http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/01/aptera-entrepreneur-developed-3-wheeled-hybrid/ Business, Better. Since 2005 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:33:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/01/aptera-entrepreneur-developed-3-wheeled-hybrid/comment-page-1/#comment-12456 Frank Barner Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:06:23 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2008/01/aptera-entrepreneur-developed-3-wheeled-hybrid/#comment-12456 This looks like a great car, can't wait to see it out on a lot where I can buy it. At 300 miles per gal, its a deal, and looks easy to maintain, simple, which is what we need. This looks like a great car, can’t wait to see it out on a lot where I can buy it. At 300 miles per gal, its a deal, and looks easy to maintain, simple, which is what we need.

]]> http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/01/aptera-entrepreneur-developed-3-wheeled-hybrid/comment-page-1/#comment-12455 KarenRei Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:44:59 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2008/01/aptera-entrepreneur-developed-3-wheeled-hybrid/#comment-12455 The word is "implies", not "implicates". :) Yes, being classified as a motorcycle gets them out of the *requirements* for safety testing. But they're doing it anyways. They've been doing extensive computer crash simulations for months (just like they used simulations to figure out how to make it so aerodynamic), and they're going to begin actual crash tests shortly -- both full frontal and side impacts. The vehicle is structured like an F1 car, with an aluminum/steel safety cage surrounded by carbon fiber panels (carbon fiber absorbing five times more energy per pound than steel). Unlike an F1 car, however, the combination of the Aptera's light weight and the fact that its nose and the center of its sides ride higher than most car's bumpers, allows it to ride up and over other vehicles in an accident. Oh, and its frontal crumple zone is larger than in most coupes, which means lower Gs to the occupants in a crash. I'd probably feel safer in one of these than in my Saturn. My only concern in an accident would be repairs. While carbon fiber panels shatter in an impact, they tend to avoid transferring energy to other panels in the process (thus limiting what needs to be replaced). However, the downside is that only Aptera makes these panels. Being a small company with the capacity to only make a couple cars per week, I'd have to wonder about part availability. The word is “implies”, not “implicates”. :)
Yes, being classified as a motorcycle gets them out of the *requirements* for safety testing. But they’re doing it anyways. They’ve been doing extensive computer crash simulations for months (just like they used simulations to figure out how to make it so aerodynamic), and they’re going to begin actual crash tests shortly — both full frontal and side impacts. The vehicle is structured like an F1 car, with an aluminum/steel safety cage surrounded by carbon fiber panels (carbon fiber absorbing five times more energy per pound than steel). Unlike an F1 car, however, the combination of the Aptera’s light weight and the fact that its nose and the center of its sides ride higher than most car’s bumpers, allows it to ride up and over other vehicles in an accident. Oh, and its frontal crumple zone is larger than in most coupes, which means lower Gs to the occupants in a crash.
I’d probably feel safer in one of these than in my Saturn. My only concern in an accident would be repairs. While carbon fiber panels shatter in an impact, they tend to avoid transferring energy to other panels in the process (thus limiting what needs to be replaced). However, the downside is that only Aptera makes these panels. Being a small company with the capacity to only make a couple cars per week, I’d have to wonder about part availability.

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