Just an idea to add a strong structural piece to the back so that a tow hitch could be added. They make small cargo carriers for motorcycles and it would be great to have one on this vehicle for camping and vacations. As a motorcyclist, I'd like also to have a removable windshield to create that motorcycle feeling.
top of page
bottom of page
If you want the motorcycle feeling, buy a motorcycle. A removed windshield would destroy the aerodynamics.
No towing! Lets stay true to the concept that captured our interest. The Aptera is not a general purpose vehicle. Let's keep the design simple and easy to produce for the first iteration. If you want to tow, then get a vehicle that has that as a part of the design.
If enough people want "Towing" put it as an option in some future version or have some third party produce a "Kit"
Read the other posts on this thread that discuss why Aptera failed the first time.
I deliver groceries for Whole Foods, and typically need cargo room for 30 to 40 paper bags of groceries. It would be nice if Aptera designed a trailer that is light-weight to tow behind the car so that folks can pack it for vacations, or, in my case, delivering items for a living. Aptera could add solar panels to the trailer too. That would be nice. I can deliver UberEats food with the car as it is now, but I either need a differently designed Aptera car with more cargo space, or a trailer to use with the current design to fit all those bags of groceries.
All these ideas are great just for fun, but I agree with an earlier post saying let them get the first one out the door first. It reminds me of an old saying:
As you ramble on through life brother
Whatever be your goal,
Keep your eye upon the donut,
and not upon the hole.
Here's my motorcycle trailer & I'd love to have something similar or a swapable part for Aptera use. Moto-mule stopped but others continue to make like https://kipmoto.com/pages/sherpax
I think the Pulmoor trailer - plastic - has a solar panel option. http://www.sporttrailer.co/ I wonder if there are other similar trailers with a solar panel option?
Careful what you ask for. It seemed like the old Aptera failed because everyone wanted everything (a standard car - which it is not). The old company kept changing the design to incorporate what people wanted (front wheel drive instead of rear, powered windows, etc.) The design changed from being clean and lean to fat and clunky. In the end, too many changes slowed down real progress and they ran out of money. At least this time they are working with Munroe and running in-wheel motors. That should help.
I think Aptera should be for efficient transportation as its focus, not an every man's car for all situations and all conditions. Stay true to the original intent - efficiency. Bring it to market quick. Get that prototype done!
Excellent point Tom, I'd be interested in that too
Perhaps if the trailer also had solar panels on it, it could extend the range of the vehicle as well as power the camper?
I have also seen small campers that can be towed by a motorcycle. I have seen some of the cargo trailers that can be towed by a motorcycle. Perhaps it would have to be really light weight. I have a feeling that the Aptera isn't really made for towing but I have seen other cars that tow trailers that weren't really suppose to either. It would be interesting to see what it could tow.
Motor on each wheel, not sure how it could be towable.
I was told there is lightweight hitch planned but no details. And I did not ask this question back in ~2009 on the old 2e prototype, at a “roadshow” to realize “how”¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
I was told that you would be able to tow the Aptera with the front wheels on a car towing dolly. I believe the old Aptera 2e was moved around “back in the day” to some events that way, but they did not mention lifting the rear wheel¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Add an option to pick up the rear wheel and be able to tow it in on the front wheels behind my motorhome.