Everything You Need to Know About the Aptera Solar Car
San Diego-based Aptera is bringing the next wave of automotive innovation to U.S. roads—solar power. What will cost to get behind the wheel?
Written by Andrew Koole
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Lithium-ion batteries might’ve been the first major success in the auto industry’s current golden era in powertrain technology, but it likely won’t be the last. The upcoming Aptera is proof that more changes are coming.
When the three-wheeled vehicle arrives at the end of 2022, it will be the first mass-produced solar car on the market. And while the capabilities of the first
electric cars
lagged significantly behind gas-powered contemporaries, the Aptera is expected to blast past the competition.The Aptera—the first “never charge” electric car
San Diego-based EV startup Aptera says many drivers will never need to plug in the company’s first model. Thanks to the vehicle’s embedded solar cells, the three-wheeled two-seater can offer up to 41 outlet-free miles—that is, under ideal conditions.
With most drivers traveling less than 30 miles a day, this sun-powered range makes the Aptera the first fully solar-powered car available. But because climate and weather conditions affect the reliability of solar power, the Aptera will also have the plug-in capability of other EVs.
Even if you set aside the car’s ability to be powered by the sun though, the Aptera is an impressive feat in engineering.
Its extremely aerodynamic and lightweight body makes it the most energy-efficient production vehicle ever, allowing it to offer a whopping 1,000 miles of range and reach 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.
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Getting your hands on an Aptera solar car hasn’t been easy
In February 2020, Aptera announced that the production of its first solar car would begin by the end of the year. But like most things in 2020, those plans were foiled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company offered updates throughout the last few years, first pushing initial deliveries to the end of 2021 and then again to the end of 2022.
Electrek
says pre-orders offered four powertrain options: a 250-mile range version for an affordable $25,900, a 400-mile battery for $29,800, 600 miles of range for $34,600, or the range-topping 1,000-mile version for $44,900.1,000 400-mile-range Apteras will be the first to arrive and will be delivered based on proximity to the company’s San Diego facility. In total, Aptera has over 7,000 pre-orders to fulfill.
MORE: More Companies Are Designing Solar-Powered Electric Vehicles
Coverage for the Aptera solar car
Finding the right policy for an Aptera could be confusing for some drivers. While driven with a steering wheel, the vehicle’s lack of a fourth wheel technically categorizes it as a motorcycle in the U.S.
While that could equate to savings on
car insurance
, the vehicle’s high-tech exterior and lack of precedent could drive premiums up. No matter where average coverage for an Aptera lands, though, you can rely on Jerry to find the right policy at the right price. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app gathers affordable quotes, helps you switch plans, and can even help you cancel your old policy.
And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price.
This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.
MORE: China Just Released Its First Solar-Powered EV, And It Has One Unique Feature
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