Aptera Banks On Solar Panels For Free EV Battery Charging

Body-integrated solar panels are seeping into the EV market. In fact, some automakers are so caught up in the idea they are blanketing the entire car in the energy-harvesting devices. That takes the solar power generation potential from auxiliary status into the seductive realm of battery range extension, and the US startup Aptera Motors is ready to unveil its contribution to the field.

Solar Panels & EVs: Not As Easy As It Sounds

The idea of deploying the surfaces of an EV for solar energy harvesting seems pretty obvious. After all, many cars spend all of their time out in the sun, parked or in motion. Solar panels are becoming fairly common on the roofs of cars, and at least one firm is marketing a solar-equipped, flat cargo cover for pickup trucks.

Still, the devil is in the details for automakers that attempt an all-of-car approach. Finding solar panels that are sturdy and flexible enough to wrap around curved surfaces is one challenge. The weight of the solar panels also has to balance with their potential for achieving a meaningful increase in battery range, too.

Nevertheless, the convenience factor beckons. Ideally, once you get behind the wheel of an EV equipped with enough solar panels, you could accomplish all of your routine errands of the day without paying for electricity at a charging station. Over time, the money you save on electricity — and rates are going up, by the way — will chip away at the cost of the panels, too.

The Aptera Solution: Four Wheels Good, Three Wheels Better

Some startups, Lightyear and Sono for example, have tried and failed at the attempt of a fully solar powered car, though as of last year Lightyear was still in business on as a parts supplier (see more solarized EV background here).

Aptera also took refuge in the parts supply end of things last year, after pouring years of work into manufacturing a prototype for its solar EV. The company launched in 2006 and suffered some slings and arrows before rebooting in 2020, having never stopped living the dream.

So, what is their secret? In contrast to other solar EV ventures, Aptera dreams of tapping into the growing market for autocycles, the three-wheeled mobility machines that were once fairly popular back in the 20th century.

Autocycles are enjoying a renaissance in some markets including the US, where it is not difficult to spot souped-up, open air versions modeled on the aesthetics of F1 racing and Transformers movies. Aptera has chosen a different path, focusing on a fully enclosed cabin that performs an aerodynamic function while also positioning the EV as a functional vehicle for commuting and running errands — in addition to showing off, of course.

Despite the doubters, Aptera provided proof of life for its solar powered autocycle venture earlier this year, announcing that the US branch of the Chinese flat panel maker Tianma will supply the main touchscreen for its forthcoming solar car the Aptera Launch Edition.

“We turned to Tianma – the #1 supplier of automotive displays – for the cutting-edge display solution with high-luminance and energy efficiency that we needed,” Aptera co-founder and co-CEO Steve Fambro explained in a press statement, in a reference to the all-important focus on reserving the solar cells for battery range extension to the fullest extent possible.

“Energy efficiency is the key to Aptera’s business model, which rests on squeezing the most juice possible out of vehicle-embedded solar panels. After all, solar panels cost money. If free electricity from the sun doesn’t balance out the added cost, prospective EV buyers may look elsewhere for a zero emission ride,” CleanTechnica noted back in January.

Here Comes The Solar Powered Car Of The Future

Aptera plans to unveil the Launch Edition as a validation vehicle on June 27, and you can catch the action at 3:00 pm Pacific Time on YouTube here. That’s a whole week away, so if you need a reminder sign up for notifications at the link.

According to Aptera Co-CEO Chris Anthony, the new EV represents the full production model, not just a concept.

“For the first time, Aptera will showcase a vehicle featuring every system a future owner would expect — from climate control and infotainment to the vision system and full solar integration,” Aptera adds, noting that it has almost 50,000 reservations in hand.

Of course, not all of those reservations will come to fruition. But, imagine if they do. Aptera could meet, if not beat, the much-hyped Tesla Cybertruck on sales with one hand tied behind its back.

The Launch Edition to be featured on June 27 is just one of several validation vehicles under way at Aptera, which has finished up the prototyping phase. “These vehicles play a critical role in the company’s ongoing testing program. While some refinements are anticipated as the process progresses, they closely represent the vehicles Aptera expects to assemble for customers,” Aptera explains.

The next steps for Aptera include road-testing the validation vehicle around the US, partly to show it off and partly to collect more real-world data.

So…How Much Can These Solar Panels Really Do?

Of course, your mileage may vary, but Aptera credits its sleek, aerodynamic design among the factors that bump up the effectiveness of its solar panels. The company aims for 40 miles per day of all-free range from the solar panels, which is more than enough to accommodate average daily driving habits. The solar panels also support the battery for longer distances. Drivers can check out Aptera’s cost calculator (scroll down at the link) to estimate their potential savings on electricity costs.

On a road trip through Arizona on Route 66 earlier this year, the Aptera team clocked more than 300 miles on a single charge despite the real world challenges of highway traffic, weather, and mountains.

For the record, here in the US an autocycle is not classified as a motorcycle. In a motorcycle, the driver straddles the seat and puts their hands on handlebars. Autocycles use a front-facing seat and steering wheel that replicates the experience of driving a car. That’s important because drivers can use their standard license to get behind the wheel of an autocycle; no motorcycle license is needed.

Solar Panels On Cars: Who’s Gonna Pay For All This?

As for where is the market for a futuristic solar powered car, Aptera’s June 27 unveiling is a rather bold move in a fraught environment for EV sales here in the US. It’s not just a domestic problem, either.

Yesterday, CleanTechnica editor Zachary Shahan asked the burning question: Can You Ever Trust Automakers Saying There’s Not Enough EV Demand? The occasion was Ferrari’s widely reported announcement delaying launch of its second EV until 2028, in which it cited lackluster demand.

So much for the luxury market. Aptera, for one, anticipates that drivers are eager to wrap their hands around a new EV, and providing all-free, solar powered daily driving is icing on the green cake.

Aptera is banking on the mid-range market for sub-sub compact EV two-seaters in the area of $28,000 to $55,000, with a range of 250 to 1,000 miles, depending on the buyer’s configuration preferences. The Launch Edition vehicle will fall in the middle at $40,000 for 400 miles of range.

Image (cropped): An EV equipped with solar panels that recharge the battery for free is already rolling down the roads of the US on a validation basis, to be followed by full production (courtesy of Aptera).