CARazed

The Aptera Typ-1 is now expected to hit the roads 2010. Technically licensed as a motorcycle, due to it’s three-wheel configuration, the Aptera Type-1 is super light weight and will get amazing fuel economy while still being a very safe vehicle to ride in due to it’s high-tech composite body. You can reserve an Aptera online today with a $500 deposit. Photo credit Aptera Motors.

Aptera, the electric car start-up in Carlsbad, California, announced that it has secured $24 Million in it’s latest round of funding. This includes the money from Google’s RechargeIT. It’s looking more and more likely that we’ll be seeing these aircraft-like electric and plug-in hybrid cars in late 2009.

You can still reserve your Aptera, if you live in California, but you’ll have to get in line for an Aptera Typ-1. 3,300 people have plopped down the $500 refundable deposit already. That shouldn’t be too surprising, these little two seaters will get 300 MPG. The all electric version will go 120 miles on a single charge and the plug-in hybrid will take you as far as you need to go, as long as there is a nearby gas station or power outlet. Both cars will cruise at highway speeds and are super safe thanks to the design and high-tech body construction. Photo credit Aptera Motors.

Aptera, the company with the futuristic electric car pictured here, and ActaCell, a company working on a cheap and safe battery technology, both became the first recipients of Google’s RechargeIT’s green car investment program. Each company has received $2.75 million.

RechargeIT promotes companies that are driving toward plug-in hybrid technology, which is very different from current hybrid technology. It’s far more efficient, especially in normal local driving. The Aptera Typ-1 whill get about 230 miles per gallon. A Toyota Prius with plug-in hybrid technology gets about twice the fuel efficiency of a normal Prius.

Aptera hopes to ship its first car before the end of 2009 and AptaCell is shooting for 2010 for full production release of their battery technology. Photo credit Aptera. Also see VentureBeat for more details.

Love this short clip featuring the Aptera. I’m very tempted to put down the $500 deposit myself on this car but it only has two seats and I need at least three. I emailed them the other day and this is what they said:

Once Aptera has finalized the initial production version of the typ-1, we will continue to revolutionize the transportation industry in other areas.

Please sign up for our newsletter through the website (if you haven’t already) to stay updated on our plans and progress as well as checking our website!

I can’t say I blame them for giving me such a round-about answer; they must have their hands very full enough with the X PRIZE and their first car. But it sounds like they must be thinking of future buyer needs. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for more from Aptera.

Aptera Motors, a small California based company is now taking reservations for a radical new 2, +1 passenger plug-in hybrid vehicle, the Aptera Typ-1. The price to get in line is only $500, and the cost of the vehicle is under $30,000 and production is scheduled for late 2008 for the Typ-1e (all electric) and 2009 for the Typ-1h (plug-in hybrid).
In the early stages of development the Aptera was an all electric vehicle design concept. In fact an all electric version will be available but we can’t imagine why anyone would want one. The plug-in hybrid version is much more usable and costs only a few thousand dollars more.To make the car more usable for long trips a small water-cooled EFI gasoline engine certified for California emissions has been added.

Fuel efficiency is very high but varies depending on the length of the trip because the driver can stay in all electric mode for up to 60 miles. But to give you an idea of how efficient this vehicle is, a 120 mile trip would yield about 300 MPG (that’s not a typo, that is three hundred miles per gallon!). Top speed will be 85 MPH and 0 to 60 acceleration will be accomplished in under 10 seconds.

Safety is a major concern for Aptera Motors and the Typ-1 exceeds requirements for a typical passenger car. The composite safety cage is similar to a Formula-1 race car, and provides occupants with 360 degree protection. Air-bags will be standard and can be deactivated for a children passengers.

The three wheel design and layout save weight and provide more aerodynamic opportunities to the vehicle and means it will be registered as a motorcycle, even though the safety standards implemented far exceed motorcycle and car standards. In other words, the Aptera Typ-1 is legally a motorcycle registered with DOT and CA DMV. Initially it will be only available in California to facilitate service and a variety of other reasons. But the plan is to make this vehicle available in all 50 states, Europe and other countries.

This vehicle redefines car. We’ve avoided using that particular word in this post simply because the Aptera is not legally a car but a motorcycle, but in all practicality it is a car, but who cars if it’s safe and gets you to where you’re going for 300 MPG!

Kudos to the folks at Aptera and whoever is funding this project. Please tell your friends about this and if you’ve got $30K for a cool new car reserve yours today.