Aptera Motors, a California-based electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has unveiled the production version of its three-wheeled, solar-powered car. The Aptera Launch Edition car is equipped with an enormous array of solar cells embedded within the carbon fiber body that promises to power the car for free. According to Aptera, more than 700 watts of solar cells energize a floor-mounted battery that promises to deliver more than 600 kilometers (373 miles) of range. Solar panels draw in about 60 kilometers of range per day that can be stored in the battery or augmented by public fast chargers on road trips.
The Aptera Launch Edition car features compact electric motors mounted within all three 16-inch wheels, delivering a combined 150kW of thrust. This is enough for a four-second sprint to 100km/h (62mph) and a top speed of about 160km/h (99mph). The car weighs less than 1000 kilograms (2205 lbs) and has an ultra-low drag design with aerodynamic efficiency similar to that of solar-powered racers.
The Aptera Launch Edition car is expected to arrive in Australia in 2023, subject to regulatory approvals and raising enough investment to commence production. Aptera co-founder Chris Anthony says the company hopes to begin production by the end of 2023, but that timeline is “funding dependent”. The all-wheel-drive launch edition has a projected price of $33,000, though its exact price and arrival time is dependent on Aptera drawing in enough investment to commence production.
