Why side-by-side design vs the single aisle design like Elio? The single aisle could reduce cost and be even more efficient in theory and is better as a pure commuter car since 1 person is in it most of the time anyway. Would need an even smaller battery.
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Car experience vs Motorcycle experience. Many non-leaning EV trikes both seating configurations out there, Aptera being, tadpole config side by side seating -> 2 wheels in front, one in rear, others https://vanderhallusa.com/edison-2-2020/ , https://www.sondorselectriccarcompany.com/ , vs Tandem/front/back seating https://www.arcimoto.com/ , etc. Only a few leaning tandem delta trike EVs, all Tandem due to geometry needed for effective leaning, one being sold, a few still in development. https://carver.earth/en/ (low performance) https://www.helixmotors.com/ - Helix licensed the patent from Ian Bruce plus added some new tech and patents, so this new steering technology different and supposedly superior than Carver in many ways. The base US patent is here: http://www.google.com/patents/US8781684 , and the just-announced https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210630005368/en/Arcimoto-and-Lightning-Motorcycles-Begin-Development-of-World%E2%80%99s-Fastest-Electric-Three-Wheel-Tilting-Motorcycle Also Lithuania-based AKO’s electric leaning trike is even more unique thanks to its high power and sporty handling characteristics. https://electrek.co/2021/01/29/akos-high-performance-leaning-electric-sport-trike-begins-taking-reservations/
To be complete, this enclosed over-priced tandem seating e-motorcycle is a "sometimes 4-wheeler, but mostly 2-wheeler, the PERAVES CZ W19A-MRE-130 MonoRacer -> https://www.peravescz.com/electric-version/
Three wheels are inherently less stable than four. You want as wide a track in front as you can get to minimize roll in emergency maneuvers.
Why isn't the design inline vs side by side? Fewer people are interested in inline? + less storage space for length. I know I don't want an inline design, it too antisocial.
@John Butterfield This is in proportion to how long you have been married 😁
My wife and I would need only 1 and it could be the Aptera Paradigm.
I will tell you....I put my money down on an Elio 7 years ago (3 wheeled tandem seating gas car) and my wife said she would not sit in the back. Depending on each individuals situation, could be a bad thing or a good thing. 😉
@mr.kilpinen
That's why everyone ends up back at Aptera. Twike5 and Sondors would be alternatives, but two-seater. Helix 300 MPGe solor-seater. When you find one, send me the link.
There is also the inefficiency of needing multiple vehicles in your garage to serve all of your needs to consider. Having two or three $20K - $60K vehicles sitting there, all requiring insurance, maintenance, charging, etc. that you can practically hear depreciating in value is an economic luxury most people cannot afford. Add to that the environmental consumption of resources to build all of those cars, and it gets pretty ugly very quick.
mark_c_moreno
mark_c_moreno
Forget Aptera, these are the right EVs for you 😀
My guess (and this is a guess) is as follows: What you said might be true for a pure electric vehicle. Aisle seating might be more efficient.
Aptera is solar powered. A solar power car needs surface area for the solar panels.
A second answer might come from studying nature. A tear drop is the most aerodynamic shape. A tear drop is round at the front and tapers off. The passenger would have to be squished to fit behind the driver.
Imagine putting two people in a water drop. Two people shaped objects would fit better side by side than in a line. The tear drop tapers off dramatically and wouldn't give headroom for the rear passenger.
I plan to replace my gas guzzling Cadillac CTS with the Aptera. And, while commuting to work is the primary use for the car, I still want to be able to go somewhere with my daughter or SO, both around town and on long trips, and have it be sociable. Not much of a date if you are yelling over your shoulder at them. The inline seating is limiting, although I get your point that the efficiency could be further increased by reducing the frontal area of the car, and possibly the weight. I guess my personal requirement is for the highest efficiency with seating for two, side by side. There is an untapped market out there that won't buy this car because it can't carry 4-5 people. Some of the future designs Aptera shows for larger sedans and SUVs, etc. make me sad. Those look like market or VC driven designs destined to lose the spirit of this car. I would rather see them go in the direction you are suggesting,and maybe even take it down to a 1-seater. But then that begs the question of how much utility do you trade for a little more efficiency. Hardcore engineering types might get all geeked up on it, but I think most people want a better balance of efficiency and a social interior.
Side by side is more social and car-like. I would not have placed an order if it was single row seating. Also, it wipes out the storage in the trunk. I think Aptera is on the right track.
Having driven hundreds of thousands of miles two up with my wife on motorcycles, I can tell you that the side by side seating is more social, and we are at the stage in life where we will appreciate the better communication the side by side will allow.
https://www.aptera.us/forum/aptera-design-discussion/overall-structure-perportion-alternatives