Aptera recently provided an update on its electric 3-wheeler development, releasing a pair of videos showing a test mule being made through the steps at California’s Chuckwalla Valley Speedway.
Aptera notes that the car that has been stripped down here is a “beta” prototype, representing the second of four stages of development. It follows the early archetypes “alpha” and will be followed by vehicles intended for production purposes designated “gamma”. The customer’s vehicle will be designated as “delta.”
The Aptera came to the track primarily to test ride and handling, perform double lane changes and measure brake dents. Testers were pleased by the level of stability and lateral grip from the suspension, and will now move on to fine-tuning, according to Aptera.
The development team also held a drag race with alpha and beta prototypes against the Tesla Model 3 and Audi R8 — the latter being a true supercar. In a video of the race, the R8 and the test prototype appear to be side by side at the finish line.
Aptera plans to offer all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive versions using an in-wheel engine, with a claimed 0-60 mph top speed. 3.5 seconds and 5.5 seconds, respectively. That’s a pretty quick period of time that will allow the Aptera EV to outpace some sports cars.
A 700-watt solar array will help supplement battery packs of up to 100 kWh, allowing for up to 1,000 miles of range in that configuration, Aptera has claimed. While the Aptera has a regular charging port, Aptera is touting the tricycle as a “never charge” vehicle that can be used daily with the right conditions powered primarily by solar panels. this integration.
The car is an evolution of what Aptera hopes to build during the company’s original existence from 2006 to 2011. After the original incarnation of Aptera fell, three of the founders quietly acquired the intellectual property, improved the car’s design, and in 2019, restore production plan.
Jay Leno recently drove an electric car, and there’s a little more detail about the engine on wheels and how many miles Aptera expects to see from the solar roof when driving in the real world. Co-CEO Chris Anthony told Leno that 40 miles a day can be achieved in sunny climates, or 20 miles in areas with less cooperative weather.
Aptera is not the only company to suggest using a hub motor, although it remains to be seen whether Lordstown Motors will deliver. its truck with wheel motor when assembled under contract by Foxconn.
