harry-parker
Forum Replies Created
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At one time, back when Aptera Motors was using Wefunder, Chris Anthony stated the 100 watts per mile figure was based on simulations of the 1000 mile version doing the EPA test cycle. So the lighter versions should do better than estimated.
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Kerbe, yes, that’s what I meant.
To be precise, solar panels are connected to a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) solar charge controller. That charge controller is connected to the battery. Also connected to the battery are the motor controllers. So is a DC to DC converter that provides a lower voltage to the other electronics such as the lights, displays and radios. With regenerative braking, the power can flow either way to and from those motor controllers.
Whether the battery is getting charged or discharged depends on whether the solar charge controller is putting out more or less power than the car needs at any instant in time.
Those 50 kW motors only draw those 50 kW each when you floor your Aptera. Going steady down the road they only use a small fraction of that. The Aptera uses 0.1 KWH to go 1 mile, at the average speed of the EPA test cycle, ~45 mph. So at a steady 45 mph on level ground the car is drawing about 4.5 KW, still much more than the 0.7 KW the solar panels produce.
In full Sun, when the panels are producing their 0.7 KW, the the car will draw about 4.5 – 0.7 = 3.8 KW from the battery at a steady 45 mph. At some lower steady speed the car will need only what solar panels provide. At even lower speeds the solar panels will charge the battery.
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The Aptera solar charging circuit is very similar to a home battery charging circuit. Nothing is preventing the power from the solar panels going out to power the car and charging the battery at the same time, depending on the car’s power demands that instant. If the car is going at highway speeds the motors will draw more power than the panels can deliver so that solar power will be added to power from the battery. However, as soon as you start slowing down, the motors won’t need the solar power so the batteries will recharge using sunlight and what’s produced by regenerative braking.
Re. extra solar panels: the CEOs have confirmed in a video that they will provide a connector for external panels, but have not provided specs on what range of voltage, current and power those panels must be. Perhaps up to another 700 watts? However I picture those as camping panels placed on the ground rather than mounted on the car.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by Harry Parker.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by
Gabriel Kemeny.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by Gabriel Kemeny.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by Gabriel Kemeny.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by
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Yes. That’s a good point. The question is, how much is the drag reduced at those lower speeds?
I’ve read that the EPA average speed is about 45 mph, but drag is nonlinear with speed, and some power is used even when the car is stopped, running the electronics.
Of course other factors make a big difference, such as incline and wind speed and whether heat or cooling energy is being used. At 7 mph, the wind speed could easily be faster than the car is going, doubling or reducing to zero the relative air speed depending on its direction.
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The solar panels add to the power coming from the batteries as you drive down the road.
As Paul mentioned, the rate of energy production from the panels may be even higher when you’re moving due to air cooling effects. However, except when you’re braking or going downhill, the motors are usually drawing more power than the solar panels are generating.
So, the solar panels will just provide part of the power the Aptera needs while its moving, except at very slow speeds and decelerating, reducing the energy drain on the battery but not eliminating it.
The full solar option is rated at 700 watts. Since 1000 watts-hours will take Aptera 10 miles, 700 watt-hours will take Aptera 7 miles. So the power of the full Sun alone is enough to push the Aptera at about 7 miles per hour (not counting a few percent lost from inefficiencies in the power conversion electronics). Driving slower than that average speed and you would be charging the batteries while you drive in the sunlight!
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I used to have keyed wheel nuts on one of my old cars, a used Mercedes, done so people can’t steal the tires.
Those nuts were the worst pain in the ass ever! Had them removed after the 2nd time I needed new tires and the tire store couldn’t remove them due to those nuts. Haven’t heard of anyone stealing wheels or tires anywhere aound where I live and lived.
You need to remove the wheels to get to Aptera’s brakes and motors. So if you are worried about your motor, just get some wheel locking nuts.
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Yep. RHD option has been confirmed. Probably 2024 at the earliest though.
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I’m thinking . . .
“Land Shark”.
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The designers are still experimenting with the seat design. I expect that to continue throughout beta testing. So no, the seat design, including height and height range is not yet fully defined.
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Hi guys. Time to carefully reread the FAQ’s section of this website. Several of the questions asked here are answered there. For example, “What’s the payload limit?”
The main point I wanted to mention is that Aptera no longer plans to deliver any EVs by the end of the year. They, like every other auto maker, have been hit hard by COVID related part delays and shortages. Read the “When” question there. The answer hasn’t changed since this new web site and forum was launched.
Now they only expect to have the final production design completed by the end of this year. Nothing about customer deliveries in 2021.
First customer deliveries will be “sometime” in 2022.
Full production volume of 10,000 per year ( = 830 per month = about 40 per working day) is planned for the end of next year.
