Winter package/Canada package

[NorthernSouler]

AFAIK, the off-road package *is* the winter package. I’ve ordered the off-road package specifically for snow and slush clearance.

I don’t know how vehicle sales work there, but I’ve never been given a choice of tires when buying a car. I *have* driven a car straight from the barge to the tire shop, though. My suspicion is that any tire choice beyond stock will be on us.

[993cc]

Ideally, a winter package would also include heated seats, heated steering…er…yoke, and a heat pump.

Also, possibly, a second set of wheels for winter tires.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by  Bob Kirchner.

[gary-mclaughlin]

That would be a dream package for meI

As for the extra wheels, I always keep my winters on a dedicated set of rims. Not only does it save money in the long run by not having to pay for seasonal changeovers, it saves your summer wheels from the wear and tear caused by the harsh winter road conditions.

[OCS12]

You and I are of the same mindset. I have three sets of wheels for my car. Summer, winter, and track. Ignoring the track tires, I’m only just now needing to replace both sets at 145,000 miles. The winter tires aren’t even worn, but the compound gets hard. Wheels are surprisingly cheap if you aren’t buying silly chrome things. Tires last a long time if used in ideal conditions.

[Fran]

With Elaphe motor’s magnets around the perimeter of the motor and your wheel being less than an inch away, will a steel wheel interfere with the motor performance, causing us to have to get aluminum/magnesium rims?

[curtis-cibinel]

• Heated seats should be coming back. They were removed for simplicity given the initial rollout to California.
• Heating the yoke would make sense for any market that gets a winter.
• Heat pumps that would work are hard to source but once they figure it out it should become standard.
• Variations are expensive so likely all of these should eventually just be standard eventually (and no software lockout sillyness)
• No point in the company adding to many options. People can buy snow tires themselves. Aptera has to many options as it is (adds complexity for manufacturing)

[993cc]

I certainly didn’t suggest that I would want a company based in San Diego to buy winter tires for me.

Given that Aptera’s wheels may be unique in offset (to accommodate the hub motors), it would be useful if Aptera could offer to include an extra set of WHEELS with the vehicle, to spare us the extra expense of shipping three wheels across the country when the first winter arrives. This is not an extra variation, just additional parts.

[klaas-stoker]

Are you really planning to drive it in the snow? I am sure it is capable, but it may not be the best idea. Four wheel vehicles have considerably better snow grip than do 2 or 3 wheeled vehicles, which is why you don’t see the latter on the road in winter. Snow and ice cover the solar cells as well. I suppose you could drive it very carefully, but there is another concern.

In winter snow and ice can accumulate in wheel wells of cars which you must clear out or you will lose the ability to steer. I know this is not an issue in areas with dry snow, but it is a significant risk with wet snow. It is not going to be easy to clear out the wheel covers on an Aptera.

[michael-kahlow]

Short answer – yes, given where I live, I am planning to drive it in the snow. I have no choice, because I live in the Land of Snow, and if I want to drive, some of the driving will be in the snow.

If it’s not at least a passable winter car, that’s a deal killer for me, and probably for a lot of others. A vehicle isn’t economical if you have to store it from December through March and have a separate winter car.

[ROMAD]

Well, Several Miata (and probably other sports car) owners that live in the snow belt do just that: store during the winter, then get it out during the Spring, Summer, and Fall. Only common sense for a vehicle that isn’t intended to be driven in snow. The Aptera is NOT designed to replace your 4WD SUV/pickup, it is designed primarily for local area driving in good weather conditions with long times between being plugged in to recharge.

[curtis-cibinel]

Agreed. The Aptera must be at least as competent as a standard FWD econobox in the snow/ice or it just doesn’t work for me either. I intend it to be our only vehicle and I ski/snowboard. The traction control and AWD should make it quite effective at ice. For snow most vehicles can handle a few inches past their ground clearance so an offroad packaged Aptera with AWD should do reasonably. I intend it to be my only vehicle. Having multiple vehicles with one sitting in the garage 6 months per year is a luxury and is definitely inefficient and environmentally irresponsible.

[john-twino]

I feel the same way. It has to be a passable winter vehicle to be usable in the great snowy north. The uncertainty of its winter capabilities are keeping me on the fence

[bart-cunningham]

Lots of snow and bad road conditions here and I am planning on this being my only vehicle. I will probably be getting the off-road package if for no other reasons the huge potholes we have around here especially in the spring. I believe this car should drive quite well with appropriate tiers and the wheel wells should not be an issue as they have fixed internal clearances. I would think the motors would provide some heat to help melt out any accumulations also but not sure if that even matters. Since the vehicle does have some slope to the panels that may assist in the snow sliding off and with the nasty cold winds blowing it will probably mostly blow off anyway. Worst case, I would have to push off the snow piles to get the charging back on track in the morning. Really wanting to get mine ASAP.

