Three-wheeled car powered by the SUN to launch this year with top speed of 101mph and budget-friendly price tag
A THREE-WHEELED car powered by the sun is set to launch this year.
Aptera Motors unveiled its production-ready solar electric vehicle at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, this week.
The front-wheel-drive can generate up to 40 miles of driving range per day using solar panels on the hood, dash, roof and rear hatch.
The two-seat vehicle has a top speed of 101mph and a sub-six second 0-62mph time.
The EV, which already has 50,000 potential buyers, provides around 400 miles of range from a single charge that takes less than an hour.
The car is on sale for $40,000 (£32,350) and first deliveries are set to take place this year.
“We have orders from all over the world, with Germany and Spain the largest outside North America,” Aptera co-founder and CEO Steve Fambro told Auto Express.
“We believe in solar mobility and would like to expand to as many places as can take advantage of it.”
“As the technology improves and weight lowers, I would expect the 40 miles of solar to increase to 60 and 100,” added Fambro.
“A daily commute powered by the sun would make us think differently about the grid.”
Aptera was founded in 2006 before running out of money and liquidating in 2011.
The original founders – Anthony and Steven Fambro – relaunched the company in 2019.
EV FURY
Though EVs are still far more expensive than used gas vehicles, prices are falling as automakers race to keep up with demand.
It’s predicted a whopping 65 per cent of new car sales will be electric by 2030, Bloomberg reported.
Though electric drivers can save on gas, some are still frustrated with recharging their new rides.
One driver said she feels like she’s constantly negotiating with others on the road to score a charger.
“Even early in the morning often, I’ll encounter between one to five people waiting in line, and often there will be you know two or three, two to three stations working out of four,” Emily Hampton told NBC affiliate KNBC.
Electric vehicles vs gas
Pros and cons of EVs vs gasoline-powered vehicles
EV PROS:
- Convenient (when charging at home)
- Cheaper (depending on state or city)
- Cheaper maintenance, due to lack of mechanical parts
- Great for commuting
- Reduced CO2 emissions
- Federal and state tax incentives
- More performance (speed, handling – depending on the make and model)
EV CONS:
- Higher initial cost
- Higher insurance rates
- More frequent tire and brake replacement intervals
- Higher curb weight (thus causing more rapid wear on crucial parts)
- Low resale value
- High depreciation rates
- Lack of charging infrastructure
- Unreliable public charging (related: slow charging times)
- Poor winter and summer performance
- Lack of clean energy alternatives means more “dirty energy” from coal and nuclear sources
- Range anxiety
GAS PROS:
- Highly developed refueling infrastructure
- Fast refueling
- Cheaper insurance rates, depending on make, model, and configuration
- Established repair industry
- Lower initial cost
- Higher range before refueling, especially with hybrids
- Many manufacturers produce nearly emission-less engines
- Cheaper refueling, depending on the location
GAS CONS:
- Finite resource (related: heavy dependence on petroleum)
- Carbon emissions/greenhouse gases
- Higher repair costs
- Higher insurance rates, depending on make, model, and configuration
- Varying costs at the pump, depending on state, city, and county
Source: Car & Driver, Perch Energy, AutoWeek