caption: aptera ultra-commuter mixes aerospace composites, state-of-the-art general aviation design and super-efficient electric drive in a two-passenger-plus, three-wheeled motor vehicle that can fly down the hov lane while turning in the equivalent of 300 miles per gallon.
siting in bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic in san diego, california gives one lots of time to think. in the case of steve fambro, an electrical engineer working for a biotech firm, he spent his time musing about finding a way to travel safely, economically, and legally down the high occupany vehicle (hov) lane in something even more efficient than your standard prius or civic hybrid.
his musings led to what may well be a truly paradigm busting vehicle that is part fish, part airplane, part motorcycle and all-electric.
no, aptera isn't an amphibious flying motorcycle. it's a three-wheeled, two-passenger (with room for a possible third person) car that combines the extremely smooth aerodynamics of a dolphin, the latest styling cues and composite structures found in the newest generation of general aviation aircraft and an ultra-efficient, clean, quiet electric drive (battery-only and plug-in, range-extended versions).