[gary-mclaughlin]

In the FAQs, Aptera writes “With all-wheel-drive and vectorized torque control, Aptera handles beautifully in the snow and ice.With all-wheel-drive and vectorized torque control, Aptera handles beautifully in the snow and ice.” Based on that, I am hoping to be able to drive my Aptera with the off-road package in wintery weather. However, depending on actual winter testing and the feedback from people with real life experience, I may have to reassess my hopes. Even if tests and feedback are positive, I will likely hang onto my SUV until I’m comfortable with the idea that I no longer need it

With respect to winter rims, I expect the OEMs will be made of a light weight alloy which leave me wondering how much impact heavier after market steel rims will have on efficiency.

[harry-parker]

No need to buy rusting, heavy steel rims. I’m sure Aptera will make their own rims available for purchase or tell you where you can buy them. (They are a standard rather than a custom part.)

[brandon-shaffer]

I live just north of Denver, Colorado, and we get plenty of snow here too. I agree that the snow option is a must. I learned something here … sounds like I need to select the off-road package. Thanks everybody!

[Jim-Pace]

This reply repeats some of my earlier posts. Apologies. I live in one of the snowiest towns in the west. My Aptera will have all wheel drive, but not the off-road version. Why, because my little town does a great job of clearing my road (school bus route) and my plow guy shows up. But if I want first chair on a Powder day, we’ll, that’s what I’m keeping the Subaru Outback for.

[john-buss]

You can’t seriously say a car works in the snow without:

Defrost and defrost on the rear view.

Heater is basic but I’ve gone without; but defrost is a MUST.

Now 3 wheels makes me think I keep my other car… The rear almost needs to act either like a snow mobile or act like a ski… it doesn’t look like their rear design will be strong enough but it could be tweaked to act like a ski if for those moments a bump of snow happens. The worst possible thing is fishtailing.

Can ice be removed from the solar panels?

—

Everything else can be added after market: heated steering (tricky), heated seats, ice scraper, boot tray, tires, car cover. Aptera could make or sell optimal solutions for these and they should but it’s not as critical as the above. At least provide cad files of the car for 3rd parties and the community.

A car cover would avoid the entire ice and snow problem as well as providing for winter storage. The odd shape makes this difficult; a clever form fitting nylon tarp (like the tent) which goes on/off easily would go a long long way. Ice kills aerodynamics…

[Pragmatic_to_a_Fault]

I would like to see real world testing in snow with the awd option.

Awd works great when you have ground clearance and eight over the wheels to push them into the show and give them more grip and cutting power to move you forward.

Sleds work because they are light weight and sit on top of the snow, and even if you and your body weight push it down it disperses your weight, so it will slide,

You have a vehicle with virtually negative weight on the wheels to make it super efficient,

Will it sit on top of the snow ? Or will it dig in and move ?

If it digs in and moves, will the wheel pants fill with snow and slush and stop the car ? Will it refresh over night ? Locking the car in place ?

How much clearance is there between the wheel pants and the tires ? Not nearly as much as wheel wells.

Real world testing needs to be done. Not everyone lives in sunny Southern California

• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by  James Lee.

[ROMAD]

Your last sentence is correct; I live in sunny Arizona but at 5,300 ft. I shoveled snow off most of the driveway yesterday morning (the sun melted the rest) , but we may get some more tonight.

[bryan-hendricks]

I don’t expect a single vehicle to meet all of my requirements.

I live in northern Utah. I live in a valley – not on top of a mountain. I expect to drive my Aptera in the winter. I don’t expect to drive it every day in the winter. I intend to keep my faithful old pickup truck for those times when an Aptera is not the optimal solution. I won’t drive the Aptera during significant snow storms. I won’t take the Aptera to the dump. I won’t haul a new refrigerator home from the store in my Aptera.

I work from home, so I typically don’t need to drive on big snow days if I don’t want to. I anticipate (hope) the Aptera will be the optimal solution for 95%+ of my non-winter driving and 70%+ of my winter driving. The way I see it, the Aptera will be another tool. I have a variety of tools. I use the best tool available for a job. If the Aptera is not a good fit for the job, then I won’t try to force it.

I love the idea of a winter package. It would probably improve the odds that I would drive the Aptera in the winter. I am currently considering the off-road package for similar reasons.

My apologies to folks who are in a different phase of life and don’t have the luxury of having multiple tools. I’ve been there. I get it.