DIY Aptera knockoff?

Lots of ideas .... a few being built. Most folks can't afford their dreams.

The Chipman Wind EV is the most affordable IMHO

I finally found a frame builder in N. California
 
patrickza said:
Quite a simple looking frame. I wonder where he got the steering components. I think HAL could do this really easily, come on HAL here's your next kit to sell!

Stills taken from the video:
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Click to expand...

With just a few changes, this is exactly what I was thinking about. It wouldn't be hard to move the front wheels forward a bit so you could narrow it track bit and add pedals to keep it legal as a bike.
 
Maybe you did, but I didn't. I would rather have a fake ass set of pedals on it and call it a day than have to deal with licensing issues that vary from state to state, let alone from country to country. If you want something that ACTUALLY can be built and used without a lot of hassle, an advanced form of a velomobile is the way to go.

And again, who said the pedals have to assist jack? They are just there to keep it legal. We all know that at 50 mph your pedaling isn't doing a damn thing. But when the cops stop you, you have pedals. :mrgreen: Kinda like the same reason we still have pedals on most of our bikes.
 
If you are going to make it bike legal with pedals, that means 15-20mph and 200-250-750-1000 watts max too. Subject to lots of varying regulation. Not much of a vehicle.

No vehicle license, so cannot use a car parking space. Where are you going to park?

Lightweight, easy to steal. If anyone wants to.

Can't use a freeway.

In many places, not allowed to use the road lane.

Makes drivers angry.

Safe in a strong side-wind?

Certainly not an Aptera wannabe.

Not that it is a useless vehicle, but maybe it is a separate one from the purpose of this thread.

It raises a good question, however. Where can a three wheeled vehicle not easily be licensed as a motorcycle?

Just how "universal" is it? And how will regulations change in the future? Do you invest 20,000$ in a project and then find you can't license it, maybe after a few years of use it becomes no longer legal?
 
Pure said:
..... It wouldn't be hard to move the front wheels forward a bit so you could narrow it track bit and add pedals to keep it legal as a bike.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a custom/tandem Go-One:
go-one-8.jpg

A fine concept, but a bit of departure from the Aptera, a full-on motor vehicle.

I'm personally moving more toward the leaning vehicle design. The Aptera design is wide-track, but that doesn't mean a noob couldn't flip it. It seems new concepts are regarded by eager consumers as infallible, as if three wheels are always more stable than two... when in fact; the opposite might be the case. (Refer to ATV injuries.)

The catch with leaners, is the perception that they mustn't fall over when stationary. Persue/VentureOne/Carver and others have put a lot of R&D into dynamic stabilization so car-drivers can operate a motorcycle type vehicle. Scooterpod and X-Tracer by contrast, rely on operator familiarity with two-wheeler operation to balance when rolling and to engage stabilizers when stopped. I'm not sure if there can be a middleground between the two methods.
 
Alan B said:
It raises a good question, however. Where can a three wheeled vehicle not easily be licensed as a motorcycle?

Just how "universal" is it? And how will regulations change in the future?
Click to expand...
Very good questions.

It also would suck to cross a border into a region where a vehicle is illegal.
 
Don't fret guys we are going to build both ..... 2 passenger - side by side (sociable) .... bicycle (tricycle) and motorcycle.
 
This is exactly the layout I am looking for:

engineering-evo-rayvolution.jpg


http://www.rayvolutioncars.com/en-trike-engineering.htm

Except with some skinny tires up front, more like this with 3 wheels:

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http://www.edison2.com/photos/

Don't know if this has been posted, but some interesting leaning trike designs:

http://www.tonyfoale.com/
 
etard said:
This is exactly the layout I am looking for:

engineering-evo-rayvolution.jpg


Lots of single seaters out there

Are you going to do your own welding ?

Starter kit (without power train) for less than £ 4000.

My choice (2 seater) would be seating and eye height same as a standard auto (I want to be seen) ... with easy ingress and egress. Like the Aptera
Click to expand...
 
jmygann said:
My choice (2 seater) would be seating and eye height same as a standard auto (I want to be seen) ... with easy ingress and egress. Like the Aptera
Click to expand...

Exactly.... an Aptera knockoff. If I was to give anything up from copying Aptera as closely as possible, it would be to go smaller and more aero forgetting the side-by-side seating and go 1+1 with the rear seat elevated for good visibility for the passenger too.
 
John in CR said:
jmygann said:
My choice (2 seater) would be seating and eye height same as a standard auto (I want to be seen) ... with easy ingress and egress. Like the Aptera
Click to expand...

Exactly.... an Aptera knockoff. If I was to give anything up from copying Aptera as closely as possible, it would be to go smaller and more aero forgetting the side-by-side seating and go 1+1 with the rear seat elevated for good visibility for the passenger too.
Click to expand...


Well, I guess it all comes down to your interpretation of what the Aptera is/was all about. :? In my mind the Aptera took the aerodynamic cues of an airplane or helicopter and treid applying that to land use. Do the front wheels not look like wheel pods on an airplane? Does the cabin not look like that of kit airplanes? I'm not quite understanding why my idea of taking a basic kit airplane style cabin with room for one (no 1+1 side by side) only does not fall under the same category as an Aptera knock-off? It really doesn't matter to me as I'm gonna build what suits me, but I question the argument that it has to be 1+1 side-by-side. My trike will be made for commuting as efficiently as possible, using as little juice or fuel as necessary. I also intend to have a light pod shooting out the top for visibility coming and going. :D
 
I rekon any aerodynamic 2-seat/3-wheel motor vehicle with wheel-pants is an Aptera knockoff in some fashion.

I also rekon for the sake of the discussion, that concepts emulating Aptera design goals are fair game: roadworthy, four-season, stylish, high efficiency and advanced technology.

I will add practicality to the list: If an octogenarian can't easily get themselves in & out, or if it can't carry two people and a week's worth of their groceries, it's off my list.
 
so, to further nail down the outline spec..
55-60 mph potential ?
100 mile range ? (would possibly need 10kWhr bat pack ?)
tandem seating for 2 ? ( to minimise front track width and maximise aero efficiency )
rear wheel drive ? ..for simplicity and best use of space.
 
Highway-capable >60mph should be a must.

>100mi range a big plus... that would suppress a bit of range-anxiety criticism.

The option of extended-rage capacity would also be very desirable. (Maybe a custom battery trailer, or the cargo area doubles as range-extender location.)
 
About as light one can get in a tandem tadpole .....


http://www.terratrike.com/shop/trikes/rover-tandem-attachment/prod_124.html

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put this shell on it

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or just buy this for $5000

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or this one for $20K

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http://www.evalbum.com/3569

http://3xe-electric-cars.com/index.php?/en/sam-re-volt-revolutionary-trendsetter.html
 
Looks like a no go

http://www.thoroughbred-motorsports.com/tm3stallion.aspx
 
....And here's the perfect canopy for someone's trike build.... :wink:

http://gizmodo.com/5871039/how-a-man-got-a-top-secret-fighter-jets-canopy-for-peanuts-and-got-rich
 
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