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The only thing close to V2G planned for the first Aptera is an AC inverter and power socket to give you 120 volt 60 Hz power from the Aptera. That’s no V2G; More of a V2H or V2X capability.
As of a few months ago they were still researching inverter vendors and deciding on the specs. Don’t expect more than 1500 watts capability from their builtin inverter; the same as a standard household outlet. So you could power some tools or a fridge or a small microwave, or even charge another EV at Level 1.
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I know what you mean. My Chevy Volt has a feature that opens all the windows when you lean on the unlock button on your key fob. I discovered this when I found my windows wide open one snowy morrning after a storm. Apparently some coins in my pocket pressed aagainst my key fob in my pants while I sat in a soft comfy couch that evening. 😣
I’m sure you’ll be able to turn off that knock knock feature if you want and stick to only waving your key card.
The UI screen would be harder to do without. You want simplicity? The simplest button or switch is no button or switch, just a colored spot on a touch screen that costs nothing to add. If you want no electronic devices I’m afraid you’re stuck with old unreliable 1990 vintage or earlier cars or cycles.
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Looks to me like nothing but a raised truck or tractor could handle those ruts! Or a snowmobile. 😁 Dirt road?
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I heard from one of the employees from a show video that the cup holder has already been redesigned. The new design will be revealed when the Delta pre-production prototype is revealed, this November or December.
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I saw in show videos with employee interviews at the show that the bottom connector holds the cables and cooling lines. Also the lower cover will be different — probably with a snapped on cover piece more like the top piece. Only about 80% of the what you see in Gamma is production intent. Lots of little things will change based on testing.
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Kylan, yes several questions were answered this week during the factory tour and Gamma prototype reveal.
They earlier said they are planning to have an inverter providing AC 120 volt power to an ordinary household 15 amp outlet. That’s enough to power a single appliance like a microwave oven or a fridge, but not a whole house, nor output to the grid.
Any higher power return remains a future possibility, perhaps as a 3rd party add-on. The only products on the market currently used to sell electricity back to the grid from home batteries cost thousands of dollars. Perhaps one could be adapted to Aptera’s open design.
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Hi James, The side view mirrors are mounted in the same location as the side view cameras, so they would either both be clear or both be covered in snow, needing clearing only before you start to drive after a snow.
Looking directly rearward are 2 more cameras, the backup camera found on many cars today and helpful in backing up while parking. Mine on my Chevy Volt is allways getting obscured from dirt kicked up by the rear tires, ddue to poorllly considered aerodynamics. (The Aptera has carefully considered its aerodynamics so I doubt it will be as bad as most such cameras.)
The other rear facing camera is mounted on the top to the hatch near the 3rd stop light. It provides the view for the rearview digital “mirror”. Being up high it should remain clear after you sweep any snow off the roof.
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Mark, what you propose is how you would measure the total drag on a vehicle, including rolling friction and aerodynamic drag. That’s a useful piece of information, however the Cd is only a part of the formula for the total drag. Also included in the total drag is the drag of the tires on the road, the drag in the motors and bearings, and anything else.
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Note that they are building their battery factory in 2024 to start supplying Aptera after that. Like Tesla, Aptera is not depending on a single supplier. This could not even be for their 2 seater, but for the family car coming next. (Just speculating here.)
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🌞 Solar Power has got my vote. 🤗
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When you click on “My Account” (in the upper right corner of this screen) and then scroll down, do you see a line labeled, “Review orders”?
What do you see when you click on it?
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Not naughty.
But I got to ask,
How many places are you planning to go to that are more than 500 miles away from an electrical outlet?
A 110 volts outlet is all you need to get 150 miles overnight. (See the FAQ.) Stay less than 3 days to fully rechange from empty at that speed.
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My understanding is that physical limitations make adding hundreds of pounds more battery to an existing Aptera difficult. I imagine the suspension will need to change for those extra hundreds of pounds. (Going from 60 KWH to 100 KWH adds about 400 pounds.) I remember reading at some point that the ~1000 pound 100 KWH battery may need a modified, slightly bulkier body to fit into as well.
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I took a tape measure to my pretty standard garage, built in 1976. It fits with about 4 inches to spare on each side. Tight, but doable.
But most of the time I’ll park it under the Sun. Maybe get a cover for it to protect against winter storms.
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10 inches would be 5 inches per side. No way the wheel covers extend 5 in. from the outer edge of the tire. I’d guess less than 2 inches.
Anyway, fenders exist for a safety reason on all cars, as well as to reduce drag. They prevent the throwing of mud, water, snow & stones. It’s illegal in most places to drive without wheel covers on public roads.