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Aptera (solar electric vehicle)
American solar electric 3-wheel vehicle From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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]
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Prototypes and production
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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]
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Design and components
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]
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References
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