[vdstultz]

Im am waiting for the Volt to become available.

Eight months ago I placed a deposit to purchase an Aptera. This was just before the recent spike in gasoline prices. The Aptera is new and unproven and looks rather strange. It was rated by Motor trend as a good idea. It is small (two and 1/2 passengers and has only three wheels). Though it is rated at 120 hrs per charge with a top speed of 90 mph it might not win support. Mine (number 1351) will be available sometime in March 2009. I will probable purchase it and then donate it to my daughter once the Volt becomes available.

I will keep the forum updated.

 

[JoeReal]

From some of the snippets of interview that I've read, Aptera is going to use a smaller A123 battery than the Volt. About half the capacity, at only 10 kWH, and yet is projected to go 120 miles before recharging. The Volt at 20 kWH goes only 40 miles.

At my current price of $0.18/kWH, the Aptera would cost 1.5 cents per mile while the Volt would cost 9.0 cents per mile, 6 times more expensive.

Aptera costs $27K while Volt costs $40K.

It is not so easy to dismiss it as a competitor. And besides, the 120 mile daily driving range fits 98% of the US drivers:

But I'd still buy the Volt for now until I've seen how Aptera works in the road as it will be shipped out early next year to early adopters.

 

[vdstultz]

AS an early adopter I will let the forum know how it goes.

 

[Javan]

I also have a deposit in on an Aptera. I like the hummingbird like, space ship like styling. The small start-up nature of the company making it could make it run into trouble I guess, but it will be interesting to compare the two vehicles. All the best, Jim

 

[dsmwookie]

Keep in mind one is meant as a commuter car and the other is a "family" car. The Volt will attract the masses who don't want to venture to far from their large vehicles now. The Aptera I enjoy but my wife is skeptical, the Volt on the other hand she sees as very practical.

 

[cosmo88]

I love the Aptera. Kinda like the jetsons. We could get ASIMO to be the nanny. The NMG - http://www.myersmotors.com/ is also an awesome electric one seater that is being sold NOW. I think the NMG is going for around 35k. If I had the money I'd grab it right now but I can really only afford one car so it has to be like a real car you know?

Also not sure if you guys have heard of Vectrix - http://www.vectrix.com/portal/. It's a company out of MA/RI that has an amazing electric scooter(scooter doen't do it justice, more like a motorcycle). I think that one has a 10 - 12k price tag but is also being sold right now, no wait time or anything.

So if you're in need of something clean for personal transport and already have an all purpose car these are real options for the here and now. They are all highway legal, none of that NEV BS.

 

[mwalsh]

Don't like the Aptera styling very much. Give me a regular looking car any day of the week. Volt (especially the toned down one), Mitsubishi MiEV, Miles SX500 - all much more my bag.

 

[JoeReal]

Serious Volt Contender Yet....

This car will be a serious contender with the Volt:

by Matt Vella
Innovation & Design

Clean, quiet, and relatively profitable to produce, electric vehicles have had a rough start in the U.S.: Five years after General Motors (GM) nixed its innovative EV1 electric car program, just a handful of automakers have committed to making and selling electric vehicles on a mass scale any time soon.

Enter Think Global, a Norwegian upstart plotting a U.S. invasion via pint-size, affordable electric cars. Think has been selling gas-free, Lilliputian city cars in Europe and will start peddling them to fuel-crunched Americans in 2009. The company's newly formed North American division has high hopes for Think's existing models—and even higher ones for the upcoming Th!nk Ox, a concept unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show earlier this year.

An electrified people's car for the 21st century, the Ox is a preview of Think's next-generation production vehicle, due out in 2011. Roughly the size of a Toyota (TM) Prius, the Ox can travel between 125 and 155 miles before needing a recharge, and zips from zero to 60 miles per hour in about 8.5 seconds. Its lithium-ion batteries can be charged to 80% capacity in less than an hour, and slender solar panels integrated into the roof power the onboard electronics. Inside, the hatchback includes a bevy of high-tech gizmos such as GPS navigation, a mobile Internet connection, and a key fob that lets drivers customize the car's all-digital dashboard. Pricing has yet to be announced, but the company's current vehicles cost less than $25,000.

click for the rest of the story:

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/jun2008/id20080616_955452.htm?campaign_id=rss_daily

 

[mwalsh]

Yes, but I feel the current Th!nk is not hot looking enough for the US. It could potentially do them, and the Ox, some harm to push it on the finicky market here first.

That said, I think the Ox is a great looking car. It reminds me a lot of the Smart ForFour.