Aptera Solar 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 [b] 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 significantly extend its range. [1] [2] While several prototypes featured in-wheel motors, the production model is designed with a standard three-wheeler front-wheel drive axle. [3]
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. Then in January 2023 it announced a fund drive to raise $50 million. They said they needed at least that amount to start production. [7] The company announced in February that the funds would allow for the "initial phases of production", and the following month 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]
Aptera named Maxeon Solar Technologies as the solar cell provider for the vehicle in October 2022. [11] In March 2023, Aptera announced its use of Comma.ai's Openpilot driver assistance system. [12] 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. [13]
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. [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]
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, [17] and the MIT Aztec Solar Car, which won multiple efficiency awards while racing in the American Tour de Sol in 1993. [18]
Aptera Motors Corp. is an American crowd funded, pre-production startup company based in Carlsbad, California. It was founded in 2005 before liquidating in 2011. The company was relaunched by the original founders in 2019.
A solar car is a solar vehicle for use on public roads or race tracks. Solar vehicles are electric vehicles that use self-contained solar cells to provide full or partial power to the vehicle via sunlight. Solar vehicles typically contain a rechargeable battery to help regulate and store the energy from the solar cells and from regenerative braking. Some solar cars can be plugged into external power sources to supplement the power of sunlight used to charge their battery.
The Chevrolet Bolt EV is a battery electric subcompact hatchback manufactured and marketed by General Motors under its Chevrolet brand from late 2016 until mid-2021 and again from early 2022 to late 2023. In mid-2023, GM officials said they would discontinue the Bolt; after outcry, they announced plans but no date for a next-generation model.
Lucid Group, Inc. is an American automotive and technology company that manufactures electric vehicles and supplies advanced electric vehicle powertrain systems. The company is headquartered in Newark, California. In September 2021, the company began producing the Lucid Air sedan at its factory in Casa Grande, Arizona. The company expects to begin production of its second model, the Lucid Gravity SUV, in late 2024. Lucid also supplies and develops powertrain technology to other automakers, including Aston Martin.
The Lucid Air is a battery electric 4-door luxury sedan made by Lucid Motors. The car was announced in December 2016 and sold starting in 2021.
The Rivian R1T is a battery electric mid-size light duty luxury pickup truck produced by the American company Rivian. The first production R1T was manufactured in Illinois on September 28, 2021, and was delivered to a customer. The official EPA range for the Rivian R1T ranges from 255–410 miles (410–660 km), depending on drivetrain, battery pack capacity and wheel size.
The Lightyear 0 is an all-solar-electric car by the Dutch car manufacturer Lightyear. Production was originally scheduled to start in 2021, with a starting price of €250,000 incl. VAT. The first units were delivered in December 2022. In January 2023, Lightyear announced that it was halting production of the 0 model, and that Atlas Technologies B.V., the subsidiary responsible for the manufacture of the Lightyear 0, would be allowed to go bankrupt. After a restart and new investments the manufacturer is now focusing on a more affordable model, Lightyear 2.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is a battery electric compact crossover SUV produced by Ford. Introduced on November 17, 2019, it went on sale in December 2020 as a 2021 model. The Mach-E is part of the Mustang series, with its name inspired by the Mach 1 variant of the first-generation Mustang. The car won the 2021 North American SUV of the Year Award.
The Cadillac Lyriq is a battery electric mid-size luxury crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by the Cadillac division of General Motors. As Cadillac's first fully electric vehicle, and the first GM production vehicle using the BEV3 platform, the Lyriq introduces a new version of GM's Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system.
The Lordstown Endurance is a full-size battery electric pickup truck with wheel hub motors manufactured by Lordstown Motors in collaboration with Foxconn at its Ohio factory. The Endurance entered limited production in September 2022 with plans to manufacture no more than 500 vehicles through June of 2023. It is the company's first production automobile.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a battery electric mid-size fastback sedan produced by Hyundai Motor Company. It is the second vehicle marketed under the electric car-focused Ioniq sub-brand after the Ioniq 5, and the fourth model developed on the Hyundai Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The vehicle was first sold in South Korea in late 2022, with deliveries in the United States beginning in March 2023.
Hyundai E-GMP is a dedicated battery electric vehicle platform for Hyundai Motor Group automobiles. It is the first electric-only dedicated platform by Hyundai. It has been used for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis automobiles starting in 2021. It follows Hyundai's earlier Power Electric System, which describes the drivetrain of an electric vehicle, including the traction motor, storage battery, and power electronics.
The Zeekr 001 a battery electric shooting brake marketed by Zeekr since 2021 as the first vehicle from the brand. Originally designed as a Lynk & Co vehicle, the model was instead released under Zeekr, at the time a new electric vehicle brand under Geely Holding.
Ultium is an electric vehicle battery and motor architecture developed by General Motors. It is being deployed for battery electric vehicles from General Motors portfolio brands along with vehicles from Honda and Acura.
The Chevrolet Blazer EV is a battery electric mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand. Introduced in 2022, the model went on sale in mid-2023 in North America. The model will offer up 320 miles (510 km) of range. It is produced at GM's plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. The Blazer EV also won the MotorTrend SUV of the Year Award (SUVOTY) for 2024.
The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX is a battery electric concept car by German carmaker Mercedes-Benz. Unveiled at the 2022 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show as part of the Mercedes-EQ series, it is a proof of concept, with Mercedes-Benz's primary goal being a target of below 10 kWh per 100 km in real-life conditions. The EQXX's exterior features various stylistic cues that help maximise its aerodynamic efficiency, and numerous eco-friendly materials that adorn the interior. The car's name refers to Mercedes' vision for the future of automobile manufacturing, with Mercedes chairman Ola Källenius stating that the EQXX is "how we imagine the future of electric cars", and that the car "underlines where our entire company is headed".
Sony Honda Mobility Inc. is a Japanese joint venture automotive company established by Sony Group Corporation and Honda Motor Company in 2022 to produce battery electric vehicles. The company will market its vehicles under the Afeela brand.
The Squad Solar is a neighborhood electric vehicle or microcar that has a solar panel on top to make it a solar car. The vehicle can also be plugged into a regular outlet to be powered by the grid. The vehicle is manufactured by Squad Mobility BV based in the Netherlands which was founded by Robert Hoevers and Chris Klok that previously worked at Lightyear. It is set to start production for the EU market in 2025, and sales in the US starting in 2025.
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link)