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Aptera enthusiast blog

A short talk about passive safety

Posted on September 18, 2021

A lot of people ask me about safety when they see Aptera. Because it’s not bulky, some people assume it’s not safe. Unfortunately there aren’t any official crash results yet, but let me explain why I believe Aptera will do well.

The passive safety (so when a crash is actually occuring, not the electronic bits that help avoid an accident in the first place) of a vehicle is determined by several factors:

  • The maximum deceleration of the safety cell
  • The deformation of the safety cell
  • The maximum deceleration of the passenger / hitting something inside the cabin

Maximum deceleration of the safety cell

Since Aptera is an electric vehicle and the motors are in the wheels, the front of the vehicle doesn’t need to contain a lot of components (like an engine!). This means that the space between the passengers and the nose of the vehicle can and will be used to properly absorb the impact of a frontal collision.

A downside in case of crashes with other vehicles is Aptera’s relatively low weight compared to other vehicles. When two moving objects collide, the lighter object will sustain higher acceleration than the heavier object. I wouldn’t advocate for a heavier vehicle based on this risk though. Otherwise we’re getting into an arms race on the road. To opt for a heavier car, so other traffic will sustain more damage than you, will not earn you my respect.

It helps to know that the majority of fatal car accidents in the US do not involve a second vehicle (source: safer-america.com).

Deformation of the safety cell

This is a very important one and which has a very notable impact on the crash rating.

When force is enacted onto the structure around the passengers, they can get trapped if the safety cell isn’t strong enough to protect them. Pedals, steering wheel etc. can push into the passengers, bringing much harm. Another risk of large deformations is that it becomes increasingly difficult to leave the vehicle after the crash.

Take a look at this walk-around of several vehicles that have sustained a frontal impact. It clearly visualizes the problem if a vehicle is not designed to protect passenger space properly.

This is where Aptera’s design will do extremely well. Composites offer a much greater strength/weight ratio than steel and Aptera’s cocoon-like shape also helps to avoid buckling. Aptera claims that its first incarnation (about a decade ago) had the highest roof crush strength of all passenger vehicles on the road. The current iteration will do even better.

Check out this short video of the previous Aptera being hit by a sledge hammer to give you some feeling on how composites react in comparison to metals:

And if you have any doubt about the potential strength of a composite safety cell, check out this video of F1 driver Romain Grosjean blasting through a metal barrière and managing to walk away without major injury (except for some burns from the fire).

So, the safety cell most likely won’t plastically deform unless the crash is extremely severe ánd there are no heavy components in the front (no engine) that can compromise passenger space. What happens to the passengers?

Maximum deceleration of the passengers / hitting something inside the cabin

Just having a cell to protect you is not enough. Imagine what would happen if you’d crash in an ultra strong vehicle without seatbelts and a sharp metal steering wheel in front of you. Things would end badly.

Luckily to protect the passenger bodies from abruptly hitting the inside of the cabin, a combination of seat belts and airbags can be used. Which of course will also be the case in Aptera.

At the moment of writing (September 2021) I haven’t got any details on the types and number of airbags yet. I know seat belts will be standard (obviously) and that Aptera will use several airbags. But I’m not sure if this includes side airbags, curtain airbags etc. I will update this section as soon as I have more information.

Until then, here’s what Aptera has to say about safety in their FAQ:

Of course, the actual crash tests results will really show what we can expect. The Aptera engineers feel confident it will perform well. And so do I.

9 thoughts on “A short talk about passive safety”

  1. Mark says:
    September 19, 2021 at 3:42 pm

    Thanks for at least mentioning your efforts on airbags. I know you’re dealing with sky-high costs and supply shortages.

    My PRIMARY concern is that of a T-Bone crash. That sort of crash (obviously) will always involve another vehicle, and where I live that other vehicle would likely be 2 if not 3x the weight of the aptera. It is IMPERATIVE that there be airbag protection for these side collisions! Make it an option! I don’t care if I have to pay extra!

    I personally imagine the aptera being incredibly safe in all types of crashes but I just can’t get the t-bone out of my head. It seems it would be SO incredibly deadly in the aptera.

    Reply
    1. siesstad says:
      February 12, 2022 at 9:04 am

      Please note that this website is not Aptera’s official webpage. I am a fan and ambassador providing my take on Aptera. I agree with the need for a good array of airbags for multiple types of collisions, but have no say in it. Please address your concern to Aptera, as I have done myself as well.

      Reply
  2. Bart van den Berg says:
    November 23, 2021 at 7:54 pm

    Dag Sies,

    Ik ben in op een na alle opzichten onder de indruk van de Aptera. Hoe zie je, in het kader van passieve veiligheid, de breedte van 2.23 meter (voorste twee wielen) en het zicht vanuit de “cockpit” op de wielkasten in verband met obstakels/verkeersdeelnemers? De meeste auto’s zijn smaller, daar zijn het de hoger geplaatste buitenspiegels die de volledige breedte bepalen. Als die geraakt worden zal dat bij hogere snelheden een ander effect hebben als bij een aanrijding/schamping van een of beide wiel(en) van de Aptera. Ik hou hierbij rekening met de relatief smalle stads- en binnenwegen in Nederland. Ik ben benieuwd naar je commentaar hierop.

    Reply
    1. siesstad says:
      February 12, 2022 at 8:59 am

      Hoi Bart,

      Eerlijk gezegd is de breedte voor mij ook wel één van de enige echt grote minpunten van Aptera. Als je de auto vooral in de binnenstad gebruikt, dan is het denk ik logischer om voor een Fiat 500e of iets dergelijks (een Solo?) te kiezen. Persoonlijk doe ik korte afstanden met de fiets en stedentripjes binnen Nederland met de trein. Ik zal mijn Aptera vooral inzetten om naar het strand te gaan (ik kitesurf graag) en om Europa te verkennen. Op de snelweg zie ik het probleem van de grotere breedte niet zo.
      Het grootste risico (snelheid +plaatsgebrek) is denk ik op smallere 80km/h buitenwegen. Aptera is smaller dan vrachtwagens, maar de breedte valt uiteraard minder op. Ik denk overigens dat een tegenligger beter je wiel eraf kan rijden dan frontaal tegen je op kan botsen. Al zijn beide scenario’s natuurlijk onwenselijk. Een spiegel geeft inderdaad als het goed is niet meer dan een forse schrikreactie (ik heb t als kind ooit op hoge snelheid meegemaakt bij mijn ouders in de auto; moeders was aardig overstuur).

      Reply
    2. siesstad says:
      February 12, 2022 at 9:01 am

      Het schijnt dat de wielkasten overigens goed zichtbaar zijn vanuit de cockpit. Wat dat betreft is de positie op de weg beter in te schatten dan bij veel moderne auto’s. Ik heb dat helaas nog niet in het echt kunnen ervaren.

      Reply
  3. Roger Genereux says:
    January 19, 2022 at 2:46 pm

    I have a per-order for a Aptera Luna.
    Just trying to gain more information about the car, to fight back the Na sayers .

    Reply
  4. Jamel Marriot says:
    February 14, 2022 at 3:01 pm

    Great site you have got here.. It’s hard to find excellent writing like yours nowadays. I honestly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!

    Reply
    1. siesstad says:
      February 14, 2022 at 3:21 pm

      That’s very kind of you!

      Do you maybe have a request for a blog post on another subject regarding Aptera?

      Sies

      Reply
  5. Mona Fruit says:
    September 15, 2022 at 7:21 am

    I value the blog post.Really looking lecture to to right of entry more.

    Reply

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