What if you could drive a car that never needs gasoline and never runs out of battery?
That’s the promise of Aptera, a company revolutionizing the electric vehicle (EV) industry.
That’s the promise of Aptera, a company revolutionizing the electric vehicle (EV) industry.
Aptera has created an EV that harnesses the power of the sun to charge itself, eliminating the need to plug in at charging stations. This isn’t just an idea—it’s a reality. Meet Aptera, the world’s first solar EV.
The 2007, a California startup, set out to create an electric car that would completely eliminate the need for charging stations. The idea was bold and daring, but it laid the foundation for what would become the Aptera.
The solar EV by the numbers
In January of last year, Aptera unveiled its Launch Edition, featuring an ultra-lightweight composite body with 700 watts of solar cells and a drag coefficient of just 0,13. It also has a motor at each wheel that can reach 60 mph in four seconds. It offers 32,5 cubic feet of rear storage space. The Aptera can travel up to 1.000 miles on a single charge and can drive up to 40 miles a day on solar power.
The solar advantage
As long as the sun is shining, the Aptera recharges automatically. Its solar cells absorb sunlight, sending power directly to its onboard batteries. No more pit stops at charging stations—just seamless, sustainable driving.
Strategic partnerships to make solar-powered electric vehicles a reality
To turn this vision into reality, the company joined forces with three industry leaders and forged strategic partnerships to bring solar-powered electric vehicles to life.
Eve Energy for batteries: The heart of the Aptera lies in its batteries. The company partnered with Eve Energy to develop high-capacity, long-lasting battery packs. These batteries store energy from the sun and power the vehicle seamlessly.
Maxeon solar technology: The Aptera’s roof is a canvas for innovation. Maxeon’s photovoltaic cells cover its surface, harnessing sunlight and converting it into electricity. With 700-watt solar cells, the Aptera continually replenishes its energy reserves.
Slovenian electric in-wheel motors: Aptera’s wheels house state-of-the-art electric motors, allowing each wheel to operate independently. These motors deliver impressive acceleration, reaching 100 mph in just four seconds—a feat that rivals sports cars.
There are no official crash-test results yet, but here’s what Aptera has to say about safety in its FAQ: Is the Aptera safe?
"We won’t know Aptera’s actual rating until we put a production vehicle through the full safety test. But we plan to exceed all passenger car standards, and the previous version had the highest roof crush strength of any passenger car on the road and performed extremely well in real-world side-impact and frontal crash tests. The Aptera features a Formula 1-inspired safety cell with advanced composites and metal structures for impact resistance. Similar to aerospace and racing, these energy-absorbing methods are a key part of the safety strategy and have proven effective time and time again in high-speed impacts."
When Aptera introduced its Launch Edition, investors rallied behind the cause. They raised more than 33 million dollars to secure the first 2.000 reservation spots. This enthusiasm added to the 100 million dollars the company had already raised over the years.
Source: Fox News
Source: Fox News
