Opinions on rear door

[c0mp13x]

Originally Posted by 3-4-me

I've been thinking about the rear door configuration.
At first I thought it was different, swings to the side to make it easier to close perhaps.
What happens if you open it in a high wind?
How about if you need to carry a package that's a little too big?
If it opened upwards like a truck cover, you could tie it down.
It would have struts to help open it and limit it's travel.
You could even make it removable like a sun roof.
I know, I know, the mileage would go to hell. I promise I'd only remove it once in a while.

What do you guy's think?

There is one other major advantage to having the rear door open like a conventional hatchback: when loading in bad weather (rain/snow), it provides some protection to the interior while open.

I can see that if the hinging mechanism was moved to the top edge of the rear door, it may impact the solar panel array and headroom around the back of the seats. I assume the current rear hatch design has some sort of counter-balancing spring (like the front doors) to prevent it from slamming shut and the size of this mechanism may have influenced the decision to hinge the door on the side.

The side hinge could be changed to a top hinge on future/updated Apteras, but for now, the current Typ-1 is probably too far along in the current design cycle to change this major design feature... especially with all the anxious deposit folks waiting for product.

[MegaAutoBit]

Anyone else notice they only have one latch down at the bottom for the rear door? How safe is that. What’s going to prevent someone from taking a crowbar to the top and prying the door open?

[c0mp13x]

Originally Posted by MegaAutoBit

Anyone else notice they only have one latch down at the bottom for the rear door? How safe is that. What’s going to prevent someone from taking a crowbar to the top and prying the door open?

The pic in this link looks like it shows 2 latches on the right side: Aptera Rear Door

[3-4-me]

Originally Posted by c0mp13x

There is one other major advantage to having the rear door open like a conventional hatchback: when loading in bad weather (rain/snow), it provides some protection to the interior while open.

I can see that if the hinging mechanism was moved to the top edge of the rear door, it may impact the solar panel array and headroom around the back of the seats. I assume the current rear hatch design has some sort of counter-balancing spring (like the front doors) to prevent it from slamming shut and the size of this mechanism may have influenced the decision to hinge the door on the side.

The side hinge could be changed to a top hinge on future/updated Apteras, but for now, the current Typ-1 is probably too far along in the current design cycle to change this major design feature... especially with all the anxious deposit folks waiting for product.

Good points, never even thought about the rain aspect.
You're probably right about the current state of production being too far along.
But you never know. The right person could see this and be influenced to make a change.
For all I know the current door configuration may work great; but with all the vehicles I've had and been around(worked in my dad's repair shop when I was a kid),
It doesn't seem that practical.
Thanks for you're input, that's the reason I started this discussion.

[MegaAutoBit]

Originally Posted by c0mp13x

The pic in this link looks like it shows 2 latches on the right side: Aptera Rear Door

Thanks. That is a much better picture.

[LQUAN]

I, too, have been pondering on the rear hatch hinging position. It would be more practical to put them in the front. But I can live with them being on the side.

What would be practical to compensate for that rear hatch hinging position is to make the front passenger seat fold flat down forward (like Toyata Matrix and most minivans). That way I can cramp in more stuff. I bought a Toyota Matrix mainly for its 38mpg and a hatchback for me to haul toys on the weekends. I have some serious model airplanes that has 94" fuselage to haul around. Owning an Aptera can be a drawback for my toys, but I still want one anyway. My boy and I love anything that resemble airplanes.

[c0mp13x]

Originally Posted by LQUAN

...What would be practical to compensate for that rear hatch hinging position is to make the front passenger seat fold flat down forward (like Toyata Matrix and most minivans)...

Can't remember exactly what interview I heard this in (I've seen so many lately), but I do remember Steve saying the passenger seat can fold down to take an even longer surfboard than the 7' they say will fit in the back. Maybe a 9' surfboard capacity with passenger seat folded forward?

[3-4-me]

I read that also, the seat is supposed to fold flat.
I'm in Home depot, almost daily, and constantly try to fit 10lbs. of s#!t in a 5lb. bag.

[Pegasus]

Aha! So there IS a rear window (albeit small.) I didn't think there was, which is why I didn't think the back up cameras were optional.

[steve]

Hello All,

Wanted to say thanks for starting the forum (we're still working on the myAptera forum...not as hard as we are working on the vehicles :-))

As to the hatch. The side opening was really for two reasons:

1) Safety. It forces you to the sidewalk when loading and unloading. Safer than in the rear, and safer than the street! (hinges go on the other side for British commonwealth countries)

2) Less of a loading moment on the composite structure than if it were hinged at the top. Hinging at the top would have required a lanyard to pull it down, and larger (heavier) nitrogen pressure cylinders.

Hope this helps,

Steve