The solar-powered Aptera EV will receive a carbon fiber composite body from the same supplier that supercar manufacturers use, to support its mission within 1,000 miles of the world. real.
Aptera recently announced an agreement with the Italian CPC Group for the supply of bodywork. The facilities for the sleek tricycle will be produced in Modena, Italy, in the Motor Valley, which is also home to Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati. All three are CPC Group customers, Aptera said in a press release.
Carbon Aptera Body
CPC will provide the “material and structure” for what Aptera calls a Body of Carbon (BINC). It consists of only six main parts, made mainly of carbon fiber plate molding compound and glass plate molding compound. This makes the Aptera tricycle as light as possible and also allows it to be recycled up to five times, the company claims.
The combination of carbon fiber and sheet molding compound increases stiffness compared to standalone sheet molding compound, but retains the extrusion ability of that material, which reduces production time, according to Aptera.
Aptera Sol alpha prototype
The lightweight body shell helps offset some of the weight of the battery and solar cells. Aptera has stated that, in normal daily commutes, those solar cells mean owners can never need to charge. Aptera says at least some versions will have a 1,000-mile range, but the company is also taking pre-orders for a low-end model with an estimated 400-mile range.
The exotic carbon fiber chassis isn’t just a point of boasting about performance. Aptera has also suggested that it can run faster than some sports cars. In a video released by the company earlier this year, an Aptera prototype pitted an Audi R8 in a drag race.
Aptera with pop-up tent
During the same release, Aptera said it had over 37,000 pre-orders to date. The company plans to begin deliveries in 2023, ramping up full-scale production of 40 vehicles per day at its Carlsbad, California facility, that same year.
While pricing and full specs are yet to be finalized, Aptera has filled the void when it comes to vendors. Last month, they announced plans to use Maxeon solar cells, while the battery technology will take the form of 2170 cells from EVE Energy.
