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Aptera fresh out of greenbacks, closes up shop
Bummer for fans of teardrop shaped three-wheelers, as your favorite chariot, Aptera's 2e, will never see the light of day. Despite getting the ball rolling on a $150 million loan from the DOE, subsequent funding and time just weren't on the startup's side. An unfortunate prognosis, as CEO Paul Wilbur revealed the company had been working on a $30,000 mid-sized sedan that would have touted 190 miles of electrical range. He's still adamant the company had "never been closer" to realizing its vision, but hopes someone else can carry on Aptera's torch. Those nuggets and more await in what is possibly the company's final tell-all after the break.
Aptera: no production vehicles until we get funding, from the government or elsewhere
Ah, funding. So necessary, yet so tedious to get. Aptera -- an automotive startup that has warmed our hearts with its eco-friendly, three-wheeled prototypes -- has been seeking government funding to take things "next level" ever since 2008. After being laughed out of the building at first, the company reapplied and managed to get its 2e certified as a "car" by the US Department of Energy. Unfortunately, miles (and miles) or red tape have held Aptera back ever since, and even today, they're still waiting to see if Uncle Sam will be shelling out to further their initiatives. Rather than putting its head down and realizing it's no GM, the company has pushed out a newsletter explaining the current situation. Essentially, it's dead-set on holding out for more funding -- be it from the DoE's coffers or elsewhere -- in order to maintain quality and keep the per-unit costs down to a reasonable level. According to Aptera: "We would obviously love to accelerate the process, but the government has to make sure they complete their comprehensive evaluation and we have to let the process run its course." Bummer.
Aptera co-founder expands Epic Boats beyond boats, spurs hiring spree
It certainly looks like Aptera co-founder is Chris Anthony is intent on making a name for himself with his own company, Epic Boats, which has recently be renamed Epic Electric Vehicles to better suit its more ambitious goals. That now includes the announcement of two new land vehicles: the fairly standard looking Epic Amp all terrain vehicle, and the three-wheeled Epic Torque (pictured above), which will reportedly cost around $22,000 and $35,000, respectively, and are both set to go into production this fall at Louisiana-based Caddo Manufacturing. That expansion has also now prompted quite a hiring spree -- the company says it's bringing on 200 new employees immediately and will eventually hire nearly 500 altogether, and adds that the manufacturing should also create about 1,500 indirect job in the area.
Aptera 2e three-wheeler deemed a car by the DoE, eligible for funding
For a time, it looked Aptera might be missing out on the US Department of Energy's funding bonanza for energy-efficient vehicles due to its car's three-wheeled nature, but it looks like President Obama has now had the final say on the matter, and signed legislation that makes both two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles eligible for the same funding as their four-wheeled counterparts. Of course, that doesn't yet mean that Aptera will actually receive any funding, and the legislation doesn't have anything to do with safety regulations, where the 2e is still classified as a motorcycle by the Department of Transportation. For its part, however, Aptera says that it'll be filing another application to meet the updated requirements, and it still insists that it'll hit "volume production" of the car sometime in 2010, and get it on the road for between $25,000 and $40,000.
Aptera co-founder debuts EPIC 23e hybrid electric wake boat
It doesn't exactly have the same space age looks of the Aptera 2e he helped design, but this new EPIC 23e wake boat from Chris Anthony's Epic Boats shouldn't have any trouble attracting attention nonetheless, and not just because of its paint job. The key bit here is the boat's Flux Propulsion EVO 8.1 Marine Drive System, which allows for all-electric operation most of the time, with the gas engine only kicking in to power the generator that recharges the lithium ion batteries. According to the company, that should translate to about four hours of operating time and as much as a 50 percent reduction in fuel, not to mention a 90 percent drop in carbon monoxide emissions. Of course, with some Aptera brains behind it, you'll also get plenty of on-board gadgets, including a touchscreen interface, GPS Speed Control, and a full-fledged on-board entertainment system for passengers. No firm word on a price, but it apparently could cost "as much as $150,000" when it launches in July, though the company eventually hopes to get that down to around $70,000. Must-see video after the break.[Via AutoblogGreen]
Aptera 2e gets taken for a test drive
Aptera only just unveiled the complete specs for its Aptera 2e all-electric vehicle a little over a week ago, but the folks at Road & Track Magazine have already managed to talk their way into a test drive, and they've naturally shared their impressions for those of us still stuck in our non-space age vehicles. While there's obviously still a bit of refining to do before the final production model, the magazine nonetheless seems to be pretty impressed with the head-turner, saying that it seems far quicker than it actually is due to its go-kart-like handing and aircraft-style windshield, which gives the driver an up close view of the pavement ahead. They do say that the not-quite-gullwing doors will take some getting used to, however, but once inside there's apparently plenty of room, even for someone with a 6-foot-3-inch frame. Be sure to hit up the read link below for a video and plenty more pics, including a glimpse at the development process.
Aptera unveils full specs for its flagship 2e
Heads up, the fine folks at Autoblog Green have gotten their oil-encrusted hands on a full list of specs for Aptera's 2e electric car, now on display at this year's Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) conference. The 1,500-pound aerodynamic vessel has just a 0.15 coefficient of drag and features a smart key, emergency tire inflation, and energy-reflective solar glass. Inside, we've got LED dome lights mounted overhead, a DVD-based navigation system, optional rear backup camera, and interior fabrics / plastics made from recycled materials. The company's still touting 100 miles on a single charge of the 10 to 13 kWh lithium ion phosphate battery pack. No new details on price, which we last heard would be between $25,000 and $45,000 -- zipping down the road in a space-age cruiser doesn't come cheap, you know.
