While Dave Letterman struggles to correctly describe the Chevrolet Volt, rival late-night host Jay Leno takes a bit more care to get things right in his test drive of the Aptera 2e. To get the facts straight, Leno interviews Paul Wilbur, Aptera's president and CEO. Wilbur explains how the car's solar panels keep the interior cool, talks about the vehicle's aerodynamics, and describes a little bit of the technology inside the 2e's sleek body. One cool thing we learn is that, thanks to the incredibly low drag on the 2e, taking your foot of the accelerator results in a very smooth bit of coasting. The last few minutes of the nine-minute video is of Jay Leno cruising down the California highway at 70 mph, with everybody and their brother snapping pictures as they drive by. Check out the video after the jump. Thanks to Mike B. and Brian for the tips!



[Source: Jay Leno's Garage]

Aptera hasn't formally announced what company it's getting the components that make up its electric drivetrain from, but there's been speculation that Azure Dynamics is the supplier. We still can't be 100-percent certain, but a new video from America.gov (pasted after the break, of course) shows off most of the goods under the 2e's sleek, aerodynamic skin.

In addition to the expected electric motor (bottom left, with what appears to be a heatsink on top), transmission unit and all the electronic bits that make it work, we can see some massive aluminum arms that operate the inboard suspension pieces. It's all impressively compact and looks to be very well engineered, in our non-expert opinions.

Towards the end of the video, we also get a sneak peek at a bunch of composite 2e shells awaiting their chance to be mated up with the rest of the goods that make it all function. Thanks for the tip, Broz!

[Source: YouTube]

Wondering how stable the Aptera 2e's three-wheeled configuration will be? Not having had the chance to slide behind the slinky machine's wheel just yet, we wonder as well. Fortunately, the topic is also on the minds of some of the lucky few testers who have gotten seat time in preproduction Apteras, and at least one person has captured his driving antics on video.

Jason H. Harper, writing for Bloomberg, recently took an Aptera 2e for a spin and he strapped a video camera inside while taking a number of tire-screechingly tight corners at speed. From the looks (and sounds) of things, the Aptera made good use of its twin front wheels and comparatively wide track to remain impressively stable throughout the exercise. We're also wondering about the 17 kWh battery as quoted in this writeup – could this be an optional high-capacity unit?

We still have questions as to how the 2e will perform in inclement weather and, until Aptera releases crash testing data at least, how well it will hold up in the unfortunate event of an accident. Regardless, footage like this makes us look forward to our own stint behind the wheel, whenever that may come.

[Source: Jason H. Harper via Green Car Reports]

We recently opined about the fact that the Department of Energy Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Incentive Program excludes vehicles not covered by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The subject specifically came up because Aptera is supporting a bill that would amend the rules of the program to allow alternative vehicles such as its three wheeled 2e to be eligible for support from the low interest loan program.

The problem arises because three wheelers are considered motorcycles and are exempt from U.S. safety regulations that govern cars and trucks. The concern is that many consumers may not be aware that just because a vehicle has a fully enclosed body, it doesn't necessarily meet the safety standards that other modern vehicles do. Aptera spoke with Green Fuels Forecast about the safety elements built into its design and emphasizes that even though it is not legally required to do so (because it only has three wheels), the 2e is being crash tested and built to automotive safety standards. We'll let the Feds and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety decide whether Aptera has succeeded in its safety quest.

As for the loan program, perhaps the it should be adjusted to allow vehicles that meet safety requirements to be eligible regardless of the number of wheels. Or perhaps it's time to revisit the safety rules and have them apply to vehicles capable of higher speeds even if they have three wheels.


[Source: Green Fuels Forecast]

ApteraForum member HadleyRille generously let us see one of the renderings he made recently of a few hundred Aptera 2es on an apparently endless plane. But, considering that over 4,000 of these vehicles have been pre-ordered thus far, it only makes sense to get a glimpse of what that many of these vehicles would look like. So, if you're an Aptera fan, may we suggest clicking here for your latest computer wallpaper? Here's the thing: this might be the closest we ever get to seeing this many of these EVs.

WIRED reports that the federal government pretty much automatically denied Aptera any of the loan money that it requested because the feds are not interested in funding a vehicle with only three wheels. California Congressman Brian Bilbray is working to change this through an "Innovative Vehicle Act," but it'll take amending the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) to do so.

[Source: HadleyRille, WIRED]

One fun thing we discovered in the Aptera Twitter feed today was this photoshopped image of more Aptera 2es than even exist right now (give them a follow; good stuff. And feel free to add AutoblogGreen's tweets as well). Aptera says it "shows half of all of our pre-orders in one shot." If you've ever wished these things could actually fly, this traffic jam would be a fine time to have that option. Anyway, today's real news from Aptera can be found in our post from earlier today, we just wanted to share this pic.

UPDATE: The shot was created by ApteraForum member, HadleyRille. Thanks.

