As a pilot who has spent much time in streamlined fuselages, I am very excited to drive/pilot the Aptera. The lightweight body combined with electric torque could be a lot of fun!
As a person who has to deal with icy roads and snowstorms, I generally take for granted a car's general aerodynamic neutrality during wind gusts and crosswinds. In an airplane, crosswind taxing, landings and takeoffs can be a handful in an aircraft that tends to weathervane into the wind. Adding in icy conditions and you have your hands full trying to keep the plane on the runway at speed, of course, it's manageable with differential braking, a steerable nose wheel, and that moveable rudder. (Go youtube icy landing)
So, what about the Aptera which theoretically has two rudders upfront with those aerodynamic wheel pants/fenders? I have two concerns:
#1 Aerodynamic Stability: A boat or an airplane has its rudder(s) at the tail for stability with the rudder far behind the center of gravity, like a weather vane. This ensures that an airplane is always pointed into the incoming air. With those large fenders ahead of the center of gravity, what is the aerodynamic stability of the Aptera? What could happen on an icy highway or while driving through standing water? Would the Aptera swing around backward, with those vertical surfaces acting as rudders, wanting to be behind the center of gravity? Imagine losing traction with a strong crosswind, what exactly would happen?
#2 Crosswind Stability: Similar question, perhaps there's a thunderstorm microburst or Santa Ana mountain winds or I am simply driving next to the front end of a semi-truck. In a lightweight vehicle with significant vertical surfaces on the front of that vehicle, am I going to be actively steering against the wind? What will that experience be like? As a pilot I may enjoy it but is your average Aptera driver going to be able to deal with countersteering against wind gusts and semi-trucks?
Officially this is a motorcycle, will prospective owners be able to deal with such motorcycle limitations, precautions, and additional skill requirements?
Looking at the aerodynamics, crosswind stability should be one of the best of any vehicle on the market and far better than any airplane with their large vertical control surfaces. The Aptera has smallish wheels, so the horizontal side area of the front and rear pants will be be smaller than just the wheels of many SUV's. The crosswind force should be very low compared to its weight of 1800-2200 lbs, and substantially less than the crosswind force experienced by motorcycles with 1/3 the weight.
Aptera has one big rudder around the rear wheel. I suppose that will give it the needed aerodynamic stability needed.
Regarding any motorcycle requirements: In Texas, an Auto Cycle is treated with a mix of regulations for cars and motorcycles. From the Texas Driver Handbook (2017 revision):
Appendix A: Glossary of Terms
...
auto cycle – an autocycle constitutes a motor vehicle, other than a tractor, that is:
1. designed to have when propelled not more than three wheels on the ground
2. equipped with a steering wheel
3. equipped with seating that does not require the operator to straddle or sit astride the seat; and
4. manufactured and certified to comply with federal safety requirements for a motorcycle
An autocycle can be operated under a Class C driver license
From: Chapter 1: Your License to Drive
...
Class C Driver License
1. A single vehicle or combination of vehicles that are not included in Class A or Class B and
2. A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 26,001 lbs. towing a trailer not to exceed 10,000 lbs. GVWR or a farm trailer with a GVWR that does not exceed 20,000 lbs.
3. An autocycle, defined as a motor vehicle, other than a tractor, that is:
• Designed to not have more than three wheels on the ground when moving
• Equipped with a steering wheel
• Equipped with seats that do not require the operator to straddle or sit astride the seat
• Manufactured and certified to comply with federal safety requirements for a motorcycle
A Class C driver license does not permit a person to drive a motorcycle or moped.
https://driving-tests.org/texas/tx-dmv-drivers-handbook-manual/
It looks like in Texas if you have a standard Class C Driver License, you should not have to pass a motorcycle test before driving an Aptera.
Thanks Harry! LMFAO at "start to lose traction ... in a 120mph crosswind". That is literally a category 3 hurricane!
Aptera has a relatively large vertical stabilizer in which the rear wheel is mounted. Looking at a direct side view & visualizing a worst-case-scenario of slow driving on ice with a strong crosswind its stability seems intuitive.
Yes, I too am eagerly awaiting some road test reviews, or better yet, a test drive.
Thanks Harry. Chris Anthony's explanation seems counter intuitive but I assume he's driven an Aptera at highway speeds. We'll see when we get some driving impressions from the press. Best of luck to Engineering!
You are not the first to ask about Aptera's cross wind stability. Here are a few quotes from CEO Chris Anthony from "ask a Question" on the Wefunder Aptera investment site:
"Our advanced aerodynamics has some REAL benefits! We have 120mph crosswind stability when most flat-sided cars start moving at 80 to 90mph. And you barely feel semis are you just slip through their turbulence ;)"
"We've found that we'd start to lose traction on the rear tire in a 120mph crosswind. Most other vehicles would struggle or roll-over at anything over 90mph."
I had a Baja! The Bug's issue was those flat sides combined with a light weight (1800 lbs). The bug still had neutral stability in regards to general aerodynamics. The whole car was blown off the road! ;). Now imagine if your front fenders caught the crosswind like your flat doors did, that could be an issue.
As a high school student I had a VW Bug and a Honda motorcycle. Both were undrivable in a side wind, which was a near constant reality in Western Kansas. The motorcycle would lean into the wind until you passed a grain elevator or large building. Then it would stand up strait, headed in another direction. The VW was worse because the steering gear also tended to freeze in one position. Almost wrecked it several times. Thanks for reminding me of the fun of my teenage years.