Aptera designers unveil solar-powered pontoon, the Loon
Sure, it's just a concept for now, but the Aptera design team (Eleven) has unveiled this solar-powered boat, and it's looking pretty decent, so we thought we'd bring a few of the details over here for you. The Loon, as it's called, was designed for the Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Company, and it's got a pontoon shape to it, and is relatively lightweight for its size, with a 1000W solar panel roofing which is collapsible for compact storing of the boat when not in the water. It's 22 feet long, and is made of recycled materials, bamboo and natural fibers, with an estimated top speed of 7 knots (it should be able to travel about 35 miles a day). We don't know when to expect these bad boys on the waterways, nor do we know how much they're going to cost, but we're hoping they're not hundreds of thousands of dollars.[Via Autoblog Green]Read - ElevenRead - Motive Industries
Aptera rolls out first pre-production vehicle, promises shipments in October
Although the swoopy Aptera electric went up for pre-orders back in October of 2007, we haven't really seen much of the futuristic car outside of the odd Star Trek cameo. Hopefully that's about to change, though -- the company just rolled out the first pre-production example its flagship model, the 2e. The three-wheeled car gets the equivalent of 200mpg, and the company claims the lithium-ion battery pack will last for 100 miles on a single charge. Aptera isn't giving out final pricing information apart from "between $25,000 and $45,000" but it says over 4,000 potential customers have already signed up for a planned California-only October release. We'll see how it goes -- and we'd bet the folks at the Automotive X-Prize are keeping a sharp eye as well.
Triac: the highway-capable, three-wheeled electric car available now?
Our siblings over at AutoblogGreen discovered a little video hinting that a new three-wheeled, 70MPH electric car called the Triac is available... now. While we wait for the Aptera to hit the road, it seems Green Vehicles went ahead and made the Triac, tested it, and got it all sorts of market-ready. For those who don't know, the Triac is highway capable and will go 120 miles before needing a recharge. Video after the break.
Aptera to make cameo in next Star Trek film?
For those unaware, "veiled in secrecy" is an extreme understatement when it comes to the next Star Trek flick -- if there actually is a next Star Trek flick, that is. Nevertheless, an undercover photographer managed to grab some recent shots of a film production operating under the title "Corporate Headquarters," and a few snaps caught a vehicle that looks awfully similar to the 300MPG Aptera. Coincidentally enough, said craft was also missing from last week's New York Auto Show. Look, we aren't piecing together clues in a valiant attempt to get you stoked about seeing a space aged automobile in a movie that may or may not even be real (okay, it's real), but then again, it's hard to shake the evidence.[Via AutoblogGreen]
Aptera's Typ-1 gets a video test drive
After getting a good look at this thing, all we can say is that it better not take as long as the Tesla to get to market. Aptera's ultra-aerodynamic Typ-1 most certainly has some outrageous claims behind it -- most notably that 300 MPG rating -- and some people are doubting how real or drivable this thing could be. Popular Mechanics got a chance take the little Jestons-mobile for a spin, and discovered that it does indeed exist, and in fact happens to drive quite nicely. The interior is just as sexy as the exterior, so we'd recommend you peep the video now before you end up the last person on your block to pre-order one of these.
Additional Automotive X-Prize details revealed
For a competition that still hasn't officially launched, the Automotive X-Prize has certainly been doing a pretty good job of making itself known, and we've now got yet more details on it courtesy of the folks at CNET. First up, it seems that the X-Prize Foundation will finally get official with the competition "sometime next year," although likely not before the New York Auto Show in the spring. Before that, however, the Foundation will be showing off some or all of the 43 contenders currently signed up at the Detroit Auto Show in January including, among others, Aptera's 300 mile-per-gallon car pictured above. What's more, given that the competition only seeks to find a car that gets 100 miles to the gallon, it would seem that Aptera would have a considerable advantage -- assuming it can actually back up its claims, that is. Hit up the read link below for a peek at some of the other competitors.
Aptera's 300 MPG car available for pre-order
Aptera certainly managed to attract a fair bit of attention for itself earlier this year, when its concept car turned as many heads for its space age looks as it did for its promised 200 MPG range. Now the company looks to be taking the next step on the long road to availability, with it accepting pre-orders for the car, which apparently now boasts a range of 300 MPG in typical driving conditions. What's more, the company says its also readying an all-electric version of the vehicle in addition to the plug-in hybrid model, with promising to last for around 120 miles before needing a recharge. Both models will also apparently come packed with features, include driver and passenger side airbags, interior and exterior LED lighting, a "solar assisted" climate control system, and an "advanced drive computer" that includes GPS, a rear-view camera, and a complete vehicle diagnostic system. All that apparently comes at a bit of a premium over the initially-estimated $20,000 price, however, with the electric and plug-in hybrid models now set to run $26,900 and $29,900, respectively. If that's still in your ballpark, you can reserve yours now for a mere $500, with the first vehicles promised to be in drivers hands in 12 months or so.[Via Digg]
Aptera takes wraps off 200 MPG prototype car
It looks like last week's TED conference was the choice event for those jonesing for a more Jetson-like means of transportation, with Idealab company Aptera taking the opportunity to show off a prototype version of its sci-fi-inspired concept car. While it sadly remains grounded, the Aptera typ-1 does boast at least one significant innovation, promising to deliver a full 200 miles per gallon from its diesel-electric hybrid engine, keeping up a reasonable 55 mph pace all along the way. And while it's a one-off for now, Aptera apparently hopes that won't be the case for too long, with the company planning to sell these attention-grabbers for around $20,000 apiece. Exactly when, of course, they ain't sayin', but we wouldn't hold off any current car purchase plans in anticipation of driving off in one of these instead.[Via DailyTech]
