Aptera has started taking orders for its three-wheeled electric vehicle that will be also powered by solar energy.
The American start-up claims this is the first solar-electric vehicle that may never need recharging in most applications.
Aptera Co-founder Chris Anthony explained that the Aptera 3 will have the capabilities to boast an incredible range.
“With Aptera’s Never Charge technology, you are driven by the power of the sun,” he said. “Never Charge is built into every Aptera and is designed to harvest enough sunlight to travel over 11,000 miles per year in most regions.”
The vehicle’s shape resembles an aircraft fuselage and thanks to this sleek, aerodynamic shape and class-leading 0.13 drag coefficient, the Aptera 3 only consumes 100 watt-hours per mile.
The futuristic car can be equipped with a 100-kWh battery pack and will be able to go for 1,000 miles of range before recharging. With its array of roof-mounted solar panels, Aptera’s Never Charge technology harnesses the sun’s energy to deliver 40 miles of range on a sunny day.
There is also the possibility to add solar panels in the hood, which could bring the total range from solar light to 64 miles, which is enough for short city tours, and drivers may never have to plug it in when driven in an urban environment.
The Aptera 3 is available in front-wheel-drive with a single electric motor or three-wheel drive with three powerful motor units. It will also offer a battery size range from a small 25 kWh unit up to 100 kWh. DC fast charging will also be standard and Aptera claims a charge rate of up to 500 miles of range per hour.
The two-seater, solar-electric vehicle is now available to order with a $100 refundable deposit. Base prices range from $25,000 to $46,000.