Think 300 - MPG, that is. Carlsbad, just up the road here in San Diego, has its own King Leonidas at the Gates of Thermopylae with the "wingless flight" Aptera slated to begin production at the end of 2008.
The first vehicles...note that's not "cars"... to roll off the production line will be electric only and travel 120 miles from one plug in to the house electricity line. The next version, slated to roll out in 2009 will be an electric hybrid with a 2 gallon gas tank, getting 300 -- yes, 300 - mpg.
Watch the video to understand why this is not a "car".
Amazing. Now why didn't the big US car makers come up with something like this? Patty, cynic that she is, might say it has something to do with the oil industry connection.
Post script from Pat: The Aptera will only be available in California - for now. Go here to learn more about them.
I think it's also because the big automakers have too much invested in their current plants, equipment, and designs to start over with something cool like this. Can you say "government subsidy"?
ReplyDeleteWow! I want one.
ReplyDeleteYou can make a reservation with a refundable $500 deposit, for sale right now only in California. Could you buy one here and take it out of state?-- I don't know. I heard on NPR this morning about 4 guys (Californians, of course) who rigged a Prius to plug into an electric battery and they were getting 100 mpg. The bottom line is ... options are on the way.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy that all this is happening and there is such a good reception. The next ten years is going to be very interesting.
ReplyDelete