I thought it was a very forward thinking idea to give the Aptera owner the right to make repairs. This is a double-edged sword, but if they are able to back it up with in-person maintenance, it should work well for most cases.
As I thought about the options while placing my order, I wondered if it would be possible for the battery packs to be replaceable/removable by the owner? I wondered if I order a 600 mile range version, would I be able to remove an extra pack or two in order to change the capability based on the mission. For me, most of the vehicle's use would be to commute. I would only need one pack (250 mile version). But I would like to order the 600 mi version, so that I have the extra range. At home, I could configure the car for my daily commute by removing the unneeded battery(s). Less weight for daily use, ability for longer range missions maintained. The unused battery pack(s) could be stored in a protective case, plugged into a battery maintainer/charger to keep it protected. From some of the renderings, you can see several battery packs with each one seeming to be the added range of the different versions (ie. 200mi per pack)
This would be a great feature, with some manageable risk. Having owners pull batteries could be problematic as the energy density is quite high and as such the fire risk is real. Does anyone know if Aptera has considered this in their design?
https://www.aptera.us/forum/main/comment/60296630b027ef0018a94a4f
My guess is they wouldn't want the liability of the customer upgrading battery packs.
During the Q&A yesterday, they excluded the possibility even to upgrade the battery. This is because the battery pack will be integrated in the chassis.
From Aptera's point of view, I would think that having their customers changing out the most dangerous part of the car on a regular basis would be their worst nightmare. I suppose it is possible to design a case that protects the contacts and makes it nearly impossible to short out and cause an explosion, but the battery packs appear to be highly integrated into the body. There are also thermal transfer concerns. Not impossible to do, but I think it would pose a huge liability and possibly endanger their customers. I was planning on getting the 600 mile pack, which is enough to let me drive about as far and long as I care to drive in one day, even on a vacation.