/aft foam tips). To show (off or how dirty lol) the Aptera rims/Elaphe hub motors. It can also visually help, for ease of tire puncture and/or thread inspections.

[steven-g-bueche]

Those would be a cool idea. I might make mine. The back might need a horizontal piece to clean up the back so you can continue the main body lines. The sides still remaining clear for the suspension exposure. Good for only dry clean days or Expose’s.

Nice incentive to upgrade the rims as well.

[UnidentifiedDrivingObject]

Yeah. I saw this transparent wheel pant concept, similar to its 2 wheel street ICE brethren Naked Bikes visual effect (exposed motorcycle engines).

Picture it, strutting those compact, efficient and hi tech electric Elaphe wheel hub motors, that propels our unique Apteras, to your local Tesla Supercharger spots. Or just on the streets at traffic intersections, waiting for the green light, next to Teslas or other EVs. Let them gawk thru those transparent wheel pants, displaying those unique Elaphes. Not only it would be a cool EV conversational piece while at Tesla charging stations (surprisingly many in r/electricvehicles sub over at Reddit, are actually unaware of what an Elaphe hub motor is, or such a EV motor even exists), but also a good Aptera marketing tool as well.

Same here, I can swap the stock Aptera rims, for lighter aftermarkets (with correct wheel offsets), or if I keep it, have it refinish in matte black (seen thru the transparent wheel pants).

[Nuugle42]

Transparent covers as an option would be very, very cool. Since we will be showing tons of people everything about our Apterae, it would be very “educational” also. Great idea !!

[Myk]

Something I’d like is a fold-up or sliding extension to the cargo bed with the seats folded forward. 70″ is not enough space for those of over 6″ to lie down comfortably, and my wife and I would love to able to go for a round Australia trip with minimal camping gear in our Aptera after we retire.

[patrick-phelan]

Radiant cooling paint: https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/05/beating-the-heat-these-plant-based-iridescent-films-stay-cool-in-the-sun

That’s newer tech, but there’s similar stuff YouTubers have made at home.

In keeping with Aptera’s avoiding a paint shop, it’s not actually paint, and possibly could be mixed into the bottom of the solar panel laminate stack, and cool the panels down by radiating infrared at a frequency not absorbed by the atmosphere. Perhaps it could turn a negative (the car isn’t entirely covered in solar panels) into a positive (the entire shell of the car works to cool the solar panels).

[michael-n]

I understand that the regulations require some noise to be made by EV’s while driving under a certain speed . Does that apply to auto cycles as well ? If so, I would like to at least have access to turn off that feature, or have options to how loud or what kind of noise to generate. I like silence.

[ImAlwaysMIA]

EVs produce that sound for pedestrian safety supposedly and regardless of whether it works or not it’s an EPA mandate and the EPA has recenrly become particularly zealous in enforcing their rules. We’re talking both civil and criminal litigation. Cobb tuning and flyin’ miata both dropped entire product lines and existing customer support almost overnight when the EPA came knocking. If the Aptera is required to make a noise then it will be making a noise and there will be no way to disable it.

[david-tiemeyer]

The 2018 NHTSA sound rule regarding slow and reverse vehicular movement does not apply to either ICE or EV motorcycles. It is unclear if autocycles get a pass. However, for other light duty Hybrids and EV vehicles the rules governing the minimum sound are rather technical requiring the overlap of at least 4 of the 13 possible 1/3 octave intervals between 355 Hz and 5,000 Hz at volume levels above 55 dB.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/12/14/2016-28804/federal-motor-vehicle-safety-standards-minimum-sound-requirements-for-hybrid-and-electric-vehicles

[craig-taylor]

More of an accessory/support request: I’d like to see specs or technical guidance on constructing a home/residence based, stand-alone, solar-powered charging station.

Apologies if already addressed.

[james-s.]

As my new Aptera will get a lot of attention around my area, there will also be some unwanted attention as well. I would like to see some sort of Anti-Theft device or protection program installed. Something that might connect to a phone or internet, maybe a kill switch, or tracking device. If you want to think futuristic, how about an Iris scanner or face analyzer software. Anything that would detour someone, at least a little bit, from thinking about stealing is a win for the owner. In today’s society, nothing is really safe anymore so, some type of security would be something to take into consideration. I’d hate to wake up in the morning and find my Aptera missing. That would be a bad day.

[tom-friend]

I would like a clear rear hatch to replace the solar one. I’m happy to buy it later, and do my own install. I’m certain that there are plugs on the solar hatch wires to disconnect it.

[ROMAD]

Or you could just order an Aptera without the solar hatch which will save you money.

[scott-ullerich]

For security hopefully it will have PIN to drive like Tesla.

[gregory-neff]

I would like to have the option of adding a trailer-hitch to pull a motorcycle trailer weighing 260 pounds which is the only way I can think of to carry our two trikes along to RAGBRAI or national parks where cars are not allowed.

Also, I would like the option of buying a third passenger seat kit, possibly to go between the two current seats, making a bench seat when needed. If Aptera could look into this quickly they could get a 3 person (dummy) version tested during the upcoming crash tests or at least model it in computer crash simulations. I am a retired PE and former engineering technology professor.

[Mike-Mars]

Regarding the third seat, if it was placed behind the driver, I believe that this cannot be accommodated in the current design (IIRC the motor controllers and inverters take up that space under the deck currently?). It would need some significant adjustments, so maybe a subsequent variant (also, if they are putting in a third, why not add a 4th at the same time? The L5e-A regulations permit up to 5 in total, although it might be difficult to house that many people inside a Morelli shape of reasonable size. Not sure about the autocycle regulations).

Not sure whether there’s enough width to allow for a bench seat in the front? The driver will need enough room to operate the vehicle, and therefore can’t be pushed up against the window.

Regarding towing, be aware that the range would drop by a factor of 2 or 3 at highway speeds due to aerodynamics. It would probably be fine for short trips or urban driving speeds.

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

[993cc]

Pet Mode so I can leave Doggo in the vehicle without being reported to the SPCA.

[jon-kramer]

Custom wraps, like a Star Trek shuttle craft.
Heat pumps for summer and winter use.
Security cameras for all around recording while parked and while driving.
Plugs for external solar.
Inverters for camp kitchens.
Some form of trailer hitch so I can run to Home Depot for lumber.

[D2E]

Oh yeah. This is good.

[Robert]

Reading Sat/Sun June 10/11 Wall Street Journal Exchange Christopher Mims “Why America Isn’t Ready for the EV Takeover” he mentions having difficulty shutting down and restarting the Lucid Air’s infotainment system in order to regain functionality. As most of us know a power cycle and reboot can cure a myriad of problems. I have not seen any such button on the Aptera. In fact there seems to be lack of such important and convenient items in this vehicle perhaps because of aesthetics. That is unfortunate. Please consider a power on/off button for the infotainment system.

Thank you,

Robert Keith Harrigan

[john-malcom]

The Aptera will have very limited haptic buttons. Most of the controls to include climate control, are located on the central display. Much like Tesla does. The reason is not for aesthetics, but for efficiency. Adding/deleting/changing controls is faster, cheaper, and much easier if implemented in SW

Tesla is the bestselling car in the world, with their soft buttons on a central screen received very well (Obviously) so Aptera is using a design that is very popular.