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Aptera, a California startup, hopes to finally start production of its solar-powered EV later this year with a starting price of $40k.
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The three-wheeler achieves a claimed 400-mile range from a relatively small battery thanks to aerodynamic bodywork and a 2,200-pound curb weight.
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The solar panels covering the exterior of the aptera add a claimed 40 miles of range per day in sunny states like California.
“Whoa, what is that?” A voice cried as we searched past. “That thing looks like a spaceship,” said another voice from the sidewalk as we waited for the light to change.
I rode shotgun in the three-wheeled Aptera and became one of the first people outside the startup company to drive its radical solar-powered EV. The vehicle I was in was a production validation prototype, with a few notable differences versus the production spec stand I had just seen outside the Las Vegas Convention Center as part of CES. It's clear the cabin was stripped down, devoid of interior trim, with just a set of switches, gauges and some exposed wires. The slim coopers for the outboard fenders were also missing. But under the skin, the chassis, drivetrain and suspension are representative of the car that Aptera can finally deliver to customers later this year.
Rethinking EVs
Aptera, based out of Carlsbad, California, near San Diego, has had a rough journey. First founded in 2006, the original plans for a three-wheeler were outlined in 2011 and the assets were sold to a Chinese company that also failed to get off the ground. In 2019, Aptera reemerged, led by the same duo who first started the company and largely used crowdfunding to get operations going. Since then, Aptera has been busy developing a modern version of its original three-wheeler—which is technically classified as an autocycle—and unveiled the production-ready iteration of its EV at CES as it makes a push to acquire the necessary funding to start Building Boardworthy Examples by the end of 2025.
Aptera makes a lot of big claims about its solar-powered EV, which if true would represent a seismic shift in how we think about the key issues surrounding EVs, such as range anxiety and charging infrastructure concerns. While the Aptera packs a relatively puny battery with 42.0 kWh of usable capacity, the company claims an impressive range of 400 miles. The car's aerodynamic bodywork plays a big role in achieving that figure, with Aptera previously stating that it was aiming for a drag coefficient of 0.13 CD.
The 400-mile figure is completed with solar panels covering the car, a proprietary design that Aptera says it is currently filing several patents for. Aptera claims that the electricity harvested by the solar panels provides up to 40 miles of range per day, or up to 10,000 miles per year, in sunny regions. Chris Anthony, one of the company's co-founders, who I spoke with at CES, said in an area like Car and driver Hometown Ann Arbor, Michigan, which tends to get quite gloomy in the winter, is expected to get 8,000 miles per year of solar power.
Since the average American commute is about 30 miles, the Aptera's solar energy should be more than enough to get owners running daily errands. If parked outside, the car can regain some energy while you are shopping. “All you have to do is leave this out in the sun,” Anthony explained. “It's the most ubiquitous charging network in the world.” If Aptera's figures are correct, this would vastly reduce owners' dependence on inconsistent public charging networks. This could also be an EV that really works for apartment dwellers.
A short drive
Our brief drive around the streets of Las Vegas didn't allow us to evaluate Aptera's claims, but we did find that despite its UFO-like appearance, the Aptera largely feels like a normal car once you get going. The bare interior meant the prototype was louder inside than the production car would be – the single front-mounted e-motor emitting a whine – but it wasn't unbearably loud.
The first launch edition models, such as the prototype, will be front-wheel drive with 201 hp. An all-wheel drive version is planned for the future and will add another motor driving the single rear wheel. While 201 ponies aren't a lot – especially in the world of fast EVs – the Aptera uses carbon fiber to maintain a claimed curb weight of around 2200 pounds. The carbon fiber body, sitting atop an aluminum chassis, comes from CPC group, an Italian composite manufacturer that produces carbon fiber parts for Lamborghini and Ferrari.
The light weight meant the Aptera bought itself out of the passenger seat and zipped forward when the test driver tightened the throttle. We never went particularly fast, but the Aptera felt perky enough for city driving. Aptera claims the three-wheeler will rocket to 60 mph in less than six seconds. The all-wheel drive version should drop that sprint to less than four seconds. Top speed is listed at 101 mph.
From a driver's perspective, the outboard wheels seem to be the biggest adjustment. They sit noticeably wider than the body and aren't visible from a normal sitting position without craning your neck, but Aptera's test driver said he adapted quickly. The front wheels are linked to the body via unequal length control arms with inboard dampers, while the rear wheel has a four-link suspension setup. “The suspension dynamics are almost exactly like a VW Golf,” Anthony claimed.
The ride was definitely on the stiff side, especially considering the slippery Vegas roads. The rear wheel jumped over the few bumps we encountered, but overall the Aptera felt civilized. There weren't many twisty sections in the Vegas grid with hotel, but the Aptera felt stable cornering with only a slight lean. Despite the three-wheel setup, the EV didn't feel significantly different from a normal car, at least as a passenger.
Almost production
Back at the show, I checked out the interior of the production spec. A carbon-fiber chassis isn't the Aptera's only resemblance to supercars—its distinctive butterfly doors make it a challenge to slide gracefully into the cockpit. Once inside, the cabin looks fairly sparse. The dashboard has two screens: a small digital gauge cluster and a larger display with a simple infotainment system.
Build quality was not up to the standard of most mass produced vehicles. For example, the line between the two paint colors on the yoke-style steering wheel was uneven, and the yoke itself was wrapped in an ill-fitting rubbery material. Plastic is plentiful, although the leather on the dash felt decent. The cloth seats with inserts were hard and flat, but legroom felt adequate and there was a panoramic front view. A somewhat flimsy storage container in the center console hides two USB-C ports. While the cabin isn't quite on par with the established automakers, we're willing to give a small company like Aptera some leeway. Hopefully the final product will be more polished.
Aptera hopes to begin production of its 400-mile launch edition models by the end of the year before expanding the lineup to include 250-, 600- and 1,000-mile range variants. Aptera also plans to let customers save money by reducing the number of solar panels to just the roof, hood and dashboard—reducing the trunk-mounted panels to solar-addicted range to 22 miles per day.
The company says it has almost 50,000 pre-orders, but along with selling to consumers, Aptera is also considering selling its three-wheeler to fleet companies. Anthony suggested uses such as package delivery, parking meter enforcement and food delivery services. “You can charge 150 miles overnight with a 110-volt extension cord,” he noted. “So you can imagine a large parking lot where they already have a light pole and you can charge what needs to be charged from the light pole, and the rest will charge from the sun.”
The Aptera isn't going to be a one-size-fits-all car – it only seats two and the teardrop shape not only draws attention but means that the rear storage area, although reasonably spacious, is oddly shaped. But the Aptera's targeted price of $40,000 for the launch edition—and as low as $28,000 for the final 250-mile variant—ensures I don't need more than two seats.
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