POWERTRAIN
Aptera is built with high-strength carbon fibre materials
protection without the need for heavy steel frames. Safety, strength and efficiency are all integrated by design.” In terms of benefits, Aptera could
enable energy independence for drivers, who may never need to plug into the grid to charge their vehicle. In turn, this would lead to lower energy costs, fewer charging sessions, and less charging infrastructure required. Reducing dependence on the grid would also have sustainability advantages and help to cut overall emissions. From a driver perspective, convenience would be a big factor, removing the hassle of waiting at chargers or worrying about range for typical daily driving.
TESTING BREAKTHROUGH At the end of February, Aptera Motors put its first production-intent validation vehicle to the test in the Mojave Desert in order to validate its core efficiency under real-world conditions. The company conducted coastdown testing to measure Aptera’s aerodynamic, rolling and powertrain
12
www.engineerlive.com
losses. The vehicle took over three minutes to decelerate from 60mph to a complete stop, even while travelling uphill. Based on the firm’s calculations, this coastdown distance is significantly more than any other vehicle on the road today, whether diesel or electric. The company also performed
several other tests, such as aerodynamic tuft testing to the wheel fairings and vehicle gaps, and extended highway drive cycle testing while precisely monitoring energy consumption. According to Aptera, the tests confirmed that the vehicle was on track to achieve its target energy consumption of roughly 100Wh/mile.
WHAT’S NEXT? Development is already underway on Aptera’s next validation vehicle, and will include refinements to key areas such as improved fit and flush around vehicle gaps, and a design- intent weight profile using optimised parts. Once these have been fleshed out, the team will return to the track for another round of testing, including a full range test where the vehicle
will be driven from a fully charged battery all the way to 0% to confirm the vehicle’s efficiency and range. The company’s engineers will also measure and validate the vehicle’s real-world solar charging capabilities to confirm its daily solar range estimates. “Right now, we’re preparing for
low-volume production to begin in late 2025, with full-scale vehicle production planned for 2026,” says Hilla. “Our next major steps include finalising funding and supply chain ramp-up, completing validation testing on our production-intent vehicles, and scaling our assembly capabilities and continuing to build out our team.” With over 49,000 vehicle
reservations from across the globe, Hilla believes this is a clear signal that people are excited about a more sustainable and efficient way to move. “Aptera isn’t just about building a
new kind of EV – it’s about rethinking transportation from the ground up, and proving that we don’t have to sacrifice freedom, performance, or sustainability to get where we need to go,” Hilla adds.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
