Aptera (solar electric vehicle)
| Aptera Solar EV | |
|---|---|
 First prototype of the Aptera solar powered EV | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Aptera Motors |
| Production | 2025 (planned) |
| Assembly | Carlsbad, California |
| Designer | Jason Hill |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | |
| Body style | 3 door hatchback coupé |
| Layout | front-wheel drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Electric motor | Vitesco Technologies EMR3 axle drive |
| Battery | 25, 42, 60 or 100 kW·h lithium-ion |
| Range | 250, 400, 600 or 1,000 miles (1,600 km) EPA |
| Plug-in charging |
|
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,743 mm (108 in) |
| Length | 4,496 mm (177 in) |
| Width | 2,225 mm (87.6 in) |
| Height | 1,422 mm (56 in) |
| Curb weight | 816 kg (1,800 lb) for standard 60 kW·h version |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Aptera 2 Series (never produced) |
The Aptera is a two-seat, three-wheeled solar electric vehicle under development by the crowd-funded American car manufacturer Aptera Motors. The stated design goal of the car is to be the most energy efficient mass-produced vehicle ever. The design has an aerodynamic shape and uses lightweight carbon fiber and fiberglass composite materials, and built-in solar cells to extend its range by up to 40 miles a day.[1][2] While several prototypes featured in-wheel motors, the production model is designed with a standard three-wheeler front-wheel drive axle.[3]
Prototypes and production
[edit]The company planned delivering production units of the Aptera vehicle in 2021.[4] Four stages of prototypes were planned, with the third stage of prototypes nearing the final production design, and the fourth representing a prototype that's identical to production vehicles.[5]
Aptera announced in June 2022 a detailed plan to scale in-wheel motor production in Slovenia by Elaphe.[6] Due to issues with getting the Aptera in-wheel motor design to production it was replaced in 2024 with a standard front-wheel drive axle design for the production model.[3]
Aptera announced in November 2022 a design change to bodies made of molded carbon fiber. In January 2023 the company announced a fund drive to raise $50 million[7] for the "initial phases of production". The following month the company said it requires additional funds to produce and deliver vehicles to customers.[8]
Another prototype of the Aptera vehicle was shown at the January 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2025). Company representatives said initial customer deliveries are anticipated by the end of 2025.[9] The prototype shown at CES 2025 was "nearly" ready for production.[10] The carbon-fiber and fiberglass panels of the vehicle were made with production tooling, however the diecast metal suspension arms and the injection-molded interior components were not.[11] As of late April 2025, initial sales are planned for 2026 and full-scale production is planned for 2028.[12]
Design and components
[edit]
The Aptera's body shape is similar to earlier design exercises in efficiency, including the "Fusion" human-powered vehicle produced by the Pegasus Research Company in 1984,[13] and the MIT Aztec Solar Car, which won multiple efficiency awards while racing in the American Tour de Sol in 1993.[14] The Aptera has a claimed coefficient of drag that is very low, at 0.13 as of January 2023.[15] The car was tested at an Italian wind tunnel, the results of which were described by co-CEO Chris Anthony as "pretty pictures".[16]
Aptera named Maxeon Solar Technologies as the solar cell provider for the vehicle in October 2022.[17] In March 2023, Aptera announced its use of Comma.ai's Openpilot driver assistance system.[18] As of September 2023, Aptera's partner C.P.C. has stamped the first of Aptera's Body in Carbon (BinC) parts from production tools at its Modena, Italy manufacturing facility.[19]
The 60 kWh battery version is expected to weigh about 1,800 pounds (820 kg), much lighter than most electric vehicles.[1] It has a NACS connector, and is able to charge at a rate of between 40 and 60 kW.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Voelcker, John (August 28, 2019). "Exclusive: 3-Wheeled Aptera Reboots as World's Most Efficient Electric Car". IEEE Spectrum. IEEE. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "FAQs Archive". Aptera. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
- ^ a b Steve Fambro (July 24, 2024), "Aptera Update — July 2024", YouTube
- ^ "Aptera - Modernizing Vehicle Design & Manufacturing - INVESTOR PRESENTATION" (PDF), Wefunder, Aptera Motors, retrieved September 20, 2020 – via cloudfront.net
- ^ Sensiba, Jennifer (November 2, 2021). "Aptera Ends Alpha Production, Beta Production Under Way". CleanTechnica. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ Randall, Chris (June 23, 2022). "Aptera orders in-wheel motors from Elaphe". Electrive. Berlin: Rabbit Publishing GmbH. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ Dnistran, Iulian (March 16, 2023). "Aptera Extends Its Accelerator Program, Needs More Money To Start Production". Inside EVs. Miami: Motorsport Network. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ Bengt Halvorson Bengt (March 6, 2024), "Aptera lacks the funds to produce solar EV, hints of design changes", GreenCarReport
- ^ Jameson Dow (January 8, 2025), "Aptera shows its production-intent solar EV at CES, ships this year? (Update)", electrek
- ^ Vijay Pattni (January 7, 2025), "Aptera's self-charging, solar-powered car is (nearly) ready for production", Top Gear
- ^ Eric Tingwall (January 17, 2025), "Aptera Says Its $40,000 Solar-Powered EV Is Finally Coming This Year. Should You Believe It?", Motor Trend
- ^ Sarah Chea (April 18, 2025), "Exclusive: Hankook Tire to supply tires for Aptera solar EVs", Korea JoongAng Daily
- ^ Dempsey, Wayne (February 13, 2021). "HPV Racing History – Pegasus Fusion and Aptera". Recumbents.com. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ Dempsey, Wayne (February 13, 2021). "MIT Aztec Solar Car". Dempsey Motorsports. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ https://aptera.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Aptera-Vehicle-Specs.pdf
- ^ "The Shortcut That Allows Risky Startups to Raise Billions from Rookie Investors". June 10, 2024.
- ^ Dool, Scooter (October 4, 2022). "Aptera names solar cell supplier as it begins panel production for solar EVs that 'never need to charge'". Electrek. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ Dnistran, Iulian (March 29, 2023). "Aptera Solar EV Will Work With Openpilot, An Open-Source Driver Assistance System". Inside EVs. Miami: Motorsport Network. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ Nehls (September 25, 2023). "Aptera reveals first composite production parts for BinC vehicle". Composites World. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Charging – Aptera enthusiast blog". Retrieved February 22, 2024.