Aptera: First Solar EV Rolls Off Assembly Line
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Futuristic aerodynamic three-wheel, two-seater, solar-powered car that may change the way road transport looks in the future.
In April last year, OGN reported that Aptera took its solar-powered electric vehicle out on a proper road trip - 300 miles on Route 66 - to validate its vehicle in real-world conditions. The sEV is designed to potentially eliminate the need for plugging in for drivers in sunny climates. Wouldn't that be great? Since the road trip, interest has rocketed. Aptera claims to have amassed nearly 50,000 reservations representing over US$1.7 billion in potential revenue. Supported by $135 million raised through crowdfunding, the company is now rolling its first models off the production line.
It's not quite the start of the flow of road-ready cars heading for showrooms but it marks a major operational milestone toward regulatory certification and initial customer deliveries. The company’s low-volume validation assembly line represents a transition from hand-built validation vehicles to a structured assembly line process.
"The completion of the first vehicle off our low-volume assembly line is a significant achievement for the entire company," said Steve Fambro, Co-CEO of Aptera. "These first vehicles will be used to complete the key tests and optimization required to sell our first vehicles to customers."
Aptera's sEV offers up to 400 miles (640 km) of range from a single charge of its onboard batteries in under an hour, and up to 40 miles of 'free' driving per day powered entirely by sunlight. Live in a sunny climate? You could get over 10,000 miles per year of solar-powered driving. "Unlike larger, heavier vehicles dependent on fossil fuels or grid power, Aptera generates its own energy," says Aptera. "It’s a lightweight, self-sufficient solution tailored to today’s world and tomorrow’s challenges."
With the Launch Edition coming in at US$40,000 apiece, Aptera plans to begin producing a small number of units this year, and ramp up to building 20,000 cars a year by 2027.
