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The solar-powered daily driver that you won’t need to plug in to charge

Umito November 3, 2024

Aptera Motors, based in San Diego, California, has successfully completed the first low-speed operating test of its fully solar-powered electric vehicle (sEV). The PI2 does not need to be plugged in to charge and draws its daily energy directly from the sun.

The PI2 – Aptera’s “Production Intent” vehicle – was disassembled during the parking lot test, stripped of any components not required to drive the vehicle at low speeds. This included the removal of body panels, door panels, windows, solar panels and the high voltage system.

The Aptera is designed to be a fully solar-powered electric vehicle (sEV). Aptera claims it will have an additional 40 miles of range per day without needing to be plugged in to recharge because it draws energy from the sun into its internal batteries. There are options for different battery sizes. One of them will offer up to 1,000 miles of range once fully charged. If you need to travel more than 40 miles per day or the weather doesn’t allow your Aptera to get its daily dose of sunshine, it can be plugged in to charge its battery.

If Batman really was Orcaman and rode in an Orcamobile... still, the matte black looks more like Dark Knight in a marine kind of way. — If Batman really was Orcaman and rode in an Orcamobile… still, the matte black looks more like Dark Knight in a marine kind of way.

In January of last year, Aptera announced the Launch Edition which featured around 700 watts of solar cells on the composite body and offered a range of 400 miles from a single charge to its 42 kWh lithium-ion battery . Of course, the integrated solar panels would continue to charge the batteries continuously as long as they were exposed to sunlight.

To put this into perspective, the Tesla Model S long rangeequipped with a 100 kWh battery, has an estimated range of 405 miles.

Toyota Prius offers solar panels on its vehicles in the past. Previous models had about 180 watts of solar charging on the car’s 12-volt system to run accessories in the vehicle — primarily to help the car’s cabin fans keep the interior cool. A later version of the Prius would also provide a small amount of power to the driving batteries, giving the car about an extra mile of range per day.

The top of the Aptera PI2 is covered with approximately 3 square meters of solar panels (shown in green), giving it a charge of approximately 700 watts in ideal solar conditions. That equates to about 40 miles of driving per day from the sun alone.

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid also offered a solar roof option with about 200 watts of power, adding about 2 miles of range per day. Again, its primary purpose was to keep the 12 volt system charged, not to focus on the 270 volt system used by the electric motors.

“Green” doesn’t necessarily mean slow

With a claimed 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of four seconds and a top speed of 101 mph (162 km/h), it’s no slouch. Although it’s not exactly a rocketthat kind of acceleration rivals that of a Chevrolet Corvette C6 or an Audi RS3. Its speed and efficiency can be credited to its peak 201 hp (150 kW) DME3 drive unit. The electric drivetrain is capable of 228 lb-ft (310 Nm) of torque. When not pressing the Go-Fast pedal, the motor has a continuous power rating of approximately 67 hp (50 kW).

So how does the Aptera add extra forty miles range from just 700 watts of solar power? Its lightweight design and ultra-efficient drag coefficient. The 25 kW version weighs just 816 kg (1,800 lb), putting it in the same weight class as the small Smart car. Even the big 100 kW battery weighs just 2,200 lbs (998 kW), putting it close to a First generation Mazda Miata weigh.

"Lamborghini" the doors are a nice touch, although the drag coefficient increases significantly when the doors are open — The “Lambo” doors are a nice touch, although the drag coefficient increases significantly when the doors are open

The Aptera features a six-piece carbon fiber composite body manufactured in Modena, Italy – the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari, and from which the 360 Modena takes its name. The Aptera’s unique three-wheel design makes it as aerodynamic as possible to use as little energy as possible while driving.

The Aptera has a drag coefficient of 0.13. I’m just going to write this one more time for dramatic effect: the Aptera has a drag coefficient of zero point one three.

Drag coefficients measure an object’s resistance to air or fluid flow as it moves.

For those who are not aerodynamicists, a parachute for jumping from a plane has a drag coefficient of around 1.4 to prevent you from falling to your death. A semi-trailer/big rig intended for transporting goods across the country has a drag coefficient of approximately 0.6; you definitely feel it every time you try to pass one on the highway and it throws you sideways because it’s pushing so much air.

A prototype called the EXE181 – built to be the most slippery car the world has ever seen – claims a drag coefficient of 0.181.

ThrustSSC, the British jet car who held the current world land speed record since 1997, 763 miles per hour (1,228 km/h) on a 13-mile-long track in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert (hello, burning man) – the first and ONLY vehicle to break the sound barrier on earth – has a drag coefficient of 0.16.

Bottlenose dolphin or short-beaked dolphin? You decide

This is certainly the case. This message is indicated in bold letters on the Aptera website. And in case you were wondering, a dolphin drag coefficient is right around 0.004.

To further reduce vehicle weight, Aptera has grouped most of the control boards to reduce the weight of the wiring harnesses and the size of the wire connectors. The automaker went so far as to eliminate most of the controller board covers to reduce weight, allowing the Aptera to make the most of solar power. Instead, the control panels are covered with a dust and waterproof coating.

At the time of writing, if you click “reserve” on the Aptera website, the launch edition price is listed at $30,700 USD with a “price subject to change” note. When fully equipped with all features, the Launch Edition tops out at $51,500.

The interior of the PI2 has everything you need and nothing you don't. This minimalist, lightweight approach coupled with the fork steering really gives it the feel of an airplane. — The interior of the PI2 has everything you need and nothing you don’t. This minimalist, lightweight approach coupled with the fork steering really gives it the feel of an airplane.

A brief history

Since 2008, Aptera has produced the world’s first 300 MPG electric hybrid prototype, called the Typ-1h. Aptera also produced an all-electric version with a 120-mile range called the Typ-1e. The Typ-1’s successor, the 2e prototype (electric only) was released a year later, switching from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive and adding a few other comforts as well as safety features.

The design was so futuristic that it appeared in the 2009 Star Trek reboot, seen walking past Starfleet Academy just before Kirk takes the Kobayashi Maru simulation for the third time.

The world wasn’t ready for the Typ-1 or 2e and Aptera Motors went out of business in 2011 when it ran out of money. Complete stop. No vehicles were delivered, although reservations of $500 were taken.

In 2019, original founders Steve Fambro and Chris Anthony had not given up on their dream and took back the reins and began development of the Launch Edition – the future solar-powered three-wheeled car classified as a motorcycle.

Why PI2? Because PI1 was basically just a car shell used for Aptera’s wiring harness installation testing and cable measurements.

Once all testing is complete, Aptera’s goal for full-scale production will be 40 vehicles per day from its final assembly plant in Carlsbad, California.

In the low-speed test video below, Steve Fambro, CEO of Aptera, goes on to say: “The team has taken it over. They are adding elements of modernization to the high-voltage system that we want for driving at high speed.” High-speed validation testing comes next. We can’t wait.