I'm so impressed with the engineering that went into creating this vehicle--especially its massive cast carbon-fiber shell. Everything had to be perfect before they finalized that piece. So I'm surprised to see the above photo that suggests the roll-cage didn't fall into place easily, as indicated by the shaved blue top edge. I'm also surprised the shell is blue inside, unless it isn't blue inside and that scuffed edge was painted blue.Aptera noted that they're building PI-2, PI-3 and PI-4 concurrently and posted two images, one of a partially-completed chassis (from forward of the passenger seat) and the other of the steel roll-cage fitted into the CFSMC roof structure (from above and behind the passenger seat). View attachment 23522View attachment 23523
What you're seeing is reflected blue light: The carbon fiber SMC is a solid material - it doesn't have a "core" - that's black all the way through. Nothing has had to be ground-down - the roof SMC is shaped the way it is to accomodate the roof solar panel and its wiring, as well as acoustic and thermal insulation. Remember that these component parts were all "built" first in a computer simulation and they all fit together as planned. The materials they're using don't change shape after manufacture like forged steel parts are known to do and there have been so many eyes on the design that it's unlikely that a mistake would go unnoticed.So I'm surprised to see the above photo that suggests the roll-cage didn't fall into place easily, as indicated by the shaved blue top edge. I'm also surprised the shell is blue inside, unless it isn't blue inside and that scuffed edge was painted blue.