First ever solar electric “Never Charge” vehicle revealed
Aptera Motors has announced the introduction of the first solar electric vehicle (sEV) that requires no charging for most daily use and boasts a range of up to 1,000 miles per full charge.
Aptera say it leverages breakthroughs in lightweight structures, low-drag aerodynamics and cooling, material science, and manufacturing processes to deliver the most “efficient vehicle ever made available to consumers“.
Co-founder Chris Anthony said: “With Aptera’s Never Charge technology, you are driven by the power of the sun. Our built-in solar array keeps your battery pack topped off and anywhere you want to go, you just go.”
Never Charge is built into every Aptera and is designed to harvest enough sunlight to travel over 11,000 miles per year in most regions. The Aptera vehicle is made of lightweight composites that are, according to the company, many times stronger than steel, allowing its unique body shape to slip through the air with an unheard-of drag coefficient (Cd) of .13.
Aptera key breakthroughs and features include:
Record-breaking range: Aptera’s low drag gives it the longest range of any production vehicle ever created – achieving up to 1,000 miles per charge and unburdening drivers from frustrating range anxiety.
Solar: Integrated solar can be configured to provide up to 45 miles of range per day with over 3 square meters and 180 efficient solar cells designed into the body structure. This makes Aptera the first vehicle capable of meeting most daily driving needs using solar power alone.
Efficient powertrains: Liquid-cooled electric motors propel Aptera from 0-60 in as fast as 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 110 mph. All-wheel drive and vectorized torque control give Aptera comfort, stability control, and the ability to handle inclement weather.
Tunable efficiency: Adjustable settings built into Aptera’s user interface keep drivers updated with ways they can conserve energy and extend range in real time.
Scalable manufacturing: Aptera has solved key challenges allowing for rapid, high-volume, and cost-efficient vehicle production – having just four main pieces.
Aptera is now available to pre-order. For a refundable fee of $100 (£75), customers can reserve one of a limited number of special edition Paradigm and Paradigm+ vehicles, which will be the first produced in 2021.
They can also design and customise their own Aptera and choose ranges of 250, 400, 600, or 1,000 miles in both AWD and FWD packages. Pricing is between $25,900- $46,900+ (£19,500 - £35,500).
