I have been trying to convince a few people on the merits of OUR new car. One thing that I keep bringing up and that they rarely think of is "How many things does Aptera NOT have that are present in most ICE cars. I will list a few.
Drive Train
Radiator
AC Does Air Conditioning count?
Oil ? Does an Aptera even use Oil. Certainly no transmission fluid.
Mud Flaps ? Humm. Maybe you still need those but I'm thinking not.
Tachometer ? Certainly not needed. I guess those are electronic now, so scratch this one.
Sure hope Mirrors make it to that list.
All of this adds up to Savings for us in Weight, Cost, maintenance and MPW (Miles per Watt) ). It would be nice to see a little spreadsheet thing that I can send to them or at least mail an image. Get Sandy to lay out all those parts from his current break down project on the floor. Count them and take a picture.
Then I have to also point out that Both have batteries. Ours is a way lot more in number. And whatever electronics required to charge them. Probably no Alternator though.
OOOO I almost forgot Gas Tank, associated delivery, gages and electronics, PLUS the weight of 12 Gal or more of fuel.
Remind me. How many gallons on average of gas does it take to drive 1K miles and what is the mileage cost of the weight per mile? (a U.S. gallon of Gas weighs 6.1 pounds and an Imperial Gallon weighs 7.2 pounds) Can't quite shove that much gas into an average car. So, assume you drive 1000. How much time did you have to take an exit and entry, then pump gas. Yeah! I know. Got to stop and eat, and other stuff. OOOrrr... do I ?
On the we have that they don't side
Charging system
Heads up Display Pushing on this. Most of theirs don't have it either. Solve the controversy. Put it in.
Dash Cam
OK. I'm lobbying for a designed in Dash Cam and heads up display.
This would make a nice little Aptera Intern's task. Should help sell people though.
This article at GreenCars.com says 8 years is a federal requirement.
100k miles in 8 years is less than the US average, so the miles may more often be the ending factor.
All BEVs are required to have at least 8 years/100k miles warranty.
On my BEV, the 12V battery hadn't even failed after over 5.5 years. Other owners of the same model have had them fail sooner, but the cause is heat, which is just as bad for a lithium 12V battery, so I wouldn't expect it to last any longer, unless it's protected from heat.
The problem with rust on iron brakes is reduced panic-stop distance, not reduced longevity, but it's still easily solved with stainless discs.
It will have a 12V battery and in other EVs those have been problematic, they fail much sooner than in ICEVs. That's another thread, people hope they will spend a few bucks more and use a 12V lithium battery that could last the life of the car.
The only wear items in an EV should be wipers and tires, if stainless steel brakes are used they could in theory eliminate the need for brake replacements, ordinary brakes have a rust problem in EVs because they don't get heated up as much as they do in ICEVs. The one item that has to eventually wear out is the battery although the life should long enough that the car will be obsolete by the time it happens. The battery warranty on a Tesla is 8 years/120,000 miles, hopefully Aptera will match that.
I fully endorse this line of reasoning, & you could even add all the moving parts of an "ICE age" timing chain, or at least all the piston rings, valve springs, & transmission gears, however...:
BEVs do have a 12V battery to "start" them. It's needed so that the High Voltage drive battery can be completely disconnected free of drain when parked unplugged. But instead of activating a high-current Ice Age starter motor, the 12V battery only activates a tiny contactor relay (electromagnetically-activated switch) to connect the HV battery. My own BEV came with a 60Ah $150 12V battery, & when it needed replacement (as all Ice Age cars also do) I installed a 1/10 - size $35 6Ah motorcycle battery & it's fine. Missing thing: 9/10 of the 12V starter battery.
BEVs have no alternator, but still need to keep the 12V battery charged, with a DC-DC converter (400V to 12V). Missing things: Alternator's moving parts & drive system.
BEV A/C requires the same fluid & radiator as an Ice Age car to dissipate heat. Missing things: A/C drive belt & clutch-pulley (added thing: A/C drive motor).
Well compared to my current car (Subaru outback, awd):
Alternator
12V Battery
Gas tank
Air intake
Throttle body
Engine
Exhaust manifolds
3 catalytic converters and 2 mufflers
Radiator and coolant hoses
Transmission cooler
Clutch
Transmission
Gear shift (center console)
Center differential
Front differential
Front CV axles
Drive shaft
Rear differential
Rear CV axles
Parking brakes (Extra little drums inside the disk hubs)
Fourth tire and suspension components
Full size spare tire
Rear bench seat
Sunroof
Clutch pedal
Transmission and engine computers
Fog lights
Rear wiper
Read door windows and motors
Giant 6 disk CD player
Stuff that's the same or equivalent
Headlights/Turn signals/Stop lights/etc
Windshield wipers and washers
Windows/motors
AC/Heater
Front suspension
Steering rack
ABS/stability control system
Seats
Tires
Realistically it cuts out probably 1/2 to 2/3rds of the components (by number) on the vehicle, particularly high maintenance items like the engine and CV axles.
😉 I knew that it does but dont think it uses a radiator and Freon or whatever they use now. I think it uses just a coolant and dont know if that is a refill thing. So sort of counts.
Also, I'm listening to this now. Comparing Tesla, Ford, & VW's Electrical Architectures - YouTube
Sandy and 3 ppl are comparing. While not directly applicable to Aptera, I suspect you can Substitute Aptera for Model 3. A little interesting but they are just talking electronics.
Also No Starter Motor Required.
It does not need an exhaust system / muffler / catalytic converter, many other components that support an ICE, motor heat insulation to the cockpit, significant anti-noise insulation, etc. It also does not have certain things which are independent of ICE/EV and separately debatable/opinion if good or bad to have (regular airbags, 3+ seats, tactile control panels beyond flat touch screen, etc.). One correction to your list: the Aptera does come with AC.