First mass-produced solar power car is rolling out in 2021: Three-wheeled vehicle will be four times more efficient than electric cars, go up to 110mph and cost just $25,900
- Aptera Motors sold out its first batch of pre-orders for the vehicle in December
- The three-wheel car will be able to go up to 40 miles without needing to be charges on a day with clear skies
- The car is able to go from 0 to 60mph in 3.5 seconds, with top speeds of 110mph
- The company recently raised over $4million in Series A funding
Aptera Motors is reportedly gearing up to roll out the first mass-produced solar car by the end of the year.
The car will retail for as low as $25,900, making it an affordable option compared to other vehicles on the market.
There are still roadblocks before the car hits the market, however, as the Washington Post reports distribution can’t begin until safety tests are conducted and passed.
The car is considered an ultra-aerodynamic electric vehicle and moves on three wheels, which takes away a potential loss of energy, but also prevents users from collecting a federal tax credit.
The first car mass produced solar car will be sold for as low as $25,900, with higher prices attached to higher ranges
The car is able to go from 0 to 60mph in 3.5 seconds, with top speeds of 110mph
Aptera Motors is preparing to roll out its solar-powered vehicle by the end of the year
The car is covered by 34 square feet of solar cells, which can take the car around 40 miles on a day with clear skies.
Aptera’s creators, Chris Anthony and Steve Fambro, say the car is four times more efficient than the average electric vehicle and 13 times more efficient than a pickup truck that uses gas as fuel.
The design of the vehicle, which features notable curves at the front and back, helps reduce drag.
‘The traditional design process doesn’t allow for breakthroughs,’ Fambro said to the Post.
The vehicle has notable curves in front and back to reduce the drag of the car
Ultra-light carbon composites and fiberglass make up the frame of the car, which can be partially created with a 3D printer.
The car is able to go from 0 to 60mph in just 3.5 seconds, with top speeds of 110mph.
For daily use, the car is not expected to need any charging, making it the first such vehicle on the market.
The vehicle is equipped with a battery pack that provides up to 1,000 miles of range, much greater than the Tesla Model S’s 370 miles of range.
A market can already be found for these vehicles, as evidenced by preorders taken beginning on December 4.
Aptera sold out on its first 330 cars within 24 hours and have since found almost 7,500 people willing to put down a deposit for a future order.
The vehicle is equipped with a battery pack that provides up to 1,000 miles of range
Founders Chris Anthony and Steve Fambro raised over $4 million in recent Series A funding
Ultra-light carbon composites and fiberglass make up the frame of the Aptera car
The company is also receiving backing from major investors as it continues to scale production.
Last week, the company announced that it had raised over $4 million in Series A funding, including from Sandy Munro of Munro & Associates, Inc.
‘I’m betting on a solar future, and I’m betting on Aptera,’ Munro said in the press release.
In February, the company moved production design to a facility in Sorrento Valley, San Diego.
Aptera was first founded in 2005, but was forced to shut down in 2011 after running out of money, only to be revived by its original creators in 2019.