Is this Delta? Aptera's Assembly Line Render Video

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[normanroberts]

I think rear hatch extended to rear of vehicle solves 2 problems, easier loading with less chance of damage to rear deck area and water could directly drain out the back end of hatch, thus not requiring drain holes with tubing to direct water to outside of vehicle

[richevanscpa]

This ties together three past clues:

First, remember a Jason Hill video from pre-Gamma days where he was describing the upcoming changes. When he was discussing the new solar layout with increased coverage area, Chris cautioned him to hold back on one surprise for later.

Second, we lost the two solar chevrons on the rear corners for no apparent reason and with no explanation. Why would this be so unless there were a new hatch configuration that intruded into their space?

Third, it was strange that the Gamma reveal did not include full solar. And that Chris said Gamma is only 80% finished. Are they saving the new hatch design for the Delta reveal?

And that is EXACTLY what happens in this presumed Delta render!!! Therefore, kudos to Steve for his extraordinary attention to detail. I’m convinced we got a sneak peek at the final hatch layout.

The question remains as to whether the hatch changes are just for those ordering the full solar package. And did the new design result from the fact that Aptera was surprised that 90% of reservations ordered full solar?

Let the speculation continue, Apterians!!!

[_sticks_]

Think these renders should be taken with a grain of salt as far as the details go. Artists interpretation ect ect

[deanmcmanis]

I really like this longer hatch look. I think that the reason why the previous design had the chevrons on the corners was to prevent potential damage from having a heavy load on the rear sill. Also, if you look at the Gamma design, the rearmost tail section is segmented. So it could be that they have a rear cap section for the windowed hatch, or the rear section is open to the end with the solar hatch. I think that the longer solar hatch makes the Aptera look more like a solar powered EV, sleeker and more futuristic, and of course it supports more solar cells. Plus it would facilitate easier rear loading, and would handle the rain channels better, draining out the back. Jason had said that the Delta design was set 6 months ago. But then again, the CG renders could reflect earlier design ideas as well.

[donaldekhoff]

I would like to see the seam-line between the roof and the hatch follow the zig-zag line of the solar cells so that more cells could be fitted. This would be aesthetically much more pleasing as well with the cell tiling uninterrupted. It's even a "stealth-bomber" styling cue when opened. Also extending the hatch to the aft edge is an excellent design feature if this is a 'motorcycle'. Might be a problem with loss of a 'crumple-zone' if this is ever to be a 'car'. Given normal bumper heights, perhaps impact loads could be taken by the vertical surface under the plate holder?

[jordanyamamoto]

I personally like the lip, assuming that it means a fender bender is not going to wreck my hatch lid. Yes, groceries need to be loaded carefully, but I dunno, that's my vote

[gmv]

I understand that they are only removing the front emblem. Not all of them.

[fanfare]

You're probably just seeing a snapshot in time and some of those renders are likely renders of designs between Gamma and Delta. It would seem that at the making of that video, It had not yet been "pencils down" for the Delta design. It was likely still a "Work in Progress" "WIP".

[hammertlme]

Aptera created a physical rear hatch that resembles that render, this was before the gamma was unveiled. I was speculating that it could look like this render in production before this render was ever shown so I'm thinking that is indeed how the delta design will look.

[unclegeorge]

Thanks again, Steve, Let's keep in mind this is a render produced under some time constraints. I feel the station distancing looks way too generous and the parts inventory way too short. It's a render as in Show n Tell. I am excited about Spring.

[easyricer]

A couple things to think about is this is just a concept animation about how they intend to produce the Aptera. So, I'd say you're looking a little too much into the actual design of the car itself. Probably made using older drawings or cad files from past design iterations.

[Running__Rabbit]

In my opinion this shows what changes we will see in the Delta design in mid November. The hatch will come to almost the end of the body and the hatch will have more solar cells. Also if you look at station 13 you can see the aft section of the light on the wheel pants appears to have a red reflection. This could be needed for compliance that red light be viewed from the rear.

[Mythused]

At station 3 (3:58), the Render Video shows the rear boot with a "shelf" if you will, beyond it, holding charger input and license. Looking at the unit between stations 9 & 10 (5:30) has had a valance added to finish the tail, as in the Gama. At station 10, there is a unit with the hatch (with solar panels) has been added. This hatch, and it may only be the one with solar panels, extends to the end of the tail. At the next location (6:50), no station noted, one can see through the tint in the hatch that the valance is still there with the hatch flowing over it. I'm thinking maybe the Hatch with no solar panels will end at the boot, as was shown in the Gama. Just my thoughts, but seems reasonable to me.

