I Took a Ride in an EV That Doesn’t Need to Plug In
exist CES 2025I rode in an electric car that barely needed to be plugged in. Equipped with solar panels, the Aptera Solar EV operates so efficiently that the manufacturer claims it can drive freely for up to 40 miles every time there’s that giant nuclear reactor in the sky: the sun. With the oddly shaped electric car set to enter production later this year, I ducked under the prototype’s wing doors to get an early glimpse of it.
While the Aptera’s coolest party trick is its solar power, the first thing you notice as you approach is how alien the electric coupe’s design is. The automaker designed the three-wheeler to be as aerodynamic and lightweight as possible. As a result, its carbon fiber body is shaped like a dolphin, with a bottle-like nose and a long, tapered tail that can cut through the air with about 70% less drag than a traditional small electric car. The design limits the EV to two passengers, but the long tail can hold 32.5 cubic feet of cargo.
Meanwhile, separate wheel wells house narrow, high-aspect-ratio wheels and low-rolling-resistance tires to reduce road friction. And the weight of the entire vehicle is only about half that of an ordinary car. The Aptera is front-wheel drive, which I understand helps shift the weight of the 150 kW (201 hp) electric motor onto the three-wheeler’s wider front end, resulting in improved stability and more predictable driving characteristics.
Look closely and you’ll notice that nearly every horizontal surface is covered in the brand’s custom-designed solar cells – including the curved glass hood, roof, rear hatch and even the dashboard. All told, the solar power is about 700 watts, capable of capturing enough energy to power an electric vehicle up to 40 miles a day in the best conditions of sunny Southern California due to its extremely low weight, drag and friction. of energy. If your commute is about 30 miles, you can handle daily driving indefinitely without needing to plug in.
Of course, if you park in a cloudy climate, with shorter days or less direct sunlight, the solar output will be reduced, but the Aptera can also plug in Level 1, Level 2, or DC fast charging. The automaker expects electric vehicles to be able to travel up to 400 miles on a full charge before needing to be recharged. What’s even more impressive is that it does this with just a 45kWh battery. One benefit of having such a small battery is that the EV can charge reliably from a regular wall outlet, and DC fast charging to a full 400-mile range takes less than an hour.
During my test drive on the streets of Las Vegas, traffic prevented us from experiencing the full six-second 0-60 sprint, but the Aptera pushed along at a satisfying pace. Ride quality is also quite good thanks to the four-link rear suspension on a single rear wheel, although the full experience isn’t entirely representative of the final product due to the prototype’s lack of interior and more conventional wide front tires.
Eventually, the brand plans to add a cheaper Aptera configuration to the lineup with a smaller battery and less total range (but 40 miles per day of solar power), followed by a variant with more cargo space. at present, Aptra Motors Pre-orders are being taken for the $40,000 Aptera Solar EV, with production expected to increase significantly later this year.
