voyager
Active Member
Erh, Lightyear just went belly up. Check out the thread on LY.That would be the LIGHTYEAR 2 Model under $40K
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Aptera
- Thread starter UCIBtheG
- Start date
voyager
Active Member
LY is reportedly working on the business case in which production of the LY2 can still be pursued...Super expensive Lightyear 0 Yes, But new affordable Lightyear 2 not belly up
(fingers crossed)
voyager
Active Member
The future of solar EVs dims: Lightyear is bankrupt, Sion fights for its life, Aptera on the brink
It’s been a real tough month for the few but extremely innovative solar EV companies out here. Having just announced...
electrek.co
henderrj
Active Member
The I can't charge at home & lifestyle market. Disrupting the same as Tesla - ICE.
I'd say they're competitors in that one is for Right to Repair. Aptera is also trying to reverse the vehicles getting heavier trend.
I’d add environmentalists and “eco geeks” that are interested in maximizing efficiency and minimizing environmental impact and the unique engineering work that goes along with that.
Not so much disrupting anything as finding a new niche.
Not even necessarily eco geeks, just some eco road tripper, solo or couple.
Although initially only 40kW DCFC you'd still be able to travel, and the efficiency means that charging will be cheaper than other EVs,, and destination charging would be much more useful.
voyager
Active Member
@jsmay311 That's exactly who I know who's really interested in the Aptera!
I think there is a market for this car, but not a huge one. The packaging tradeoffs are pretty stark compared to a normal sedan/hatch/wagon. Kind of like a sports car, but instead of being a sports car, it's an eco-car, and super wide. Seriously wide. To me that's the most compromised part of the packaging.
I suspect it's too wide to even fit through my garage door. Though I've seen conflicting width numbers published so I'll withhold final judgement there until it's actually for sale and someone has measured a production vehicle.
For me the tradeoffs aren't worth it. A modern Model 3 or Model S goes far enough on one charge for me, and are quite efficient for what they are. More would be nice, but not worth compromising practicality for. That said I respect what Aptera is doing and their level of focus + commitment to it. It will be a very unique vehicle on the market. I like that, even if it's not the unique vehicle for me.
This is kind of the market that the original Honda Insight filled in the late '90's. It's sort of the Prius market but the Prius' bigger size made that market a lot larger than a 2-seater.
I, too, wonder if that market is large enough to make it but time will tell.
@Baluchi Prius is a very practical, well-packaged 4 door hatchback though. Even has a great turning radius. They drive like crap, but there's no functional compromises. Well a high trunk floor I guess but as a hatchback it still has good utility.
I agree with @Earl the 1st gen Insight is a closer comparison, and the Aptera is more extreme still.
I'm not trying to sway you against one, I'm just saying the Aptera in its initial form factor will never touch the popularity the Prius has had for the past 20 years. Not remotely close. I think if Aptera can produce and sell in the volume of a popular sports car, that would be a great success, and the most that could be hoped for of a car like this. Aptera could certainly expand their lineup later though!
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@UCIBtheG How will the Aptera qualify for permanent solo HOV lane access? As a motorcycle because it's 3 wheeled? That could be a strong incentive, if not quite as strong as pre-pandemic.
That's true of course; by permanently I meant that no sticker with an expiration date would be required. But as long as three wheeled vehicles are considered motorcycles, and motorcycles maintain HOV lane access, they're good to go.
I just don't want to see anyone trying to split lanes in an Aptera
No, no, no. When I bought my Prius it was only because I wanted to virtue signal. Or to save money. Or so I'm told.
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