Build your own Aptera

[Marc]

Call me crazy, but I want to build my own Aptera. Here's the deal:

We offer 250 people, like me, who will will become essentially employees of the company without payroll or oh. (How could they say no?)

I will waive all claims and rights to sue, and I give up any warranty in exchange for the right to build my own (or help build it), then drive the car all over creation like a mobile advertisement, and be an enthusiastic ambassador. I provide feedback, and take an active role in trying out refinements.

I WILL PAY FOR THIS RIGHT.

Just give me panels, materials, harness boards, access to any custom jigs, and some reasonable instructions, and I'll make my own. (lovely vacation, eh?)

Is it possible? I think MAYBE. I don't mean to knock the talent of the people on the floor, but I have been noodling this idea and I think I'd make a much better early adopter if I had a hand in putting the thing together, and I *suspect* I'm not alone. Or am I....

[iwannaptera]

Call me crazy
You're crazy

[kyledouglas]

Your tittle had excited me. I had thought you were going to shed some light on a new website feature. :(

[Ardie3301]

Well, they do this very thing with an airplane. You cough up about a hundred and fifty grand, and take a 2-week "vacation" to their factory, learn how to build several different parts of an airplane (*your* airplane), and they build the rest of it. At the end of two weeks, its ready for its taxi tests. WooHoo!

However, this path is *not* for the weak of heart, nor is it inexpensive. It does give you a real insight into construction methods and gives you confidence in your craft like no other way. If you have the bug to build-it-yourself, this is for you.

For Aptera, they'd have to dedicate an actual team of teachers and helpers to "supervise" your progress, and they'd still have to build a significant portion of the vehicle while you tinker endlessly for hours over the options, paint scheme and color selection phase.

Oh. Did I forget to mention that most of the epoxies and other adhesives are not just allergenic, but "may be" a deadly nerve toxin to you if you are exposed to the stuff without vinyl gloves and a respirator mask (even the dust ain't so good for you) for an extended period of time, like two weeks?

So, let Aptera do what it does best. If you still feel that otherwise incurable urge to build something, build a boat. You can take *years* doing it, and nobody seems to make fun of you. Well, not much. Be the first in your neighborhood to build an electric boat. I know, its been done before (Duffy Electric Boats are all the rage here in Newport Beach), but you may still be the first one on your block...

-- Ardie

[KarenRei]

Your tittle had excited me. I had thought you were going to shed some light on a new website feature. :(

If you're looking for a webapp that lets you design your own Aptera in whatever style you want, I wrote one a while back. It's sadly missing just one thing: a 3d model of an Aptera :P CandidQuality said he was going to make one but never finished it.

[3WELECTRIC]

:aptera: ]

[3WELECTRIC]

A build your own system could work as long as the department of transportation signs off on your vehicle. What do you think "Steve"

[jstdadd]

Call me crazy, ... Or am I....

Yes, you're crazy.

Why don't you just 'customize' it when you get it. Way more fun, way less hassle to the company. Don't slow them down, please!

(All in good fun, man.)

[hyo silver]

Building even a bicycle is harder than it looks. And yeah, those composites can be pretty nasty to work with. As much fun as it sounds, I'd rather let Aptera do its thing than have yet another unfinished project.

[c0mp13x]

Yeah, build your own Aptera... just quadruple the
rates listed below for our current economic conditions:

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/GAL/SPSBK~Busted-Knuckle-Posters.jpg

:happy0025:

[Captain_Altair]

Marc, don't listen to the naysayers! You are not crazy!
However, just because you're not crazy doesn't mean Aptera is going to let you in
the door. They won't. But there is another option - literally build you own Aptera!

About 20 years ago I sent off for plans to build a Tri-Magnum, a 3-wheeler you build
yourself from a motorcycle minus the front forks and a VW bug front end. Weld the
two together, drop in some seats, and fiberglass whatever shaped body you want
on top. What could be simpler?

After thumbing through the plans for a few days and taking inventory of my time,
experience, tools, and garage space, I decided to put my project on indefinite hold
(project update: still on hold - haven't seen the plans in years).

Just because I was ill-prepared to start this project doesn't mean you are. And even
if you decide that you are not up to the task, there are people who can do it for you.
I've known guys that could have drivable chassis by the end of a long weekend and
an aesthetically pleasing body on top by the end of the next.

True - converting the ICE to electric will probably take longer (and cost more) than
getting it to this point. It's a BIG project. But if you want it enough, you could have
the first Aptera on your block!

[Carbon Saver II]

The Cobra above was built by me in my garage (during '94-'95 - took 14 months in between other things) and runs in club open track events in Northern California. I re-designed the front suspension after blowing it apart at the track (my re-design has never failed since).

Building a car is a learning experience in which the risk are little things like you life.... But that never stopped me. Confidence is going into turn 2 at Laguna at 135 mph and using the brake package you built into the vehicle (in this case '69 Malibu 454SS calipers matched up to Ford Granda 11" rotors. Research and experimentation is important....

BTW the kit manufacturer said the engine I used won't fit, it did with modification. Oil pan bottom is exactly at the frame line, and the engine sets back about 2 inches, which is better for weight and balance. They also wanted me to use parts from 5 different cars, I retrofited all the parts from a '91 Mustang. All the functions of a modern car in an old body, cruise control, AC, all smog controls are functioning, slap control on the fuel pump, air bag, blah, blah, blah and about 375 horsepower, no blower. And I am just a Bean Counter. Imagine what an engineer could do....

If you have the will, you can do it. There are over 2,200 wires in that beast....

P.S. I asked Aptera early on about the availability of a kit version, and they are not interested in making that available. If they did I'd be in the garage....

