Change the position of front tires

Looks like an nice EV. I am really impressed with the front suspension. I wonder if it will ever make it into the US? Remember too that the Tesla model 2 which is supposed to be their $25k version will be attractive especially if the $7,500 EV tax credits get extended. Can't go wrong will proven technology.

Yes, I've read that thread, everyone on there is in denial, and assuming that "over 10%" means 10%.

Cool it, man. This is supposed to be a cordial information sharing forum. Most members are excited to learn more of their dream machine. It's not a one-ups-manship site just because you've got a half-century of studying automotive handling physics. Let's all share and encourage each other on this site.

@Ben Farmin Sorry. It was in response to Ocean telling me "it will be over your head."

Please don't take this personally. Let me try a totally third person way to do this. The concept is for both the delta and tadpole configurations. The Polaris and Can-Am still have this problem but overcome it by very low centers of gravity and wide stances. They are designed to slide before tipping. This is not the design of the Aptera.

I found a site that will explain it better to you and not have to hear it from my mouth.

"The disadvantage of a three-wheel configuration is that lateral instability is harder to avoid than with a four wheeled vehicle.

With any vehicle, an imaginary line can be projected from the vehicles centre of mass to the ground, representing the force exerted on the vehicle by its mass. With the vehicle stationary, the line will be vertical. As the vehicle accelerates, that imaginary line tilts backwards, remaining anchored to the centre of mass the point at which the line intersects the ground moves backwards. As you brake it moves forwards, with cornering it moves sidewards. Should the point at which this line intersects the ground move outside of the boundary formed by connecting the tyre contact patches together (a rectangle for a four wheeled car, or a triangle for a trike) then the vehicle will tip and eventually fall over. This is true for any vehicle.

With all vehicles it is critical that the vehicle should be engineered to slide before this point of instability is reached."

reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-wheeler

@OceanDragon, tadpole configuration is definitely more stable than delta configuration for the same width and CG height, for two reasons. First, the lateral acceleration during cornering (assuming constant speed) is NOT 90 degrees from the vehicle's front, for a front-wheel steering vehicle. The lateral acceleration is towards the front, where the two front wheels are. Because both the front and rear wheels are tangent to the turning circle. Second reason is, road vehicles are almost always decelerating into a turn, so the force vector is even further towards the right.

And since you seem to respond by questioning other people's qualifications, I'd state that I have owned several upright and recumbent trikes, both tadpole and delta configurations. I've taken them on winding country roads above the speed limit. I also have a Ph.D in astrophysics.

@Ken Kobayashi Good to see another cyclist. I ride a delta three wheeler mostly for recreation, but we have a following in our Nihon-jin cyclist group. Thanks

Hi Kite. Not even going to try and explain, it will be over your head. The early Aptera had a totally different central motor system...then again it was doing 35 to 45 mph turns. Here in the US. all 3 wheel ATV's and UTV's were banned from sale in the late 80's because of instability. Have you ever ridden a 3 wheeled bike? Let's just say we have different viewpoints on this. You keep comparing apples to oranges. Peace.

The track of the Aptera is needed for two main reasons. The most important is stability when turning. Most three wheeled vehicles are very unstable. Since the Aptera is high off the ground with a higher than average center of gravity, it will be prone to roll over like all trikes. The second reason is Aptera's wide passenger cabin. Most vehicles have front wheel wells which invade the cabin space to different degrees. The Aptera's shape is dictated by the egg shape needed for maximum strength. Thus the hub assemblies had to be placed far out enough to be able to turn and still clear the main body assembly. That is why I was suggesting a simple front end design change to a tilting wheel geometry. It wouldn't add too much extra weight. If the wheels were placed a few inches forward, it would also allow more turn clearance. Tilting Motor Works has such a design and just got bought out by Arcimoto. Aptera would be a perfect vehicle to do this on, and make the cycle handle much better by angling into turns. Many of the modern three wheeled vehicle designs are incorporating this design such as Toyota, Piaggio, and Niken to name just a few.

the device can be part of the air/electronic suspension that has other benefits: https://www.aptera.us/forum/main/comment/5fffd3815d72e9008cb8fef2

rather than electric air pump and valve manipulation, its better to have a air pump for inflating tires that can also sit in teh car and be connected to the device that decreases width of car, so driver/passenger can switch valves and pump in air to push the linkage to teh wheel toward the car and outward again, and even move wheels to a inward position adjusted to the steering wheel position for maintaining stability while operating the device and driving around a turn if needed.