[grrfer]

Hi- I really appreciate your putting together Aptera Owners Club. It is very informative. I wish I could join the group but being retired and on a fixed income it is not that possible right now. In this assembly line render video you many times mentioned were you just maybe being too picky on things like the possibility of a new hatch configuration because the renderings are not consistent all the way through the video. In my own opinion, I really don't think it was a conscious effort to use one render in one place and another model render in a different place. Will it make any difference to me if I have to be more careful putting things into the rear end so as not to scuff the finish. No, it won't for me. Some of the comments by people who seem to have engineering backgrounds is beneficial to persons like myself, and I like reading them. I realize you feel you may have to come up with things to talk about for your subscribers but me, I am just happy Altera took the time to produce a video about the possible assembly line. You didn't see Elio doing this. Not did you see Tesla or any other car company giving us a preview of the process. I am hoping that Aptera is keeping us informed so our word of mouth may be good advertising in the future. Thank you again for your dedication to bringing us updates about what I hope will be my last vehicle.

[alansturt]

Good catch on the rear hatch change - they would use the latest data files to construct the assembly line simulation - some files may not be available hence the gaps in the images. Longer hatch looks swoopy but that means heavier and almost guaranteed to break in even small rear impacts - unless the extension is a composite part and therefore lighter and sacrificial.

[ddessert]

Great review Steve.

Having worked with simulation systems like this, your observations are not trivial. What we saw was a stripped down rendering, almost a concept rendering but the inclusion of what is suspected to be a delta version was not done by accident or artist creativity. The real / important simulation has a compete workflow with all materials moving to stations and people working on the vehicles. From what I heard the time on station is 12 minutes which seems very possible once the simulation has been worked out. The other part of the simulation is to deal with issues that come up. There are thousands of possible issues that can and will come up. The simulation is intended to reduce the impact of those issues by working through them ahead of time.

There are a couple of questions that I had when watching the video. 1) there is a very large space between Station 2 and 3. I suspect there are some "missing" stations there that we were not permitted to see. I suspect that much of the exterior will be pre-wrapped before it gets to the final assembly area but there will be areas that need to be wrapped between Station 2 and 3, hence the change in color. 2) I am surprised that hi/low voltage and cooling plumbing went in after the interior. The chassis may come with some wiring / plumbing pre-installed. There is a high voltage set of cables that go from the rear to the front of the vehicle and there are lots of micro-controllers that are used. There is a cooling system that has to be connected to the battery assembly. 3) I would also think the seats would go in much later in the assembly as I would think it would be much easier to work on the interior without them being in the way.

It is odd that there is a mix of vehicles on the line. I also the Aptera Team is enjoying our observations and wondering why it took so long for someone to say something. For those that think the simulation was some sort of "cartoon" or not real, I can say that there is a definite purpose to making it as real as possible and it likely cost more than $500K, which would be a bargain given that it really sets up the timing of everything moving at once and also deals with issues. We did not see the complexity of this simulation or anything close to it. To add to it, the simulation would also extend to the other Aptera assembly locations in the area and how parts are delivered to the final assembly area. How many items can fit on a transport vehicle? How much time does it take to load and unload the vehicles? Where are the items being stored and how are they moving to the station that needs them? The more accurate and detailed the better.

Lastly, there was only 1 solar hatch panel that I could see in the video that Aptera put out. That was not likely by accident. If we saw a hatch panel that did not look like a gamma hatch panel, we would have been all over it in an instant.

[ASkippingRock]

I have seen Munroe criticize other vehicles for the rear hatch and the difficulty of loading things in when you have a lip like that. I expect that they advised aptera to redesign the rear hatch in the lip. It is good to keep One logo on because people are going to be asking what kind of car is that constantly.

[CrazyAl]

Rich Evans brings to the fore an excellent point. Maybe, we're seeing vehicles that do not have the full solar array, and also, those WITH full solar array.
Personally, I appreciate a rear hatch that extends further because I have six herniated discs (T12- L5). Loading anything heavy or with a rough texture would damage the finish.
Thank you, as usual, for very informative vids. 👍

[RazberryTech]

I kinda hope it is the new delta model. I like the extended glass would be nice to sit out the back like a truck tail gate of course you could with the other design but it wouldn't be as comfortable and some pants could scratch up the paint. Would be a nice flat table too way more practical. Also if someone was very tall they could sleep with their feet out the back. I didn't think the models were glitching with the wheels not touching the ground looks like the assembly is on a robotic pad to move around the facility.

[GNiessen]

Given the timing of the original video it would not be the Delta, as they said they had not finalized the Delta at the time of the Fully Charged show. So some thing would likely change. But some is likely close. But it all depends on how accurate that they were trying to be on the specific steps, vs. just mapping out the basic types of operations. And the video might have been done a year or more prior and just now released.