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Production Imminent: 40 Solar-Charging Aptera EVs Coming Soon

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Re: Production Imminent: 40 Solar-Charging Aptera EVs Coming Soon

#2

Post by TeaVMFan »

Recently Aptera announced they have ordered major components to build 40 production vehicles. This may not sound like many (especially since they have nearly 50,000 reservations), but this is a major milestone for the company. Aptera has existed in some form for nearly 20 years, never having come this close to shipping a vehicle before. Now they have only 1 major certification left and are ramping up to build them at their facility in Carlsbad, CA.

Re: Production Imminent: 40 Solar-Charging Aptera EVs Coming Soon

#3

Post by gaogao »

TeaVMFan wrote: post #2

Recently Aptera announced they have ordered major components to build 40 production vehicles. This may not sound like many (especially since they have nearly 50,000 reservations), but this is a major milestone for the company. Aptera has existed in some form for nearly 20 years, never having come this close to shipping a vehicle before. Now they have only 1 major certification left and are ramping up to build them at…

Do you have any personal stake in the enterprise?

Re: Production Imminent: 40 Solar-Charging Aptera EVs Coming Soon

#4

Post by dweisinger »

It seems kind of amazing. I think I'd like to own something like that, but I'll wait until there are some reviews and the bugs get shaken out more. Also don't know if foggy San Francisco has enopugh sunlight to make it viable. What happens when you run out of charge?

Re: Production Imminent: 40 Solar-Charging Aptera EVs Coming Soon

#6

Post by hidelooktropic »

dweisinger wrote: post #4

It seems kind of amazing. I think I'd like to own something like that, but I'll wait until there are some reviews and the bugs get shaken out more. Also don't know if foggy San Francisco has enopugh sunlight to make it viable. What happens when you run out of charge?

You can plug it in

Re: Production Imminent: 40 Solar-Charging Aptera EVs Coming Soon

#7

Post by omgwtfbyobbq »

Good for them. I loved the concept since I first saw it in the 2000s.

They still have a niche for some, like people without easy access to charging, people who want the absolute lowest charging/driving costs, and off-grid usability.

20-40 miles of charge per day means you can slowly travel/camp in a bunch of places as long as you have food/water, people have done this with Model Ys too, but dragging a large portable solar array is a pain.

I just wish they were faster to market and captured more of it.

We need more 2 seat/hyper efficient commuters, ala the first gen Insight and (begrudgingly) cybercab.

Re: Production Imminent: 40 Solar-Charging Aptera EVs Coming Soon

#8

Post by blacksmith_tb »

dweisinger wrote: post #4

It seems kind of amazing. I think I'd like to own something like that, but I'll wait until there are some reviews and the bugs get shaken out more. Also don't know if foggy San Francisco has enopugh sunlight to make it viable. What happens when you run out of charge?

It also charges like any other EV, leve1 1 or 2 at home, and they say they intended to support faster DC charging in their FAQ[1]. I would be fairly skeptical of the 46mi / 74km a day from the built-in solar, that sounds optimistic given the small surface area.

For me the bigger problem is that it's classified as a motorcycle, which may mean wearing a helmet, and needing to have a class M license. Insurance may also be interesting. And of course sharing the road with giant heavy vehicles.

1: https://aptera.us/discovery-center/

Re: Production Imminent: 40 Solar-Charging Aptera EVs Coming Soon

#9

Post by entrope »

TeaVMFan wrote: post #2

Recently Aptera announced they have ordered major components to build 40 production vehicles. This may not sound like many (especially since they have nearly 50,000 reservations), but this is a major milestone for the company. Aptera has existed in some form for nearly 20 years, never having come this close to shipping a vehicle before. Now they have only 1 major certification left and are ramping up to build them at…

Yes, it's notable that they mean "production" in the sense of 40 vehicles rather than 40 models or model variants. It's close to prototype quantities rather than production; US law allows the military to build up to 10% as part of "low rate initial production".
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