It strikes me that the title of this post is mainly a question for commuter cars – rather than trucks. New developments in precision forged carbon have me speculating where the industry may be headed.  

We are at an interesting moment of change with new law makers in the US, as votes are being tallied for the midterm election. Will those values translate over to transportation?

Future vehicle maker Aptera is rounding a new corner with a possible partnership with CPC Group in the manufacture of carbon fiber structural body members! It is somewhat unsurprising that the aerodynamically engineered vehicle should take notes from aerospace and racing. 

My question is – How will this fit into car culture? I mean, in the everyday sense of accidents and repair. If Aptera is made of a combination of forged carbon and composite parts, A – What does an accident look like? B – What does the repair bill look like?     

Aptera reassures onlookers that the body will be rigid, keep its shape, and be easily repairable. As for safety, the autocycle will not be subjected to the same safety standards as the Auto Industry at large. 

…But what about the future?

What will the cars of the future collide with in the event of a crash? What will they be made of? If purpose-built transportation vehicles such as airplanes and F1 cars are designed for weight, speed, and efficiency shouldn’t our cars be too? The carbon fiber nose of an F1 car is designed to disintegrate on impact.

Must we all drive big, dumb sheet metal cars? I think back to the big, heavy, chrome bumpers of the past – like a ’57 Chevy. It seems pretty safe – at low speeds. Efficiency, however, doesn’t seem to be a priority.

Some heavy equipment seems to require steel. Then again, I’m not an engineer. I’m just an opinion blogger.

The prevailing cornucopian (environmental psychology) attitude towards automotive manufacturing seems to be in dire need of a paradigm or priority shift. My hope is that we move closer to efficient and easily repairable solutions that put power back into the hands of owners. It wouldn’t hurt to have more green materials on the inside too – where, let’s face it, many Americans practically or literally live. 

For all of my misgivings and no matter what happens, the Aptera remains an important step in car design evolution. For the sake of humanity, I hope they succeed!

Alternatively, Tesla has invested in giga presses and large batteries. Battery tech is one thing weighing EVs down. Yet another place where Aptera shines (pun intended)- solar.

Most cars are presently made of primarily metals. Plastics have found many uses, including bumpers. If you remember the movie Demolition Man, they had cars that deployed a safety foam in the event of an accident. 

You never really know what the future holds until ideas get tested in the real world. Does it feel like the year 2023 is almost upon us? The way EVs have busted onto the scene, it almost does. Let’s make it a great one!