How much value does the 3d motor add?
Certainly it gets up to speed faster, but how often are you gong to use that?
Does it just eat up the charge faster.
In the snow is it like the difference from Fwd to Awd and/or 4wd
Does it make a big difference in acceleration, say 70-85
From what I see, it also does not add to the top end
Yep, that 3.5 secs to 60 sounds good, but 2.5k extra perhaps the FWD is the wiser option
Guess I'm looking for someone to convince me to do the upgrade.
In their Youtube interviews, the developers have mentioned several times that All Wheel Drive will allow them to use computer driven, complex handling algorithms that will help in ride, handling, stability, speed, balance, anti-roll, etc..
I only rememver the famous Swindon Roundabout and speed and agility can save your life there!
Cheers!
I'll go for the AWD version with the off road package and all terrain tyres as roads in UK can be so bad that you would often need it! It would also probably be better up steep hills and pulling away at junctions with the AWD.
AWD... but its only 3 instead of four. So.... ill check the vid. I suspect that its being in the center as opposed to behind the front wheels should have some value. Thoughts?
Ya know. I want a good YouTube review. Preferably a 3d party so no one claims bias. Sandy?
Agreed.
I also like the affordability of RWD at $2.5k LESS & maybe 2 seconds longer 0-60 like a Corolla.
Also, no matter what, front tires already take about 80% of the braking load, & about 70% of the cornering. Instead of also adding 100% of the acceleration load, there is some logic behind putting that on the RWD tire.
HOWEVER, after they delete the now-redundant friction brakes, RWD would require the addition of front brake discs, calipers, hoses, lines, master cylinder, etc. So after they delete brakes, AWD might be the only option that makes $ense.
$2.5K to shave TWO SECONDS off zero-to-sixty and faster than many expensive, modified ICE "performance" cars? You had me at "A" in "AWD." Can't wait to be pinned to the seats.
@Craig Alberhasky probably should check out those Elaphe vids that seem to refute his somewhat-negative comments above.
@OceanDragon is 100% correct. However proper shock-absorber tuning should eliminate the "bouncy" ride, most US highways are pretty smooth, AND the road-trip model's heavier battery also gives a smoother ride.
There's a fairly new relevant point, from the vid linked below: NO BRAKES ARE NEEDED!!! This reduces total vehicle mass*, rotational inertia, AND un-sprung weight, and also reduces cost & complexity.
*Delete all brake rotors, calipers, hoses, lines, master cylinder/reservoir(s)/fluid, & pump (not sure if all BEVs have that, but mine does).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ5sU2r-xxw
It will be interesting to find out how well the hub motors tolerate salt, sand, mud, dust and the like.
I would love to see a projection of how the third motor might affect regen and overall control. Is a reduction in ride comfort a necessary bi-product of the 3WD option? If so, how significant a change in ride comfort is this likely to be?
Craig should check out some of the hub motor torture-tests. I think I saw it frozen in a solid block of ice. I definitely saw it fully submerged in SALT water, which would come in handy every time there's a hurricane & you wait to evacuate because Aptera is fine in 110mph winds.
Aptera says:
- Wheel covers snap off very easily (could leave at home in snow).
- AWD only takes "a few %" off the range.
- A full 70% of weight is on the front wheels.
That's actually MORE than the average FWD car that does so well in snow. HOWEVER, unlike a 4-wheeler, it should provide very neutral cornering, with nearly equal weight on each of the 3 tires:
Aptera's front 35% on each tire, rear 30%.
4-wheel FWD 30% on each front, rear 20% on each.
I can only speak in generalities since I do not know how the car is actually going to be programmed or how sophisticated the controller will be. The tires and wheels are a cars only contact with the surface road or street. Under most conditions all four wheels are turning the same amount. When turning a standard ICE has differentials to distribute rotation along the radius of the turn. But this all changes when a tire loses traction with sand, water, gravel, or goes airbourn. Many modern cars now have traction control and ABS to assist the car in those situations. Unlike ICE, the wheels of the Aptera will also function in regenerative braking. All wheel drive is just a way for the car to get as much control of each wheel. Now also program into that torque vectoring which the Aptera hopefully has. Like the Rivian, and some EV Formula cars, the controller will be the electronic differential and spin an outer wheel at a faster rate depending upon the turn radius. Yes the third wheel can also be a factor in that and will be an intermediate radius when compared to the turn radius of each front wheel. A third wheel doesn't necessarily use significantly more power cruising down the road. The power is just split three ways instead of two. During regeneration, one will have three generators instead of two. This is all a generality and we will have to see the detailed specs on the car when it is produced. I myself am favoring the all wheel drive system. Ride comfort will be sacrificed though so those going on long touring trips may not like it.
Might come in handy in snow or off-road driving. Other than that, you may be correct in that it is unnecessary and just added complexity. Rear tire would seem to last longer in a free wheeling situation than it would under power. I imagine if you had an Aptera with the 250 mile battery, that it might be pretty light over the front wheels for decent traction in the snow. Some parts of the country get no snow but in Omaha, Nebraska the snow has been pretty abundant this year and front wheel vehicles get around pretty well because they have the gas engine weight over the driving wheels. Another thing is that the snow packs up pretty badly around the tires in the wheel wells and that would certainly bode unfavorably for those shrouds around the 3 wheels. That clearly would be a messed up situation for an Aptera and mark my words the shrouds would pack up with snow big time. Best to park an Aptera once snow flies or remove the shrouds until the streets are without snow. Can't imagine that those motorized hubs would take kindly to being encased in ice. Better to drive another car during snow time.
Yeap, snow and primitive roads, which I have..., are the only reason I ordered it. I don’t see myself ever using the 0-60mph 3.5 sec use benefit
Whenever i owned a vehicle that did 0-60mph in less than 10seconds , high torque...I seemed change the tites more often
And back than I only had that acceleration to safely get onto some busy roads at peak hours
Less of those in retirement😉