I suspect not. Replaced by small LCD (OLED) screens on the interior of the door.

I suspect not. Replaced by small LCD (OLED) screens on the interior of the door.

I hope that's an optional feature.

Maybe someday, but not yet. As I understand it, current federal regulations require side view mirrors.

Yes the Volt will. At Volt Nation I was told that they would be a bit bigger than what is shown on the original concept. No high tech LCDs, at least for side rear view. Back up and center rear view may be another story.

Yes the Volt will. At Volt Nation I was told that they would be a bit bigger than what is shown on the original concept. No high tech LCDs, at least for side rear view. Back up and center rear view may be another story.

Interesting. Seeing the focus on aerodynamics I thought that side view mirrors would be among the lowest hanging fruit. Now, any information on why? Was it a design aesthetics decision or a regulatory one?

I personally like having bigger mirrors. It helps with visibility and eliminating blind spots. I currently have a vehicle that has really large mirrors and I think it would be hard to go to a smaller mirror.

I have found that if you just adjust the mirrors farther out than your daddy taught you to do it, the majority of the blind spots go away...

If mirrors are a regulation, how is Aptera going to get away without them?

If mirrors are a regulation, how is Aptera going to get away without them?


Isn't it too early to say what Aptera has gotten away with? Do they have all of their approvals? Even so, their vehicle falls under different regulations since it doesn't have 4 wheels. Silly, but my understanding is that they don't have to do the same crash testing and comply with other regulations that 4 wheeled autos do. I believe it is treated as a motorcycle.

Interesting. Seeing the focus on aerodynamics I thought that side view mirrors would be among the lowest hanging fruit. Now, any information on why? Was it a design aesthetics decision or a regulatory one?

Don't really know. Probably because the drag they cause isn't that bad, the added expense of cameras and displays and the effort to convince the DOT that they are just as good as the well established mirrors just isn't worth it.

I believe it is treated as a motorcycle.

...and motorcycles are required by the DOT to have two mirrors. My guess is that if the Aptera makes it to market, it will have mirrors.

I suspect not. Replaced by small LCD (OLED) screens on the interior of the door.

What most people don't stop to consider is that aside from the cost aspect a Mirror has superior performance to the best camera system in the world...

1) Much higher resolution, nearly as good as your own eye is capable of, compared to the best high def camera/screen

2) doesn't use any power, very important on an electric car

3) Projects a 3D image...You can more accurately judge distance, with a screen is it a small truck up close or a bigger one farther away

4) You can change the point of view by shifting your head...with a screen shifting your head does nothing.

For these reasons, I would never want a camera/screen in place of a mirror. Maybe in addition to, but never instead of.

In this GM concept car, the Precept, its drag coefficient was 0.163. However, the attached article states that the addition of conventional rearview mirrors increased the drag by more than 17%.



:eek: (http://media.gm.com/intl/opel/en/news/pr_old/pressrelease_64.htm)

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/maninfo/mcpkg002.pdf

PDF page 7. I actually dont believe motorcycles have to have 2 mirrors. Just one according to this document.

In this GM concept car, the Precept, its drag coefficient was 0.163. However, the attached article states that the addition of conventional rearview mirrors increased the drag by more than 17%.



:eek: (http://media.gm.com/intl/opel/en/news/pr_old/pressrelease_64.htm)

Don't fret too much, that is only 0.0277 of Cd and not low profile.

I did suggest, a little while ago, high impact acrylic returns on the back of the side rearview mirrors to reduce separation of flow.