Aptera, a company initially launched in 2006 and relaunched in 2020, announced that it has received more than 22,000 reservations for its latest concept: a solar-powered EV that boasts up to 1,000 miles (1,609 km) of range.
Initially, Aptera was created with the aim of making a “super-efficient three-wheeled vehicle”. Although the original venture was not successful, the company founders recently decided to bring the project back to life with the lessons learned from launching another company in the electrification space. During its official relaunch, Aptera unveiled an updated batter and a solar-powered version of its original three-wheeler design, and the company received US$4 million in funding and over 7,000 pre-orders.
Aptera
Thanks to its lightweight design and a drag coefficient (Cd) of only 0.13, the new Solar Electric Vehicle (SEV) claims an impressive range of up to 1,000 miles for its top-tier model. From a pricing standpoint, the vehicle will start at US$25,900 for 250 miles (402 km) of range, US$29,800 for 400 miles (644 km) of range, US$34,600 for 600 miles (966 km) of range, and finally, US$44,900 for 1,000 miles (1,609 km) of range.
Based on these numbers, more than 22,000 reservations could represent US$800,000,000 in orders. To reserve the SEV, prospective drivers simply have to place a US$100 deposit down on the vehicle on the company website. As the concept nears production, Aptera is closing a new round of crowdfunding before the presumed start of deliveries later this year.