[A1phaGeek]

Have you seen the The XR-3 Hybrid?

http://www.rqriley.com/xr3.htm

The XR-3 Hybrid
A Three-Wheel Super-Mileage Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle
You can build from plans...

This sounds like just what you were hoping for??

[randyd]

It's a 3WDrive hybrid!

Interesting. Thanks for the link.

[Marc]

c0mp13x - that image cracks me up - How true! Yea, well - It's great when you're the buyer, but I do know what its like if you're the seller, and like I said - I take full responsibility and liability for the end product.

What I don't want to do is 1) The panels, 2) The jigs, 3) Harnesses, 4) Welding 5) anything requiring special tooling.

I have not heard of the XR-3 - will look into it.

[Carbon Saver II]

Interesting, but does not seem to be thought through as well as the Aptera. I'll wait :aptera: Besides I have seen what Neil has done before and would prefer something at that level :) .

Besides I need to have some time to play with the Cobra. Blown head gaskets to replace (got ignored while we/I did a kitchen/whole-house remodel on the honeydo list)... That usually leads to other upgrades as I go through it.... Last time it was aluminum heads, not sure what else I can add, but that is the fun of playing with it....

Increasing horsepower adds heat, and with the engine on top of the foot boxes (#3 header is 1/2 inch away from the throttle foot, while there is no transfer into the drivers area, it is reflected right back at the engine - can't recommend Thermotech products enough!!!), removing heat will be some thing to play with for now....

If Aptera takes more than next summer to deliver (1,419 - 2e) I will re-look at this option and others that no doubt will be to market by then. The push under the new leadership for alternative vehicles is going to be big, IMHO. My wife got a new vehicle July 2007, so it's my turn. That Prius is doing fine and gets used a lot. That Prius is at 35k and running 48.9 mpg regularly.... and making me a believer in electricity as a power source. Wife wonders who I am when driving it attempting to increase mileage as opposed to the Cobra or the Mustang driving like a mad man :evilgrin0003:

The Greenist car is one you don't replace, and the 1993 5.0 Mustang is in that category, but only goes about 20 miles a day. Carbon footprint is not too bad, and one has to consider the carbon footprint of the manufacturing of the replacement and the disposal of the old car in looking at the real impact on the planet of the transportation that you use.

The Cobra, no excuses, is a toy, but at least is smog legal and the CATs cut down the effect. And it is oh so fun to pound it at Sears, Laguna and Thunderhill in NorCal....

[curbowman]

I do agree with A1phaGeek, the XR3 is an alternative to for the DIY fans. In fact, the expected performance of the XR3 is not that different from the Aptera's.

40-mile all-electric range
300 miles hybrid range
max speed: 80 mph
2F1R 3-wheeler, 2-seater

The big difference is that it can be customized by the builder in any way he/she wants. Find out more about the XR3 here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b22yHJMBj4

This is a video of the XR3 during its presentation in the Phoenix chapter of the SAE:
http://gallery.me.com/bobkoch5629/100089

And here is the entire presentation, with Bob Riley himself speaking in detail about the vehicle, its development, and the why of the choices he made during its construction. Even if you're not interested in the XR3, it's almost mandatory to see it. It's about an hour long, but really, really worthwile for every electric/hybrid fan out there:
http://gallery.me.com/bobkoch5629/100104

[NmGfan]

Riley's team helped Myers Motors with the suspension and braking improvements on the NmG. Purported to be the guru of three wheelers...

The FWD system for the ICE used on the XR3 is from a Subaru (not a transverse) with air bag springs. The RWD system is electric motor only with (gasp!) belt and pulleys. :happy0025:

[roflwaffle]

The Greenist car is one you don't replace, and the 1993 5.0 Mustang is in that category, but only goes about 20 miles a day. Carbon footprint is not too bad, and one has to consider the carbon footprint of the manufacturing of the replacement and the disposal of the old car in looking at the real impact on the planet of the transportation that you use.I wouldn't go that far, for instance this (http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/footprint/calculations%20transportation.html) says that construction only requires ~15% of a vehicle's fuel/energy use, and given how much more efficient the Aptera is, I'm thinking it would be greener for your 20 miles a day. Not that the 5.0 shouldn't get a chance to stretch it's legs every now and then. :character0008:

[Tech117]

Yeah, build your own Aptera... just quadruple the
rates listed below for our current economic conditions:

img Can't post images until I have 4 posts.. /img

:happy0025:

Love that sign. So true when you're working on something out in the garage and the vehicle owner wants to know everything you're doing!

"What's this thingy here?"
"That's VSV for the EGR."
"Oh,... what's a VSV?"
"Vacuum Switching Valve."
"And the EGR?"
"Exhaust Gas Recirculator"
"Why would you want to recirculate exhaust gases?"
etc, etc, etc...

Probably best to just leave them alone while they're working on it. It'll get done faster that way.

Oh, and I would love to see someone try and build a composite bodied car from scratch in less than 2 years. It's hard enough to build a decent car with a tube frame chassis in that ammount of time.

-Dave

[hill]

You'd be surprised how many volunteers there always are to be free 'early adapters'. If it were to happen? Aptera would look to see when/where/how long the volunteer's commute is. They aren't looking for someone out in podunk Idaho, rather someone who'd have the car in 405 grid lock ... prime time driving rush hour scenerio, for at least 1hr each direction. More advertising time for the buck, so to speak.

[Marc]

"someone who'd have the car in 405 grid lock" - That's pretty much my commute. :) Either 405 or PCH... I'm traversing two counties - that is a LOT of daily visibility.