Three wheels
From Apterawiki
One of the Aptera's most distinctive features is its use of three wheels. This has a number of purposes.
Contents |
[edit] Regulatory
Three wheelers are legally classified as motorcycles. This allows Aptera to bypass much of the requirements and paperwork involved in bringing a four-wheeled car to market in the US, allowing a much faster and lower cost development schedule. The most notable of these requirements, which trike manufacturers are sometimes criticized for avoiding, are:
- Crash testing -- Aptera has been doing extensive digital crash testing with CD-Adapco and ABAQUS[1], and will conduct real-world crash tests before sales.
- Emissions testing -- Not applicable at all to the Typ-1e, and at 130mpg with a normal emissions control system, the Typ-1h should have no problems passing.
- Drive testing -- Normally, manufacturers are required. Since not only will there be extensive test drives by prospective owners, but given that the Aptera is booked up through nearly the end of 2009 at the time of writing (May 2008) by early adopters, any mainstream buyer who purchases an Aptera at this point will already have a great deal of Aptera driving miles conducted by other owners ahead of them.
[edit] Efficiency
Having three wheels reduces aerodynamic drag. It also reduces overall body mass, reducing rolling losses. See body design.
[edit] Financial and other benefits
Having only three wheels (and three tires, and a drivetrain that only has to turn one wheel, and so on) simplifies the vehicle and directly reduces production costs. The drag reductions decrease the battery requirements, further reducing purchase and maintenance costs.
Three wheelers, being legally classified as motorcycles, have lower rates on insurance liability coverage (since they tend to be lighter). They also are usually cheaper to register.
The Aptera Typ-1e should be able to use the HOV lane without a passenger, while the Typ-1h may or may not be able to.
[edit] Downsides
Three wheelers may be subject to strange or inapplicable laws, depending on where they're located -- having to touch a wheel to a curb when parked[2], having to straddle the seat, having to wear helmets, having to have a motorcycle license, or a variety of other possibilities. Some states distinguish between enclosed three wheelers and bikes while others do not. Aptera plans to work with regulators wherever it rolls out a vehicle to make sure that the regulations are reasonable by the time they go on sale.
While "delta" trikes (two wheels in back, one in front) have stability problems cornering at high speed, this is not an issue for "tadpole" trikes (two wheels in front, one in back). See stability.
