Aptera's Electric Dream Finally Comes True
Image Credit: Aptera.
After what feels like an eternity, California's plucky little startup, Aptera, is finally ready to show us the goods. And by "goods," I mean the production-intent version of their delightfully peculiar three-wheeled solar electric vehicle. The day has come when we might just see a car that promises to ferry you about your daily commute without ever needing a wall socket.
For those of you who've been following this saga – and by "saga," I mean a series of delays that would make a sloth blush – you'll know this isn't Aptera's first rodeo. Or even their second. Or third. Back in 2021, they were promising to deliver 10,000 of these futuristic pods by 2023. Of course, that particular prophecy proved to be about as accurate as a weather forecast in a hurricane. Money, or rather the distinct lack thereof, seemed to be the primary antagonist in this electrical drama, leading to more timeline adjustments than a Hollywood movie premiere.
Image Credit: Aptera.
But after all those hiccups, Aptera is finally putting on a grand show, livestreaming the unveiling on June 27th at 3:00 PM Pacific Time. That's 7:00 PM Eastern, for those of us on the "sensible" side of the country. This means, in theory, that customer deliveries are now "closer than ever." One can almost hear the faint whirring of electric motors… or is it just my electric kettle?
The two-seater Aptera, which looks like it just rolled off a sci-fi film set where efficiency is king and aesthetics are unique, was originally supposed to boast in-wheel motors from a company called Elaphe. But like many grand plans, that idea went the way of the dodo, replaced by a more conventional in-board motor from Vitesco. This EMR3 drive unit is a neat little package, combining a permanent-magnet synchronous motor, an inverter, and a reducer all in one. The boffins at Aptera insist this won't put a dent in their audacious range claims. The Launch Edition, for example, is still proudly advertised as offering 400 miles on a full charge.
Image Credit: Aptera.
The "production-intent" prototype is supposed to have everything a discerning future owner could ever wish for: climate control (a rather important feature, unless you enjoy feeling like a slow-cooked casserole), infotainment (because silence is overrated), a vision system (presumably for seeing things, like other cars), and, of course, full solar integration. This is the big one, the grand promise of the Aptera.
Chris Anthony, one of Aptera's co-CEOs, practically gushed, "This is the moment we've been building toward." He went on to assure potential buyers that this vehicle is "built to the design we plan to produce at scale and deliver to our eager reservation holders." One can almost hear the crescendo of violins.
Image Credit: Aptera.
LG batteries will power these sun-worshipping chariots, and they'll be juiced up via a Tesla-designed NACS port. Very sensible. The $40,000 Launch Edition comes with a solar array that blankets the entire upper body, promising up to 40 miles of range per day under "ideal conditions." So, if you live in a perpetually sunny desert and commute 35 miles a day, you might just never have to plug this thing in. For the rest of us, there's always the NACS port. More versions with even grander ranges are "on the way," though the timing of their arrival remains as mysterious as a politician's conscience.
Steve Fambro, the other co-CEO, chimed in with a rather technical monologue about how "virtually every circuit, every bit of software and firmware is designed entirely in-house." From the vehicle computers to the battery management system, it's all "Aptera's own tightly integrated hardware and software stack." Apparently, this magical combination works in "concert to achieve unparalleled energy efficiency." It's "robust and elegant," he assures us, and "purpose-built to support our radically efficient architecture." One almost expects it to sing opera.
Image Credit: Aptera.
Once this production-intent validation vehicle has had its moment in the digital spotlight, it's off on a cross-country road trip later this summer, to prove your solar-powered wonder works. After this epic journey, they've promised to reveal the "real-world efficiency." I actually am on the edge of my seat… Mostly to see if it makes it without needing a very long extension cord.
For those among us with an abundance of optimism and a spare $100, pre-orders are open. Just plunk down your cash and reserve your very own Launch Edition. But if patience isn't your strong suit, Aptera has a "fast-track system." For $5,000 or more, you can invest and skip ahead in the queue, getting priority delivery after the first 2,000 philanthropic early adopters. They also have a discount program: invest between $1,000 and $10,000, and you'll get a vehicle discount equal to your investment. Essentially, they're letting you pre-pay for your car, but with extra steps and a sprinkle of "investment opportunity." Clever, those Californians.
Image Credit: Aptera.
The Aptera is finally here. Almost. It's roughly 15 feet long, 7.3 feet wide, and 4.6 feet tall, weighing in somewhere between 1,800 and 2,200 pounds depending on your chosen battery size. The Launch Edition, with its 44 kWh battery, will reportedly sprint from 0 to 60 in under 6 seconds, and its top speed is a respectable 101 miles per hour. It's a three-wheeled, solar-paneled oddity that just might revolutionize personal transportation. Or, at the very least, make for some truly amusing pictures on the highway. I'm optimistic… Like a squirrel watching a very, very slow-moving nut.
