Technology to eliminate windshield wipers

That’s a big windshield. Even though has a design to reduce the aerodynamic issues around windshield wipers...I wonder if Aptera can someday consider new windshield clearing technology, as used in fighter jet and race cars (like McLaren) when affordable...to complement the aerodynamics?

https://youtu.be/6zAqyqWVZ8Y

8 comments

8 Comments

Commenting on this post isn't available anymore. Contact the site owner for more info.

barry.hendriks

Apr 25, 2021

Many years ago when I was in Amsterdam Holland I first encounter the concept of wind curtains - at the entrance of a shop they have air blowing that keeps the hot air inside the shop and the cold air outside.

I wonder if a similar concept can be used to blow air over the windshield to keep rain snow incects etc off the windshield?

This can then eliminate windshield wipers even on low speeds or when stationary at a robot

spacepilot

Jul 15, 2021

Replying to

How much energy is it going to take to generate that air curtain? I’m guessing more than windshield wipers. Following other vehicles on the freeway with snow and Mag Chloride you need wipers AND window washer fluid to keep them clean, and I believe it is even the law in Colorado to have sufficient wiper fluid on board.

We have windshield air combined with a commercial grade rain repellent on the windshield on the Citation X I fly. We call it the leaf blower, and it clears a small 3/4 square foot hole of water/dew to get us to the runway, but it depends on airspeed to really clear the window of rain. Fortunately we are at least 140 mph in the air. We also still get a lot of bugs, and even heavy rain at 250 knots doesn’t do much to remove them.