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Aptera's First Solar Road Trip. 300 Miles, One Charge

(aptera.us)
49 points geox | 2 comments | 31 Mar 25 11:05 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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dscottboggs ◴[31 Mar 25 11:44 UTC] No.43533820[source]▶
Yeah, 545 watts on an Arizona afternoon in that ugly spaceship-ass lookin thing is exactly what I picture when someone says "solar car". It'll extend your range by a tiny bit and look like shit in the process. I bet 545W doesn't even sustain it at highway speeds, let alone acceleration and deceleration that would be needed on a busy road etc (gee I wonder why they took "the road not travelled").

It's just not a good idea. Sure, put a panel on the roof of a car to power the accessories system and get a little bit back in your range, but if you go into it thinking you can drive a *real* car on the solar power that strikes the surface of the vehicle you're just gonna make yourself look silly.

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1. zeroping ◴[31 Mar 25 14:05 UTC] No.43535222[source]▶
You and I start from the same base information: the power from the solar in real-time isn't enough to drive a "real car", immediately. But we come to totally different conclusions.

The solar hitting the roof of this thing over the course of a day is enough to make my average commute in that thing. That's what batteries are for. I'm not driving from sun-up to sun-down. (And you can plug it in anytime you want.)

Yes there are some huge trade-offs to make it work: It's not a 3-row minivan, it's not a 4-door sedan, it's a bizzare-looking car-like thing that moves only two people, but does so in the comfort that I desire for my daily use. And the solar part is only going to work out in a sunny place, if you park it in the sun. That happens to be exactly what I'm looking for.

Even if it didn't have solar, it's a ridiculously efficient EV, which I'd prefer over a ridiculously fast car or very large SUV.

I would understand "That seems like a small market" or "that's too many trade-offs for me", but "It's just not a good idea" seems like harsh judgement for a vehicle because it doesn't appeal to your visual preferences or usage.

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2. travisporter ◴[31 Mar 25 14:39 UTC] No.43535598[source]▶
Agreed, I'd make the same argument as parent for a Harley. It's not my cup of tea, loud, impractical, and a gas guzzler, but it clearly appeals to a bunch of people. Give things a chance for goodness sake. Aptera never claimed you don't need to charge.