Falling into the so-weird-it's-cool category, the Aptera solar electric vehicle may end up being the most desirable EV ever built. The initial offering from California-based startup Aptera Motors, is efficient, lightweight, and quite speedy. Under certain configurations, the vehicle can deliver 1,000 miles of range, which is more than triple what most current all-electrics offer. Best of all, this is an EV that almost everyone can afford, with a starting price of around $25,000. While it certainly looks unusual, the radical design is to maximize aerodynamics, and the vehicle is sure to turn heads every time it rolls down the road.
Aptera Thinks Outside The Box
The Aptera is a two-seat, three-wheeled electric vehicle, that the company hopes will be the most energy-efficient vehicle in mass production. It's set up kind of like a Can-Am Spyder, with two wheels in the front and one in the back, but with a cabin. It's unclear if this vehicle is a motorcycle, a sports car, or a three-door hatchback coupé, but presumably, it could be all of those things.
At first glance, the Aptera looks a bit like a Terrafugia Transition flying car without wings, and that's no accident. According to Aptera Motors, the vehicle's aerodynamic designs borrow from nature and are built similarly to a "small, speedy aircraft." The company has managed to create a vehicle with an automobile drag coefficient that is significantly lower than any motorcycle or car in production. The Aptera further reduces drag with a unique cooling system. Traditional radiators with fans create the drag, so Aptera Motors came up with a smooth aluminum underside, filled with coolant, that transfers heat from the batteries, AC, and motors to the underbelly of the vehicle.
Weight is just as much a factor as aerodynamics when it comes to a vehicle's efficiency and that's why the Aptera is on a strict diet of composite materials. The majority of the vehicle's body is made from a Carbon Fiber Sheet Molding Compound and molded fiberglass, giving it an 1,800-pound curb weight. A Tesla Model 3 weighs around 4,000 pounds and a Rivian R1T tips the scales at over 8,000 pounds, so the Aptera can go farther, using less energy.
Inside The Aptera
A lightweight, low-drag design is great, but wouldn't mean much if there wasn't some decent power to propel the vehicle. The Aptera utilizes in-wheel motor technology and comes with either a two- or three-motor all-wheel drive option, each making 57 horsepower. While that doesn't sound Earth-shattering, in a three-motor configuration, the Aptera can accelerate from 0-60 in 4 seconds, with a top-speed of 101 mph. As reported by Electrek, a beta Aptera smoked a Tesla Model 3 and an Audi R8 GT Spyder in a quarter-mile race.
All of this speed, range, and efficiency come with a bit of luxury as well. The seats have plenty of legroom and there is an amazing 32.5 cubic feet of storage space. There is a generous digital dash/ infotainment system and the rear-view mirrors appear to be screens with rear-facing cameras. The interior includes stylish accents made of sustainable and recycled materials.
The range is probably the most important factor for an EV, and this is where the Aptera really excels. The two-motor 25 kWh battery version has 250 miles of range, which is on par with most electric vehicles on the market. The three-motor 100 kWh drive system, however, has an astounding 1,000 miles of range. It achieves this impressive distance in part to solar panels mounted on the roof, hood, dashboard and hatch, which charge the vehicle's batteries while driving. The solar panels also charge when the vehicle is idle, generating 40 miles of power on an average sunny day. Since most people drive less than 30 miles per day, the Aptera will never need to be plugged in for the majority of drivers. For those who do need some extra juice, the Aptera can charge from standard 120 and 240-volt AC outlets, Level 1 and Level 2 charging stations, as well as high-speed DC chargers
How To Get Behind The Wheel Of An Aptera
San Diego-based Aptera Motors first introduced prototypes of their radical solar-powered EVs in 2019, with a projected production date of 2020. Due to delays in finishing construction on their factory, that date kept getting moved until the company said customers would start taking deliveries in 2023. Unfortunately, they need some more capital for tooling and equipment, so it's likely that nobody is getting one until 2024, but the company insists they are on track to make and deliver vehicles this year.
One customer who feels good about Aptera delivering this year is SustainabilitySooner, Inc., who just placed a fleet order for the solar electric vehicles. The Eco-friendly company has purchased 101 of the 400-mile range Apteras, and hopes to increase that order to over 100,000 as its operations expand. It's unlikely that a company would make a $3.35 million investment like that if they didn't expect delivery, so it's clear that Aptera is going to happen sooner than later.
Also, there are almost 50,000 pre-orders on the EV, so there's no way the company isn't going to start delivering. With a base price of $25,900 for the two-motor 25 kWh battery, 250-mile range version, and $47,000 for the three motor 100 kWh, 1000-mile range, the Aptera is an affordable marvel of modern science. Just in case you want to make sure you get one, investing $10,000 in the company moves your name to the top of the delivery list.
The Aperta Is As Cool As They Come
The Aperta is not a family car or an off-roader, though they do offer an off-road option package. It's a two-seater for people who never want to spend another dime on fuel and like to be noticed. Its radical design is an attention getter and its price, both in terms of initial cost and operational cost, makes it one of the coolest rides on the road. The fact that it can travel up to 1,000 miles makes it the most consequential EV ever conceived.