Solar-powered electric cars are about to become a reality

Aptera first introduced its solar-powered electric vehicle (sEV) called Launch in January 1.2023, with plans to start production by the end of the year. However, due to a lack of funding, the company was unable to keep to the schedule.

Solar-powered electric cars are about to become a reality - Photo 1.

Aptera is ready to produce sEV models for delivery to customers.

A year later, Aptera announced that it had raised $33 million and was ready for production. However, the solar-powered tricycle has yet to enter production. Now, Aptera says it has raised a total of $135 million in equity funding to “accelerate mass production and deliver a future where every journey is powered by the sun.” However, the company has not yet announced a production start date or when it will ship to customers.

Great Interest in Solar Electric Vehicles

Since its introduction, Aptera’s small sEV has seen a surge in interest, with the company saying it has received nearly 50.000 orders, representing potential sales of more than $1,7 billion. In March 3.2023, the company announced a pre-order for 101 sEVs from SustainabilitySooner, with a deal valued at $3,35 million. Last year, Aptera also expanded into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a limited production version called the “Union (or Etihad) Edition,” scheduled for delivery in 2026.

At CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Aptera showed off its production-ready version. According to the press release, there are no technical changes between the prototype and the current version. The sEV has a range of up to 643 miles and can be recharged by adding 65 miles per day via its integrated solar panels. In sunny conditions, the car can travel more than 16.000 miles per year on solar power alone.

The car is equipped with four solar panels placed on the hood, dashboard, roof and rear doors. With a lightweight design and the use of carbon fiber sheet molding compound (CF-SMC), Aptera has partnered with Elaphe to develop the wheel motors, while the battery cells are supplied by Eve Energy.

“Today marks a pivotal moment not only for Aptera, but for the future of sustainable mobility,” said Aptera Motors Co-CEO Chris Anthony. “This vehicle represents years of innovation and a relentless pursuit of energy-efficient mobility. CES is the perfect stage to share our vision and invite world Join us in creating a cleaner future using solar energy.”

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