I have read multiple times that the Aptera is designed for a maximum payload of 500 pounds. Why is this the case? It seems like a very low maximum. This seems like a very low limit. For example: According to healthline.com, the average American male over the age of 20 weighs 197.9 pounds. Observing this limit, if two average-sized mendrove an Aptera to a farmer's market, bought a bushel of apples, a peck of tomatoes, a 20-pound bag of potatoes, a 10-pound bag of onions, and a watermelon (average weights for the apples, tomatoes, and watermelon), the driver would be forced to leave his friend at the market to drive his relatively modest produce purchases home.
Also, the same two men could not travel with three average sized suitcases.
Is there any way to make accommodation for more than 500 pounds of payload? If not, what are the consequences of occasionally exceeding the limit?
I think the primary answer is that keeping the weight down is critical to achieving the range figures. The lighter battery vehicles may have more payload capacity. We will have a lot more information about this as the validation tests are performed.
One thing worth noting: getting the payload up to 600 lbs (maybe with a special model specifically for that market, or not offering the 100 kWh pack and using the reduced weight of the 25/40/60 kWh packs to allow the additional payload) would make the Aptera legal in Australia.
(I looked because of possible issues with the World Solar Challenge, which is held in Australia on public roads - basically, "motor tricycles" are only allowed 1.85 m of width (with Aptera being 2.235 m wide) and under 1000 kg gross mass, but "light goods vehicles" can have three wheels if they're over 1000 kg gross mass, and over half of their payload is cargo (with an assumption of each passenger seat being filled with 68 kg) - so as long as payload's over 272 kg (599.7 lbs), over half of the payload is cargo and therefore it's a truck legally and can be 2.5 m wide and over 1000 kg gross mass.)
From Google
Honda GL1000 Gold Wing - 360 lbs
Suzuki DL1000 V-Storm - 375 lbs
Harley Davidson FLHT - 449 lbs
Vanderhall Carmel - 500 lbs
Vanderhall Edison - 500 lbs
Polaris Slingshot - 457 lbs
Aptera- 500 lbs - 25 cu. ft.
Lotus Elise- 534 lbs - 4 cu. ft.
Tesla Roadster- 550 lbs
Bugatti Veyron- 688 lbs - 1.3 cu. ft.
2001 Honda Insight- 365 lbs - 16.3 cu. ft.
Fiat 500- 900 lbs - 9.5 cu. ft
Nissan Leaf- 1213 lbs - 23.6 cu. ft.
Toyota Prius(2016) -860 lbs - 25 cu. ft.
Tesla Model 3- 850 lbs - 15 cu. ft.
So It's got more space and more weight capacity than a gen 1 Honda Insight. I'm not worried.
This thread is titled:
"Impractically low payload limit?"
This is not true. It does not have a low payload limit!
Then this thread compares the Aptera with other cars:
Ford Fiesta, 827 pounds. Toyota Yaris 915 to 964 pounds. Chevy Aero 902 pounds.
I strongly disagree. All these cars are 4 passenger vehicle. If they are to be compared with Aptera, you would have to cut the passenger number in half and the payload in half. None of these vehicles would be able to match the Aptera. The Aptera has a payload to passenger ratio that exceeds ALL the vehicle listed.
Compare apples with apple, not apples with oranges.
My Mazda Miata has a payload of 350lbs. so I'm not worried about Aptera's 500lbs
I don't disagree with the comments above all I was saying if you are missing 200 lbs of batteries then I don't think the vehicle would notice an extra hundred pounds of cargo. I was trying to put Frank Gavetts mind at ease for the occasional cross road or grocery trip.
If they do not tune each suspension system based on the battery choice, then I believe if you do not select the 1,000 mile version your payload could be higher than the 500 lbs. I wouldn't go overboard, but seems reasonable to me to add 100 lbs. or so without much effect.
A few weird ideas are floating around here. The reason the weight is limited is that, if they would write 800 Pounds on it, it would be tested with those 800 Pounds by the NHTSA. And if it can not handle those 800 Pounds max load, it will be rated as unsave or even not allowed to drive on US roads. Same for other countries.
So increasing the load means you need stronger components so the car can still perform well even if fully loaded.
That said, if you load it with 550 pounds not much more will happen than with 500 pounds.
And if you really need more payload, there are still ways to increase it.
More weight will increase the rolling resistance and compress the suspension and increase the aerodynamic drag.
Miatas have a recommended payload of 340 lbs, but I routinely go over 420lbs just with 2 passengers plus sometimes 100lbs in the trunk. I've never noticed a big change except for a 10% reductions in acceleration. Weight doesn't affect braking distance much (braking friction force is proportional to mass) except for repeated stops or long hills where the brakes or tires can overheat.
Great observation. The Aptera realistically is an enclosed two seat motorcycle. As with many highway cruiser bikes, two or three wheeled, the payload is limited and designed into the bike. The same design and engineering is designed into the Aptera. It is limited by law to be under 1800 lbs which is a limitation for motorcycles, so structurally it is well designed to meet these constraints. As with any vehicle, whether it is a sports car, family sedan, or pickup truck, overloading the chassis or drive-train will have negative consequences whether it is cargo or towing. Overheating on uphill climbs, battery load and longevity are concerns. Overloading any composite structure can could result in delamination or fatigue in the subframe interfaces. I find the specs of the Aptera very close to the Smartfortwo, EV Smart car which was produced as a sub-division of Mercedes Benz. It was last offered in 2019. It is a two seater EV with a 419 lb. payload. It has a curb weight of 2094 lbs. and gross weight of 2535 lbs., so substantially more than the Aptera. It is was designed as a city car as is any EV with a range less than 90 miles. It was sold for $25k so even the pricing was similar to the 250 Aptera. It had a 7.8 sq ft cargo area and was not designed for long road trips. It was very safe with the Tridiron Safety passenger cell and could be had with luxury appointment of leather seating, and tech packages. I have friends in our car club who no longer fit into their Ferraris and Porsches because of weight gain, or physical limitations in their accessibility, and have found larger sports sedan more comfortable for longer range trips. We all come in different sizes and have different expectations of the Aptera, but once released, we will see how well it fits into our lifestyles.
What is the payload limit of the average Econo-car? Probably about the same.