Aptera’s $26,000 Electric Car and 300 MPG Hybrid Coming Soon
For under $30,000, you will soon be able to buy an electric car with a 120 mile range, or a plug-in hybrid that gets 300 miles-per-gallon.
Sound like a fantasy, but this one could be coming to a dealer near you. Slated for release in late 2008, the company Aptera will be offering the initial limited release of their fully electric model Aptera Typ1, and the 300 mpg plug-in will follow in 2009.
At first glance, this thing looks as ungainly and futuristic as other highly efficient, low-drag vehicles (it reminds me of a wingless Cessna 206). But before you pass judgment, check out the test drive video from Popular Mechanics. Also see the short video segment below. This thing cruises, topping out at 85 mph:
Aptera’s car is really a study in advanced aerodynamics. As the PM video points out, the Typ1 has embedded body panels, glass, and even windshield wipers to reduce drag. You’ll also notice it has only three wheels, which makes it legally registered in California as a motorcycle (and eligible for use of carpool lanes). It also has some nifty features, like recycled interior components, and embedded side and rear video cameras that replace side- and rear-view mirrors. Solar cells on the roof supplement internal climate control and shunt warm cabin air out the back of the vehicle—further improving efficiency and decreasing drag.
It should only take a few hours to charge the Typ1’s 10-kilowatt lithium-ion battery packs, at a cost of $1 to $2 (based on typical California electricity prices).
Aptera is currently taking refundable $500 reservations on their website.
More Electric Cars:
An Electric Car You Can Buy Today: The $20K TRIAC EV
Plug-In Hybrids Use Over 17 Times More Water Than Regular Cars, Researchers Say
Get 120 MPG Out of Your Prius (Plug It In)
The Sporty Future of Electrics Cars: the Lightning GT
For more information, see the following:
Aptera: www.aptera.com
Popular Mechanics (Nov. 20, 2007): 300-mpg, Electric Aptera Typ-1 Ready for 2008 Production
Popular Mechanics (Dec. 21, 2007): Aptera’s Super-MPG Electric Typ-1 e: Exclusive Video Test Drive
TreeHugger (Nov. 19, 2007): Unveiled: Aptera Typ-1 100% Electric and Series Hybrid Vehicles
Photo Credit: Aptera
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good video of the aptera and more at http://www.kickinggas.org
A car with a 120 mile range is impractical and just plain dumb. At $30,000, it’s also a total con job aimed at those naiive green morons who think they’re saving the world, while in reality bankrupting it.
Now these fools will find out what really killed the electric car (on both occasions).
[...] Posts: The World’s Most Fuel Efficient Car: 285 MPG, Not A Hybrid Aptera’s $26,000 Electric Car and 300 MPG Hybrid Coming Soon Plug-In Hybrids Use Over 17 Times More Water Than Regular Cars, Researchers Say Get 120 MPG Out of [...]
Gee Thomas Gray, why so Grey- what oil company do you work for? Seriously though, WHAT OIL COMPANY DO YOU WORK FOR?!?
A car with 120 mile range is great!!! Do you drive more than 50 miles to work each day, and 50 back? If so, then get the 300MPG hybrid version Mr. I invest in oil and bash anything that doesn’t support my evil habit. Do you have a better solution? What, stick was gas? Go to hell where you belong. “Green morons” you say? Do you have kids or grandchilden? Do you think they won’t have issues in you black world where oil and gas rules? Or should I say, your GRAY world? Becuase if it’s not green, that’s what it is going to be. I’d like to have you right here with me, so I could give you a black eye or two and make you drink oil until you turn green you backwards creep.
I would love to see an article here at Gas 2.0 listing (again and again) the evils of oil and coal and exposing the people (oil and coal CEOs, lobbyists and senators who respond to them), as well as the praises for the best chance / best solutions like solar, water, and wind energies. I believe that America is not nearly angry enough at these Oil and Coal big wigs who are to blame for slowing progress toward cheaper cleaner fuels. I believe that shinning the light on them is just as important as shining the light on the best solutions. These execs and senators need to know that we are angry that they are holding us back- and America needs to know that they are doing so by backhanded behind closed door deals. The past 3 energy bills were blocked because they included repeals of the $13.5 BILLION TAX DOLLARS that we GAVE to OIL and COAL here- your tax dollars!!! They are stealing from us left and right, before the pump in our taxes and wars, at the pump, and after the pump in smog. Oil and coal are the root of so much evil and we cannot be angry enough at them… we cannot afford to not be scathing mad at them, screw the jobs and profits in their industry- they are ripping us all off so so badly and the more we pity them the more they rip us off, they are sick and ruthless and they have been ripping us off and lying to us for a 100 years (1919 we started subsiding them with our tax dollars) and it’s their turn to pay…
AMERICA, GET VERY MAD AT OIL and COAL!!! They are the cause, focus on them like a LASER BEAM!!!
Patrick
I love this idea, the only thing that makes me hesitate is this, when will options come out for families? I’m not talking huge electric minivans, and certainly not SUVs, but if I have a husband and 2 kids we can’t all fit in this thing, and certainly not with groceries. As I’m one of the few that makes grocery shopping (as well as most other trips) a family outing (not so that everyone can buy what they want but for together time and so we can keep eachother on target) it’s impractical for me to have a car my whole family cannot fit in.
Amber,
That’s a great point. A lot of these types of electric and super-high mileage vehicles reduce overall size to a point that it just wouldn’t be useful for a family. Your best bet might be something like the new Toyota Prius Plug-in, which should be released in 2010, and hopefully can accommodate kids, husbands, and groceries.
Amber and Clayton,
They will have I think four seats in them. The one above is only 2 and 1/2…That is for, A driver, Passenger, and Toddler (up to 3yrs.) As for the “grociery space”, they have you covered. I was amazed too by how much space it actually has. On their website, they put (Can’t remember exactly everything) 2 surfboard, Some Life Jackets, and a bunch of other stuff! Surprosingly, there was STILL room left! Really, there is enough room in THAT trunk to hide a BODY! or Two!!…Not that I would ever do that *twitch twitch* LOL. JK. They plan on realeasing their “Family Sized” Apteras a few months after the type 1s!
Tight now, Aptera is only working on getting their type 1 car out. I was wondering the same thing as you both, so I was reading on their website (aptera.com) and saw wher they WILL be releasing Apteras for families!!
Hope that I was of ome help!!! For any Questions though, I recomend you go to their official website!
Aptera.com
I personally LOVE this car. It kind of has a sporty look to it, and I have ALWAYS been a fan of the rasing door thingy! I wish I could have this car, but even under $30,000 , at 15, I REALLY don’t see this in my future! In fact, if there is any multimillionair out there who wants to donate an Aptera (or $30,000) to a young spirited 15 year old student, hoping to go to college and have a great life of his own, PLEASE DO!
Hey Patrick, lighten up man! I’m also pissed off by morons like Mr. Gray, but leave them to their lies and SUVs. We’ve got the future rising up to meet us and I really believe there’s no need for hate.
And Amber, check out Phoenix Motors. They’re putting out a pick up truck that seats 5 and then a sedan. A little pricier, around 50K I think, but great range. I’ve got two kids, so this first Aptera isn’t for me, but I sure do love the design.
Some other options to buy an electric car available TODAY are: http://www.hybridtechnologies.com and http://www.spark-ev.com