Electrification is nothing short of a paradigm shift in the auto industry. It has created an opening for startups to make an entry into the industry because every automaker has to start from the bottom here. Thanks to this, we’ve seen numerous new companies like Rivian, Lordstown, Fisker, etc. that have the potential to make it big because they have come up with unique, breathtaking technologies.

Unlike most EV startups that come up with a four-digit-horsepower super or hypercar, a new automaker called Aptera has introduced a three-wheeled electric vehicle. While that itself is enough to grab attention, what makes it stand out is that it is a “Never Charge” vehicle. Talk about countering the range anxiety issue!

The California-based startup calls this vehicle the Aptera, for now at least. Don’t be fooled by the three-wheel setup of the vehicle because the company has even listed some of the features that mention “off-road” in the description. The company has listed a few other details about the Aptera, too.

The Aptera will come in three different exterior shades – Noir Black with Black Satin body and Black High Gloss Pillars and Roof, Luna Silver with Aluminum Satin body and Midnight High Gloss Pillars and Roof, and Sol White with White Satin body and Black High Gloss Roof and Pillars.

The Aptera has seating for two people and a pet. The cabin can be customized and comes with three different themes to choose from – Vida, Coast, and Codex. The Vida theme features bright coral color accents, the Coast features “sand and tranquil blue accents”, and the Codex features earth-tone shades. Nice spread there. The Aptera will come with a driver display and a 15-inch touchscreen system.

Aptera EV dimensions

Length

172 inches

Width

88 inches

Height

57 inches

Cargo room

25 cubic feet


Power Outputs and Performance Figures

The automaker hasn’t said how many motors the EV will feature. However, we do know that it will be offered in two drive layouts. The all-wheel-drive model will make 201 horses and can sprint to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. The front-wheel-drive model, on the other hand, will churn out 134 ponies and takes 5.5 seconds to 60 mph from a standstill. The top speed will be over 100 mph.

Aptera will launch this electric vehicle with four different battery options. The entry-level model will come with a 25-kWh battery pack and have a range of about 250 miles. There’s a 40-kWh battery pack option that will have a range of around 400 miles and a 60-kWh battery that will be good for 600 miles. Finally, the Aptera will also feature a big 100-kWh battery pack that will deliver roughly 1,000 miles on a full charge!

Now, these figures seem extraordinarily impressive vis-à-vis the battery sizes, but that’s because the car features solar panels on it. Aptera will feature the “Never Charge Solar” array that measures approximately three square meters. The company says it will self-charge when simply parked and can add up to 37 miles on the range each day. The solar cells can be added to the Aptera’s hood and hatch that can further add up to 24 miles of additional charging per day. In most cases, the range is more than the average daily commute by a person in the States.

But, even if the need arises, the Aptera can be plugged into a standard 110-volt plug that can add up to 13 miles of range per hour. With rapid DC chargers, the Aptera can recuperate up to a massive 500 miles per hour.

Is Aptera The First Company To Use Solar Panel Technology?

Apparently not. We’ve heard about the solar implementation from companies like Tesla, Fisker, and Lightyear in the past. Fisker had announced that its upcoming electric crossover, the Ocean, will feature a solar roof and is expected to add about 1000 miles annually. That’s approximately 83 miles a month, which is less than three miles every day. Another car called Sono Sion is expected to replenish 18 miles of range every day.

When the Cybertruck was launched, Musk was about a solar-powered tonneau cover and he replied, “Will be an option to add solar power that generates 15 miles per day, possibly more. Would love this to be self-powered. Adding fold out solar wings would generate 30 to 40 miles per day. Avg miles per day in US is 30.”

The best of them all, however, is the Lightyear One which will have solar cells placed on and around the roof and are expected to add 7.5 miles in an hour to the battery. If you compare these theoretical numbers, the Aptera is right up there in this department.

It is also available as an optional accessory from a company called WorkSport. The TerraVis tonneau cover will offer enough power to cover about 30-percent of daily driving. If you take 40 miles as the average daily commute, that’s roughly around 12 miles. It will come with four monocrystalline foldable solar panels that are tough enough to even handle the weight of a person walking on them. The power generated is then sent to a modular battery system mounted inside on the wall of the bed. The batteries are said to be approximately two kWh each and the system can power up to four battery packs.

The Aptera will have a starting price of $25,900 and will cross $46,000 for the top trim with optional accessories.

The company has said that the EV will also be available with features like Level 2 autonomy, integrated tent and rear awning for camping, and a safety divider and accessories to secure your pet while driving. The Aptera will arrive sometime in 2021. Would you invest your money in this three-wheeler? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.