aptera wraps up first drive test of three-wheel solar electric car with production-intent model

Aptera Motors completes the first drive or function test for its three-wheeled, solar electric car using a model intended for commercial production. Carried out on October 30th, 2024, within the company’s workshop in San Diego, California, the test was meant to monitor and check the design, production components, and critical performance metrics such as range, solar charging capability, and efficiency. So far, the team says that they’ve reached a ‘significant milestone in the development of its solar electric car.’ The drive test follows the durability check of the solar electric car, which has taken place in Pininfarina’s wind tunnel.

The production-intent model comes with a battery pack and Vitesco Technologies’ EMR3 drivetrain. These two work together to make the three-wheeled car work as they’re put into testing with the recent prototype. This is also the first time that the motor company takes the composite body structure of the vehicle for a spin, which, by the looks of it, has managed to pull off the testing. After the first function test, the production-intent model is set to be used for real-world validation and testing as the team adds finishing touches to the solar electric car and takes it out on the road to jump to the next phase of their testing.

all images courtesy of Aptera Motors

Aptera Motors says that the next phase of testing is primed for the solar technology of the company. It’s here that they begin to put the solar panels in place, which can help the three-wheeled car drive around for days without charging. Once installed, the company kicks off the high-speed track testing for the solar electric car to validate its overall performance and efficiency levels, including watt-hours per mile, solar charging rates, and battery range.

During this phase of testing, the company also monitors the production-intent thermal management system and exterior surfaces, which are expected to roll over to the commercially produced models. The company adds that the production-intent models keep evolving with additional and functional parts and functionality as the testing goes on because they need to validate each feature. In this way, the fully tested and validated production-ready vehicles are ready to be delivered to the 50,000 people who have already reserved the three-wheeled, solar electric car.

the testing was carried out on October 30th, 2024, within the company’s workshop in San Diego, California

detailed view of the production-intent model

the test was meant to check the design, production components, and critical performance metrics

view of Aptera’s previous model, Gamma

the Gamma vehicle also has solar panels on its surfaces