Aptera has been striving to bring its three-wheeled eco-friendly vehicle to the market since the early 2000s. Has it made significant progress following its presentation at CES 2025?
The Toyota RAV4 EV and even certain other models had been discontinued years earlier. A vehicle from Tesla, named Roadster, had not yet been developed. Despite this, concerns about climate change and America's reliance on energy imports amidst rising gas prices and global conflicts were widespread. A select group of innovators remained committed to developing alternative, decarbonized transportation solutions.
According to the company's founders, this would never have existed, but that incarnation of the company had collapsed by 2011.
That wouldn't be the ultimate fate for the pseudo-flying car, though. The name and concept would be revived at least twice more (once under Chinese ownership) before the original co-founders Chris Anthony and Steve Fambro took control again.
Aptera has been continually evolving since then, also as it has since the George W. Bush years. It returned to CES in 2025, displaying a similar yet refined design. Building on its aerodynamic principles similar to those of airplanes, it retained its distinctive tri-wheel setup. However, instead of a diesel engine producing over 300 miles per gallon, Aptera went all-electric, potentially benefiting from solar panels integrated into its sleek body. Fambro and Anthony claimed that the car could go up to 40 miles solely on energy generated by these solar panels.
Reportedly, it's the first production model driven by solar power globally. That's a powerful claim to make.
My time at CES permitted a hands-on experience with Aptera's offerings. I had an opportunity to sit in both its production-ready static model and take a ride in an interior-less prototype being used to validate the model during testing.
Although I had a test drive, I still have several concerns, doubts, and observations about this three-wheeled mobility vehicle. I'm aware that it's a real device capable of moving on its own power. However, I have some unanswered questions about the practical applications of this vehicle that may not be apparent to those within the Apetera investment group and its employees.
Apta's stand outside of the CES Las Vegas Convention Center concourse was in stark contrast to that of its neighbour, another startup.
I don't hold it against the lady sitting beside me for failing to grasp that the Aptera did not have the capability to fly.
Aptera exhibited its "Delta" prototype, a model whose styling has remained largely unchanged since its return in 2019, retaining its three-wheeled layout and outboard wheels and featuring a body covered in solar panels, and an interior that accommodates two people. The showcased unit presented complete interior design work and finishes, with a claim that it closely resembles the production model that buyers can expect to receive by the end of 2025.
At least, in theory, this prototype was impressive. The stationary model at CES lacked a fully functional powertrain. I was assured that the design and materials showcased would be similar to those in the production model. However, key parts of the vehicle weren't functioning properly. For instance, the solar panels on the trunk lid weren't connected to the actual battery system.
While I'll let this pass, I'll note that early prototypes often have manufacturing and build quality problems. Since the car is still unfinished, I'll be lenient. It's reassuring that Aptera acknowledged this. I'd suggest they improve the interior materials, as they currently feel suitable for an off-road utility vehicle rather than a typical car.
Solar Powered, Huh?
Aptera claims that its three-wheeler can be efficiently powered by the sun, but please note that there's an important caveat to these claims. Aptera states that passengers typically travel around 29 miles per day. Aptera also asserts that its solar panels can generate enough energy to cover a distance of approximately 40 miles, when left outdoors, essentially eliminating the need for charging for most drivers.
Aptera validation prototype
That sounds intriguing, but Aptera relies on some innovative math to support its claim. Aptera says that the car can generate up to 4 kWh when parked outside in full sun in a 12-hour sunny day in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Thus, Anthony says the vehicle should yield an average of 10 miles per kWh for a 40-mile range. That supposed 10 miles per kWh appears to be the basis for Aptera's impressive range claims; it estimates that its 25 kWh battery entry-level model will be able to reach up to 250 miles, extrapolated from that 10 miles per kWh target.
Aptera states that the model is incredibly lightweight and aerodynamically designed. They claim a drag coefficient as low as 0.13, largely attributed to the car's streamlined teardrop shape and its protected outboard wheels, which work together to minimize air resistance. Aptera also claims that the vehicle's floorpan is the largest single-piece carbon fiber tub ever manufactured. In total, the car is reportedly not to exceed 2,200 pounds in its heaviest configuration.
These innovations may be technically impressive, but achieving these numbers would be a remarkable feat. If this is accurate, then the Aptera would be the most energy-efficient electric vehicle on the market, despite not technically meeting the legal definition of a car.
Aptera offered me a test drive in a prototype located about a 5-minute walk from the Las Vegas Convention Center. This prototype was incomplete, featuring the same structure and most of the design as the production-intent model on display, but it was lacking an interior and the front wheel covers that enhance aerodynamics. Additionally, the power steering was not functioning.
I rode along with a smooth drive, the driver emphasized that the car's computer programming and suspension testing weren't yet finished. The car felt as steady and speedy as any four-wheeled vehicle on the road, there wasn't a lot to say about a quick 5-minute spin through Las Vegas's flat, traffic-filled streets. The ride quality was satisfactory, though much rockier than you'd expect from the Aptera, which aims to sell at a price of $40,000.
Is There a Risk of it Being Too Good to Be True?
It's great to see signs of life from Aptera after such a long absence, even at this early construction phase. Nevertheless, I'm compelled to question Aptera's assertion of a "never-charge" solar EV. Let's consider the math here.
To reach its intended goal of 4 kWh per day, Aptera would need to produce a consistent 333 watts per hour over an ideal 12-hour sunny day. However, this estimate does not account for potential charging losses that may occur when transferring energy from the solar panels to the vehicle's battery pack. According to Anthony, the 186 solar cells can generate a maximum of 700 watts.
While in the passenger seat, I observed the impressive wattage output of the Aptera while it was in operation. At its maximum, it reached a one-meter output of 164 watts for a brief period of about one to two seconds, but mostly fluctuated between 45 and 100 watts. Calculating the energy output is not necessary to deduce that it will take more than one kilowatt-hour to meet the Aptera's stated goal of covering 40 miles. We can only accept Anthony's claim that the Aptera had already driven a notable distance using solar power.
Apostrophizing that it will send a report to the Securities and Exchange Commission, it revealed about $18 million in cash or equivalents but significantly more debt typical of many start-ups. Nevertheless, it requires substantially more funds to manufacture a vehicle; Aptera projected that it is eager to raise approximately $60 million to produce 100 to 200 launch-edition vehicles by 2025.
I'm not saying the car is a total imitation because it isn't. It appears as though the car's solar panels do indeed contribute to the vehicle's power and range in ways that provide genuine practicality. It's light and intriguing, even if the vehicle's status as a three-wheeled autocycle enables it to sidestep some of the laws and safety regulations applicable to four-wheeled cars.
I'd like to clarify a point, as it might be misunderstood. The Aptera isn't a perpetual motion machine that recharges solely from the sun as it moves. The "Solar EV" claim is based on Aptera achieving two specific targets: generating 4 kWh of solar power and maintaining a 10-mile electric range per kWh efficiency. While Aptera's technology is clever, I'm not confident that their technology can yet confidently meet these objectives.
Will Aptera be able to find its audience in this decade? That may ultimately prove to be the biggest question of the era.
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