Aptera’s Solar EV Moves Closer to Production With First Assembly Line Vehicle

The first Aptera solar electric vehicle has finally rolled off the validation assembly line in Carlsbad, California, after years of experimenting with prototypes, redesigning, and working hard to get something different on the road. Aptera Motors produced this vehicle on a small-scale production line with 14 stations dedicated to its unique method. Each one is painstakingly assembled in a step-by-step process, with a focus on smoothing out any wrinkles to ensure that the entire production process runs smoothly and efficiently as feasible.

These early units are on their way to the testing phase, where they will be subjected to thermal checks, brake evaluations, and even destructive testing to ensure that they are all compliant with all applicable rules and ready for EPA ratings. More vehicles are expected to roll off the assembly line in the coming weeks and months, increasing the size of the validation fleet and bringing them closer to actually delivering cars to customers later this year.

What’s really inside? The vehicle itself is still a three-wheeler, albeit a really sophisticated one, with two seats arranged side by side. Its body is built of carbon fiber sheet molding compound blended with Kevlar and some flax composite material, all placed together to form a sandwich core design. This keeps the weight down while still providing enough of rigidity. Then there are the solar panels, which have a generating capability of 700 watts and cover the hood, roof, dashboard, and hatch. In excellent weather, this adds up to around 40 miles of driving every day without the need for external power, and in extremely sunny locations, you could be looking at upwards of 10,000 miles per year from solar power alone.

Of course, a full battery charge extends its range significantly. Aptera claims to be able to go up to 400 miles on a full charge by paying close attention to every detail, such as aerodynamics and the use of lightweight materials. The efficiency stats are also looking promising, with some estimates indicating as little as 100 Wh per mile on the highway, if not less. Off the mark, it sprints like a pro, reaching from 0 to 60 mph in under six seconds thanks to the electric motors that power the wheels. Charging is done by a normal NACS connector, and the battery typically charges quickly.

Over 49,000 reservations have been made, which is a lot of cars and a lot of revenue on the table, potentially worth more than $2 billion. Aptera obtained some funds through crowdfunding and recent investments to get this phase started, and the assembly team is now the largest group in the company, indicating that they’ve moved beyond prototype development and into true production execution.

Co-CEO Steve Fambro described the milestone plainly. “The completion of the first vehicle off our low-volume assembly line is a significant achievement for the entire company,” he said. “These first vehicles will be used to complete the key tests and optimization required to sell our first vehicles to customers.”
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