September 28, 2007 3:35 PM PDT
A green car from the future is here (almost)
(Credit: Aptera)Usually a spaceship-looking vehicle like this comes only in concept form, but the Aptera three-wheeled elecric or diesel-hybrid car--if it can accurately be called a car, anyway--has not only made it to the prototype stage but is available for pre-order. And why might you want to pay $500 just to wait in line to buy one?
Consider these stats: 230 miles per gallon on the highway for the hybrid version, according to Gizmodo, and an estimated 10 seconds from zero to 60. All this for the relatively paltry sum of $20,000 too, as long as you can contain yourself until it's delivered next year.
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they think are "cool". The Aptera has as much luggage space as all those
cars-- two golf bags will fit along with 2.5 passengers (the guy in the back
will be as squished as in a porsche or Mini Cooper.) Most of those cars get
under 25mpg. This one gets 230mpg. That's unbelievable-- even compared
to a car that gets 30mpg (which is above average)-- if you drive 15000 miles
a year, at $3/gallon you'd save $1300 in gas every year! If you only kept it 5
years you'd save $6500. And that's without any tax incentives for hybrid cars.
If you traded in a 23mpg sports car you'd save $8800... And if gas hit $4/
gallon then even if you only drive 12000 miles a year you'd save $9400 over
5 years.
But beyond all that-- the interior is unbelievably cool (check out their
tedious website-- if you can make it all the way to the photos without tearing
your hair out). If people feel it's safe (a big "if"), this car definitely has a
market. Along with the Tesla Roadster and the Venture Vehicles V-1
(www.flytheroad.com), I think 2009 will begin a new era for cars.