A San Diego-based electric car maker has achieved milestone with testing of its first production-intent vehicle. Aptera Motors conducted the successful first drive of its solar-powered electric vehicle (SEV) “PI 2” vehicle, which will be used for real-world validation and testing.
The company claims that the next phase of testing for this production-intent vehicle will see the integration of Aptera’s solar technology, production-intent thermal management system, and exterior surfaces.
The vehicle doesn’t need to be plugged in to charge as it charges with solar power.
High-speed track testing
Aptera’s production-intent vehicle will undergo high-speed track testing to validate its general performance characteristics and confirm core efficiency figures, including watt-hours per mile, solar charging rates, and estimated battery range, according to the company.
“Driving our first production-intent vehicle marks an extraordinary moment in Aptera’s journey,” said Steve Fambro, Aptera’s Co-Founder & Co-CEO. “It demonstrates real progress toward delivering a vehicle that redefines efficiency, sustainability, and energy independence.”
The first in a series, the vehicle has been engineered to rigorously test Aptera’s production-intent design, production components, and critical performance metrics such as range, solar charging capability, and efficiency.
Solar panels integrated into car’s body
Solar panels integrated into the car’s body supply a claimed 40 miles of driving per day and up to 11,000 miles per year with no impact on performance.
There are options for various battery pack sizes. One of which will offer up to 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of range when fully charged. Should you need to drive more than 40 miles a day or weather isn’t allowing your Aptera vehicle its daily dose of sunlight, it can be plugged in to charge its battery pack, reported New Atlas.
Those 40 miles of essentially free range are collected by over three square meters of solar panels, designed to be easily upgradable and replaceable over the car’s life.
Powered by the sun, the vehicle is built for sustainable travel, and engineered to unlock new possibilities.
Landmark vehicle incorporates Vitesco Technologies EMR3 drivetrain
The company claimed that this landmark vehicle incorporates Aptera’s recently adopted Vitesco Technologies EMR3 drivetrain, the in-board motor solution announced earlier this year.
This initial test drive has validated Aptera’s proprietary battery pack, which is now functioning with the EMR3 powertrain—a critical combination that is now being tested together in real-world conditions.
For the first time, Aptera’s production composite body structure, also known as its Body in Carbon or BinC, is spinning its production drivetrain under code developed in-house with power from a proprietary battery pack, a testament to the company’s engineering agility and innovative manufacturing approach, according to Aptera.
“The successful drive of Aptera’s first production-intent vehicle signals not only the viability of Aptera’s unique design but also the imminent arrival of a truly energy-independent solar electric vehicle for the market,” said the company in a press release.
The three-wheel Aptera uses individual wheel-mounted electric motors to propel a chassis with only 10 key structural components.
With only six key body components, Aptera vehicle’s unique shape allows it to slip through the air using far less energy than other electric and hybrid vehicles today.
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