Aptera is one step closer to creating its electric car of the future. With an aerodynamic silhouette and solar panels, the car promises daily use without charging. But for now, she’s going around the parking lot, it’s already…
Why aren’t all electric cars equipped with solar panels to protect them from overheating? While some models have electrical panels. toittoitthe contribution is quite anecdotal. This can change with everything. the carthe car A solar panel from Aptera, that looks straight out of a science fiction movie.
The manufacturer has just announced that it has conducted the first test of the final version of its car, called the PI2, for “production intent”, in other words for production. This is a low temperature test only. vitessevitesseWith the car minimized, so without solar panels, The windowsThe windows And part of physical work. This is an important step for Aptera, as it is the first model that is not just a simple prototype.
Aptera’s first low-speed test of a solar car, without solar panels and mostly physical work. © Aptera
About 50,000 reservations in four years
The car will have solar panels that can generate around 700 WattWattwhich would equate to a range of around 64 km/day without plugging it in. Enough to cover the daily commute for many people. The base version will be equipped with a 42 kWh battery that offers a range of 643 km, with the variants having a range of 400 km, 965 km and 1,609 km.
These figures are impressive, and are linked to the car’s reduced weight. Carbon fiberCarbon fiber And only three wheels Furthermore, the car will be particularly aerodynamic, with a drag coefficient of just 0.13, making it the most aerodynamic car in the world outside of the Eco-Runner.
Aptera started work on its solar car in 2007 before it went bankrupt in 2011 and was then taken over in 2019. In 2020, the manufacturer opened reservations, but after four years, it still hasn’t produced the car. Currently, pricing starts at $26,800 (24,580 euros) for the 400 km range model, and rises to $45,800 (42,000 euros) for the 1,609 km range version.
These prices are subject to change, and have already increased since reservations opened. Aptera still needs to add the rest of the equipment to its car and then begin high-speed testing before it can even consider going into production. Hopefully it won’t be too long for the nearly 50,000 people who have already reserved a car…
