Aptera - Aerodynamic Three Wheeler
- Filed under: Technology
- Date: Mar 8,2008
The American company Accelerated Composites aims to keep the design of its Aptera concept car even closer to an aerodynamic ideal shape. The company claims to be able to achieve a drag coefficient of less than 0.06 using a highly unconventional aerodynamic body shape. Combined with a lightweight composite construction, the Aptera should achieve a fuel consumption as low as 0.7 litres per one hundred kilometres (336 mpg US).
The styling of the Aptera concept car shows more resemblance with airplane than with car design. The car has a wide front with two separate front wheels and a tapered rear section with one, fully enclosed rear wheel. Because of the very low drag, the Aptera is equipped with movable fins on the back to create active aerodynamic stabilization at high speeds.
The Aptera will be equipped with a parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system.
The first prototype of the Aptera is under constructed during 2006. Accelerated Composites is planning production in Southern California, which could start as early as 2008.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
DRIVE SYSTEM: Parallel hybrid-electric + combustion engine
POWER OUTPUT
Diesel engine: 9 kW (12 hp)
Electric motor: 18.6 kW (25 hp)
FUEL: Diesel
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 0.7 l / 100 km (335 mpg US)
MAXIMUM SPEED: 155 km/h (95 mph)
ACCELERATION 0-97 KM/H (60 MPH): 11 sec.
9 Responses for "Aptera - Aerodynamic Three Wheeler"
en,,,that’s so beautiful.
Ummm, just so you know those 3D renderings aren’t what the actual car looks like. I think some student decided to try and model the Aptera and uploaded the pics online. There obvious differences with shape and slope of the car in these pics and the actual car shown on the Aptera site. The whole rear is completely different.
These are just concept images. See the real thing at Aptera.com. This is a real vehicle that you can preorder now, but only if you live in California. The first ones roll off the line by the end of this year. VERY COOL!
These renderings and info are very out of date.
See the updated info at aptera.com
These guys need to learn how to make electric cars look like normal cars if they want anyone to buy them.
It looks like something designed by Luigi Colani and that man is a certifiable nut.
Cute, and since it’s legally a motorcycle, you might even be able to register it without Fed-spec bumpers. The market for a car that holds a skinny driver, one passenger *and nothing else* is probably a lot smaller than the hype assumes. I smell snake oil; this looks like the sort of thing that sells a lot of stock but never quite makes it to market.
Now all it needs are some rims and tribal graphics on the side.
its like 3d animation… looks nice
I actually attempted to reserve one of these and put a down payment on it. I had
reservation # 449 but was rejected after Aptera found out I live in Ohio as they will only
sell it in California at this time. According to their newsletter, the electric version is in
production at this time.
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