Aptera Unveils Production-Intent Version of High-Efficiency Solar EV
Aptera made headlines on Wednesday with the announcement of the completion of a working production-intent version of its innovative three-wheel solar electric vehicle.
This groundbreaking vehicle, the first in a series, represents a significant milestone for Aptera as it combines a production-spec powertrain, carbon-fiber body, and in-house designed software and battery pack, as stated in a press release from the company.
Aptera production-intent vehicle
Aptera plans to incorporate solar hardware, a production-intent thermal management system, and complete exterior surfaces in the next phase of testing. The vehicles will undergo high-speed track testing to validate their performance and efficiency characteristics.
The completion of the production-intent process brings Aptera closer to launching a commercial vehicle. The company has already received over 50,000 reservations for their upcoming model. The Launch Edition, priced at $33,200 and unveiled in January 2023, boasts impressive specs including a 4.0-second 0-60 mph acceleration time, a 42-kWh battery pack offering up to 400 miles of range, and a solar power system capable of providing 700 watts of continuous power for 40 miles of range per day.
Aptera has hinted at even more impressive versions with up to 1,000 miles of range when factoring in power from the solar array and 0-60 mph times as low as 3.5 seconds. The company has also adopted the Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) port well ahead of other U.S.-market EV brands. Additionally, Aptera has teased upcoming design changes aimed at enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Earlier this year, Aptera successfully completed a crowdfunding program and is now seeking private capital to ramp up production volume. Over the past three years, the company raised over $100 million from more than 17,000 investors through various crowdfunding phases. Aptera aims to bring their innovative three-wheeler to market “at scale” by 2025, pending the necessary funding.