Aptera (solar electric vehicle)

Last updated

Aptera Solar EV
Aptera Side View with Open Door.jpg
First prototype of the Aptera solar powered EV
Overview
Manufacturer Aptera Motors
Production2025 (planned)
Assembly Carlsbad, California
Designer Jason Hill
Body and chassis
Class
Body style 3 door hatchback coupé
Layout 2 front wheel drive axle
Powertrain
Electric motor Vitesco Technologies EMR3 axle drive
Battery 25, 42, 60 or 100 kW·h lithium-ion
Range250, 400, 600 or 1,000 miles (1,600 km)  EPA
Plug-in charging
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,743 mm (108 in)
Length4,496 mm (177 in)
Width2,225 mm (87.6 in)
Height1,422 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 [lower-alpha 2] 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]

Contents

History

The Aptera vehicle's development was planned to progress through a series of prototypes: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, leading to the Delta phase vehicle. Three Alpha prototypes were built to validate the basic vehicle design and provide rough functionality. The Beta prototype incorporated functional improvements learned from the Alpha prototypes. The Gamma prototype was intended to iron out production details, and then the Delta to be the production-intent vehicle. [4] In June 2022, Aptera announced a detailed plan to scale in-wheel motor production in Slovenia by Elaphe. Up to 100,000 units are to be produced annually in a 160,000 square foot R&D and production centre. [5] Due to production issues the in-wheel motor design was replaced with a standard front-wheel drive axle design for the production model. [3]

Aptera named Maxeon Solar Technologies as the solar cell provider for the vehicle in October 2022. [6] The Gamma Aptera prototype was unveiled in December, with a touch screen center console and improved head and legroom. [7] In January 2023, Aptera announced that it needed $50 million to start assembly. Shortly thereafter, it received a $21 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC). [8] Since then, the Accelerator program has raised the other 29 million dollars needed to begin production. [9]

In March 2023, Aptera announced its use of Comma.ai's Openpilot driver assistance system. [10] 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. [11] The Aptera sEV has over 40,000 reservations as of 2023. [12]

Design

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 40–60 kW. [13]

Aerodynamics

The Aptera has a claimed coefficient of drag that is very low, at 0.13 as of January 2023. [14] The car was tested at an Italian wind tunnel, the results of which were described by co-CEO Chris Anthony as "pretty pictures". [15]

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, [16] and the MIT Aztec Solar Car, which won multiple efficiency awards while racing in the American Tour de Sol in 1993. [17]

Notes

  1. ↑ Compatible with the Tesla Supercharger network.
  2. ↑ The car is homonymous with its manufacturer, Aptera Motors.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three-wheeler</span> Vehicle with three wheels

A three-wheeler is a vehicle with three wheels. Some are motorized tricycles, which may be legally classed as motorcycles, while others are tricycles without a motor, some of which are human-powered vehicles and animal-powered vehicles.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar car</span> Electric car powered by solar energy

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riversimple</span>

Riversimple is a United Kingdom-based car manufacturer of hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). It is based in Llandrindod Wells, a town in Wales, where there is a research & development centre and the company's offices. Riversimple was founded by former motorsport engineer and racing driver Hugo Spowers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheel hub motor</span> Electric motor in the middle of a wheel

A wheel hub motor, hub motor, or in-wheel motor is a motor that is incorporated into the hub of the wheel. Wheel-hub motors are commonly found on electric bicycles. Electric hub motors were well-received in early electric cars, but have not been commercially successful in modern production cars because they negatively affect vehicle handling due to higher dynamic wheel load and their placement makes them prone to damage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonway Automobile</span> Chinese automotive company

Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co., Ltd., trading as Jonway Automobile, is a Chinese automobile manufacturer founded in 2003 and based in Taizhou, Zhejiang.

Pakistan has a significant market for hybrid vehicles such as Honda's Vezel, Toyota's Prius, and Aqua. The Automotive Development Policy (2016–2021) and the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) encourage foreign investments for new automobile brands to enter the Pakistani market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rivian R1T</span> Battery electric mid-size pickup truck

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 28th 2021, and was delivered to a customer. The official EPA range for the Rivian R1T ranges from 255–410 mi (410–660 km), depending on drivetrain, battery pack capacity and wheel size.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tesla Cybertruck</span> Electric pickup truck

The Tesla Cybertruck is a battery electric pickup truck built by Tesla, Inc. since 2023. Introduced as a concept vehicle in November 2019, it has a body design reminiscent of low-polygon modelling, consisting of flat stainless steel sheet panels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lightyear 0</span> Solar-electric car

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Mustang Mach-E</span> Battery electric compact crossover SUV

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lordstown Endurance</span> Motor vehicle

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandy Munro</span> Automotive engineer

Sandy Munro is an automotive engineer who specializes in machine tools and manufacturing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyundai Electric Global Modular Platform</span> Motor vehicle platform

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpha Motor Corporation</span> American electric vehicle company

Alpha Motor Corporation is an American electric vehicle company based in Irvine, California. As of 2024, the company has revealed a number of prototypes, but has not begun production of any vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultium</span> EV battery and motor architecture

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX</span> 2022 battery electric vehicle concept

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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squad Solar</span> Solar electric motor vehicle

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.

References

  1. 1 2 Voelcker, John (August 28, 2019). "Exclusive: 3-Wheeled Aptera Reboots as World's Most Efficient Electric Car". IEEE Spectrum. IEEE. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  2. ↑ "FAQs Archive". Aptera. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Steve Fambro, "Aptera Update — July 2024", YouTube
  4. ↑ Sensiba, Jennifer (November 2, 2021). "Aptera Ends Alpha Production, Beta Production Under Way". CleanTechnica. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  5. ↑ Randall, Chris (June 23, 2022). "Aptera orders in-wheel motors from Elaphe". Electrive. Berlin: Rabbit Publishing GmbH. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ Dnistran, Iulian (December 13, 2023). "Aptera Gamma Shows Its Center Touchscreen In Latest Development Video". Inside EVs. Miami: Motorsport Network. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ "Aptera Leaderboard". Aptera Leaderboard. Aptera. October 3, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ Nehls (September 25, 2023). "Aptera reveals first composite production parts for BinC vehicle". Composites World. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  12. ↑ Krivevski, Blagojce (January 21, 2023). "Aptera Unveils Production-Intent Launch Edition". ElectricCarsReport.com. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Charging – Aptera enthusiast blog" . Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  14. ↑ https://aptera.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Aptera-Vehicle-Specs.pdf
  15. ↑ https://www.wsj.com/business/entrepreneurship/the-shortcut-that-allows-risky-startups-to-raise-billions-from-rookie-investors-70509a25
  16. ↑ Dempsey, Wayne (February 13, 2021). "HPV Racing History – Pegasus Fusion and Aptera". Recumbents.com. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  17. ↑ Dempsey, Wayne (February 13, 2021). "MIT Aztec Solar Car". Dempsey Motorsports. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.