Interesting Dutch EV

[David G]

Sounds like a couple years out...

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a4...Z1Pt0r_gtzhbWA

[CWSmith]

500 miles and under $40k? That's a great combination if they deliver.

[bamamick]

The 500 miles is a really big deal if you want to sell it here in the US and in Canada. That sounds really good.

Mickey Lake

[sp_clark]

But can you tow a light trailer w/ a similarly lightweight boat (600# all-up) w/it?

I keep looking for a trailer hitch on a Tesla but have yet to see one.

[Canoeyawl]

But can you tow a light trailer w/ a similarly lightweight boat (600# all-up) w/it?

I keep looking for a trailer hitch on a Tesla but have yet to see one.

They have them, how else are you going to carry your bicycle?

8B7FED7D-6FAD-4CC6-B897-2901CE8CAEEF.jpg

[bluedog225]

There is not enough power falling on the surface of the vehicle to make much of a difference. Maybe not enough to offset the weight. Fixed solar is better.

[Joe (SoCal)]

Obviously some of you haven't been to an auto show in a couple of years. The last 4 years I've seen about 200 "NEW" EV car companies show and GO never to return again.

Rivian is the only Unicorn I've ever seen as a first prototype that made it to production.

[Paul Pless]

Rivian is the only Unicorn I've ever seen as a first prototype that made it to production.

polestar
lucid
fiskar
rimac
bollinger

[MushCreek]

My son's Model Y is rated to tow 3500 lbs.

[Joe (SoCal)]

polestar
lucid
fiskar
rimac
bollinger

polestar = Volvo Founded:, 1927
fiskar = Founded in 2007, 15 years ago and still trying after years of the horribly built sports car now they are trying crossovers
rimac = Extreemly rare individually one off bespoke $2.1 million Supercar, is the opposite of a basic necessity, not really a commercial car company
lucid = Founded in 2007, 16 years ago . They may turn out to be a real car company but at a base price $150K - $200K not exactly your $40k eccono box
bollinger + I've never even heard of them ? Has anyone ?

[Paul Pless]

bollinger + I've never even heard of them ? Has anyone ?

seriously?

[Canoez]

Still dying to see if Aptera can make a go of it. They're at their "Delta" prototype phase - which is the final pre-production prototype in their plan. They're proposing the build of 40 cars per day (~10,000 per year) beginning this year which seems in adequate for a backlog of 22,000 pre-production reservations. Definitely going to need to ramp up, and be able to deal with whatever inevitable "bugs" show up in production.

[Joe (SoCal)]

seriously?

Oh that Boxy Gwaggon wannabe Founded 2014; 9 years ago?
I saw them 2 years ago at the LA Auto show, this year POOF no show

Products

• B1 (cancelled)
• B2 (cancelled)
• B3 Chass-E Cab / E-Chassis (cancelled)
• B4 (Class 4 truck)

No real production - so not really a car company

[dutchpp]

It's a Dutch company so I will defend them a bit ( just a bit)
The first car is a succes, although it's a custom built car, they sold it to rich owners ( the price is €300k + )and they used the experience to adjust their plans for a cheaper real production car.
The need a much larger investor to finance this company, so the plans must be judged critically in the next two years.
But remember these are the guys that won the trans Australian solar race a couple of times when they were studying at the technical university in Delft. They sure know what they are doing.
The Lightyear 1 has a range of 390 till 820 kilometer depending of season, that's 244 till 520 S miles, so the range prediction of car nr. 2 seems to be realistic.

[heimfried]

A German start-up trying to build a solar assisted EV ("Sion") will may be history in 20 days. The founders are stuggling to crowdfunding 104m Euro within 50 days to go ahead, 30 days already passed, only 39.5m achieved until now. https://sonomotors.com/ My wife was pre-ordering a Sion a couple of years ago.

But a byproduct will survive, because it is making money already, if I understand it right. The integration of solar panels in coaches, busses and lorries, big industry is ordering.

[dutchpp]

The company that produced Lightyear 1 has just received an order from a large car lease company for 10.000 cars of the Lightyear 2 type. That would certainly help to acquire investments in the production facilities.
Link (in Dutch); https://nos.nl/artikel/2460144-helmo...-10-000-auto-s

[dutchpp]

And 9 day's later the company filed for bankruptcy. Exit Lightyear

[LeeG]

Still dying to see if Aptera can make a go of it. They're at their "Delta" prototype phase - which is the final pre-production prototype in their plan. They're proposing the build of 40 cars per day (~10,000 per year) beginning this year which seems in adequate for a backlog of 22,000 pre-production reservations. Definitely going to need to ramp up, and be able to deal with whatever inevitable "bugs" show up in production.

I think Aptera is a decade too soon. The cost of fuel has to be much higher for folks to consider the safety compromises of a three wheeler over a basic small sedan. And for the person who gets it for fun it’s just another recreational vehicle.

[Canoez]

I think Aptera is a decade too soon. The cost of fuel has to be much higher for folks to consider the safety compromises of a three wheeler over a basic small sedan. And for the person who gets it for fun it’s just another recreational vehicle.

I think they've worked out a lot of the safety concerns of three-wheeled vehicles with the distribution of the battery weight being down low. I don't think they've yet published any crash-testing information, but would imagine that the monocoque chassis would be pretty good as far as safety as is the relatively light weight.

The biggest compromise is the fact that it is only a small two-seater, but there are those individuals for whom an electric commuter vehicle that costs next to nothing for fuel would be a big plus. We're a four-car family with two Honda Civics, a Nissan Versa, and a Honda CRV. Dropping one of the Civics in favor of an Aptera wouldn't be a bad choice for us for cost or operating expenses.

[LeeG]

I think they've worked out a lot of the safety concerns of three-wheeled vehicles with the distribution of the battery weight being down low. I don't think they've yet published any crash-testing information, but would imagine that the monocoque chassis would be pretty good as far as safety as is the relatively light weight.

The biggest compromise is the fact that it is only a small two-seater, but there are those individuals for whom an electric commuter vehicle that costs next to nothing for fuel would be a big plus. We're a four-car family with two Honda Civics, a Nissan Versa, and a Honda CRV. Dropping one of the Civics in favor of an Aptera wouldn't be a bad choice for us for cost or operating expenses.

Purely from an energy use standpoint it’s a good idea. I’m still unconvinced about it’s AC capabilities. Could be safer than a motorcycle at low speeds. It has a car sized footprint for parking spaces so it doesn’t have much advantage there. It strikes me as an option in a market where there aren’t many good used compact cars left and 4 wheeled car ownership has declined considerably.

[Canoez]

Purely from an energy use standpoint it’s a good idea. I’m still unconvinced about it’s AC capabilities. Could be safer than a motorcycle at low speeds. It has a car sized footprint for parking spaces so it doesn’t have much advantage there. It strikes me as an option in a market where there aren’t many good used compact cars left and 4 wheeled car ownership has declined considerably.

It will be interesting to see how it is received by the public when they are "in the wild".

America has a love of large vehicles because we have relatively cheap gas. When I've been in the UK and Europe, there tend to be more smaller vehicles because of the cost of diesel and petrol (driven by taxes). Larger vehicles seem to be "status symbols" there.

[Stiletto]

Historically I think three wheeled vehicles were caused by aberrations in taxation policies. I cant see any practical advantages for three wheels.

[John Meachen]

Historically I think three wheeled vehicles were caused by aberrations in taxation policies. I cant see any practical advantages for three wheels.

I suppose it depends on the alternative.A motorcycle can fall over,but a three wheeler shouldn't and also offers the prospect of a roof to keep the rain out.