Solar electric car can run 1,600km

Aptera Motors' new model uses solar energy from photovoltaic cells and an integrated battery pack that allows the car to reach a range of up to 1,600km on a full charge.

Aptera Motors' three-wheeled solar electric vehicle. (Photo: Aptera Motors)

Aptera Motors , a San Diego-based electric vehicle manufacturer, has reached a new milestone in testing its first production vehicle. It successfully completed the first run of its "PI 2" solar electric vehicle (SEV) , which is designed for real-world testing, Interesting Engineering reported on November 3. The next phase of testing will evaluate the combination of Aptera's solar technology, thermal management system, and exterior surfaces.

PI 2 was tested on a high-speed track to test its performance characteristics and validate key performance metrics, including solar charging speed and estimated battery range, according to Steve Fambro, co-founder and CEO of Aptera Motors. As the first of its kind, the vehicle was built to test the company's design, manufacturing and performance parameters such as range, solar charging capability and more. The vehicle's integrated solar panels provide enough energy to drive 40 miles per day and more than 11,000 miles per year without impacting performance.

The company offers several battery pack size options, one of which offers a range of 1,000 miles on a full charge. If you need to drive more than 40 miles a day or if the weather doesn't allow for daily solar power generation, the vehicle can run on battery power. The ^3.2 square meter solar panels are designed to be easily upgraded and replaced throughout the life of the vehicle. The PI 2 incorporates the Vitesco Technologies EMR3 powertrain, announced earlier this year. Aptera's composite body structure, called Body in Carbon or BinC , is paired with a proprietary battery pack for the first time.

Aptera's three-wheeled vehicle uses electric motors mounted on the wheels to propel a chassis with just 10 key components. The vehicle's unique shape allows it to glide over the road with much less energy than current electric and hybrid vehicles.