[Source: Aptera]

In my first column reality checking the Detroit Auto Show, some of you questioned my assertion that even Toyota's relatively high-volume hybrids are probably not profitable. Of course, Toyota has lowered the costs of its Hybrid Synergy Drive components over many years and hundreds of thousands of units. But I believe they're still too high for any Toyota Hybrid - even the Prius or the soon-to-come higher-priced Lexus HS 250h - to turn a profit.

I can't prove it - Toyota is not about to share its cost numbers with me or anyone else - but that's my opinion, and these are "opinion" columns. Yours may differ, and yours may be right. But I'll bet no one outside of Toyota knows for sure.

What most folks outside the industry don't see or comprehend are the enormous costs of designing, testing, developing and validating every one of the thousands of parts and pieces that go into every modern vehicle. Beyond the mostly expensive and relatively low-volume hybrid system components themselves are all the Prius' specific body, chassis, electrical and comfort and convenience parts and pieces, few of which are shared with other vehicles. The addition of the new Lexus HS 250h on the same architecture will help by raising the volumes of parts that are shared, but I doubt whether even that will turn a profit at its higher prices but much lower volumes.

Am I suggesting that Toyota is fibbing by claiming that Prius is profitable? It depends on how they calculate their costs. If they add up the costs of all those parts and pieces - including the still very expensive battery, EVT transmission, motors, wiring, control systems and more - and toss in the relatively minor cost of assembly, the total may indeed be less than the Prius' average selling price. But they would have to discount all those years and huge costs of design, testing, development and validation, which must be spread out ("amortized") over hundreds of thousands, even millions, of units. Their business plan has depended on long-term profitability from growing sales of higher-priced luxury hybrids and sales of the Synergy drive system to other OEMs, neither of which has fared as well as hoped.

What I don't understand is why Prius' profitability seems so important to some ABG readers. If each unit sold does make a buck, bully for them. If not, so what? Toyota's whole hybrid program is still a hugely profitable investment as one of the best-ever image-building efforts any automaker has ever carried out. Whatever they have spent on it through the years is worth far more than any amount of paid advertising they could have bought for similar money. What should be important to potential owners is whether any EV's or HEV's selling price is worth the long-term gas savings it offers, whatever its cost to its manufacturer.

That said, let's reality check some other electrically-powered vehicles showcased at this year's Detroit North American International Auto Show. Follow us after the jump.

The Aptera Forum is buzzing with excitement today as the official set of specifications for the upcoming 2e have been released at the Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) conference that's taking place right now. Early measurements of the car's very wide front track and comparatively short wheelbase have now been confirmed, along with a weight of just 1,500 pounds and a coefficient of drag of just 0.15, a figure that handily beats even the super aerodynamic GM EV1.

Hard data on the electric drivetrain is also rather intriguing. The electric motor offers up 60 lb-ft of torque at an undetermined RPM and the lithium ion phosphate battery pack has a capacity of 10-13 kWh, leading many to believe that there will be an optional pack capable of extending range from the standard 100 miles up to 125 miles.

Other interesting bits include a standard emergency tire inflation system, interior fabrics and plastics made from recycled materials, a smart key and solar glass. A rear backup camera is optional, as is a DVD-based navigation system. See the complete breakdown after the break. Thanks to Josh for providing the list!


[Source: Aptera Forum]

Using the same high efficiency and "user first" philosophy they applied to the Aptera 2e, Jason Hill of Eleven and Nathan Armstrong of Motive Industries have done the impossible and re-made the pontoon boat into a thing of environmentally-sound beauty. On behalf of the Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Company, the engineering and design team has taken the boat builder's signature craft, the solar-powered Loon, and re-thought it from stem to stern, water to sky. The result is a breakthrough design that incorporates full functionality and flexibility.

Due to the core composite construction, its twin hulls are practically puncture-proof and are now integrated into the deck, giving it unbeatable rigidity, yet keeping the weight low. The solar panel-bearing SunRise™ roof system is made of the same material and can lower itself down to the top of the rails to create a convenient compact package when it's time to put the boat on a trailer. The 22-foot craft will feature a flexible activity area with innovative storage spaces and can come with side panels made from a variety of eco-materials including bamboo, natural fibers and recycled plastic. All this and we haven't even touched on one of its coolest features yet. Hit the jump to see what that is and get some technical details.

As it was for the original unveiling of the Aptera Mk-0 prototype back in March of '07, the TED conference will again be the venue for the unveiling of the latest iteration of the company's exercise in automotive efficiency, the 2e. This coming February 3rd in Long Beach, California, those folks who threw down the $6,000 necessary to attend the 2009 edition of the Technology, Entertainment and Design conference (and signed up for the limited slots) will have the chance to drive the pre-production version of the wingless bird you see pictured above. Jealous? Yeah, so are we.

Luckily, the 2e will be making other, more affordable, appearances next month as well. One of which, according to a poster on Aptera Forum, will be at the Four Seasons in Carlsbad on the 20th, where there is to be a big shindig held by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Famed painter-of-whales, Wyland, will also be in attendance and although we can't say whether rides will be offered, the price of admission is a "mere" $120.


[Source: Aptera Forum]