Aptera Electric Car Closer to Production After Cash Infusion
In its latest round of funding, Aptera has raised more than $24 million to begin production of both its Typ-1 electric car and Typ-1 plug-in hybrid. Major venture partners include Google and Idealab.
Aptera also plans to use the new funds to construct a manufacturing facility in Vista, CA, close to the company’s present headquarters in Carlsbad.
Steve Fambro, Aptera founder and CEO had this to say about it:
We’re excited that the tremendous demand that we’ve received from the thousands of individuals who have pre-ordered their Aptera Typ-1 has been matched with a strong endorsement from our investment partners. The vehicle is exciting, the timing seems perfect and the market is eager to buy one of these first built units. These new funds will be instrumental as we pursue our goal of bringing the Typ-1 to market later this year.
Initially only available in California, Aptera’s business plan calls for production of its Typ-1 fully electric vehicle (EV) to begin this December. The Typ-1 EV will cost around $27,000 and get 120 miles per charge. Each charge should cost under $3, depending on electricity rates.
The Typ-1 EV will be followed 12 months later by the introduction of the $30,000 Typ-1 plug-in electric hybrid vehicle (PHEV), which Aptera claims can get 300 miles per gallon. However, the company readily admits that with a PHEV fuel economy is difficult to describe with one number.
For example, the Typ-1 PHEV can drive 40 miles on electric power alone, but as soon as you get over that threshold, you start using fuel. As such, on a 50 mile trip the Typ-1 PHEV would have a fuel economy of 1000 miles per gallon.
As you drive further the battery energy is depleted and the engine is turned on with increasing frequency, which uses more and more fuel. The result is that on a 75 mile trip, the fuel economy of the Typ-1 PHEV is around 400 miles per gallon and on a trip of 120 miles, fuel economy is around 300 miles per gallon.
After 350-400 miles at highway speeds the fuel economy settles in at around 130 MPG, where it stays until it is charged up again. See the graph to the right for more detail. Aptera has chosen the 300 mpg/120 mile range number because they say that a 120 mile range covers the typical daily driving needs of 99% of the US population.
Aptera has received over 3,300 deposits from buyers eager to be among the first to drive this new vehicle. California residents can reserve a vehicle by placing a fully refundable $500 deposit on the Aptera website.
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Image Credits: Aptera Motors
One way to produce a car really fast is to build a motorcycle, which is waht the sleazy folks at Aptera are doing. This allows them to avoid all those nasty and time consuming Federal crash tests and other safety regulations. Anyone shilling for these cars,
should feel some guilt when its first victims are crushed by a larger vehicle (like any car on the planet). Thanks a lot Google the monopolisitc slug. Greenwashing, today, Google?
I’d buy it… But then again I like funky things.
Kerry, Obviously you have met the sleazy folks at aptera and determined them to be bad. Your obvious expert opinion on auto safety should be taken into consideration too. Did you miss the part about them testing to federal safety regs, even though they don’t have too? Thought so.
Scott
@ Kerry
I don’t think this is greenwashing because they are not lying about the product being “green” (whatever that means). Aptera claims that they have a very safe vehicle because it is wrapped in carbon fiber (stronger than steel) and has special zones for structural rigidity. They are also very candid about saying that it is classified as a motorcycle, they don’t try and lie about it.
The fact is that anyone in a small vehicle (my Yaris included) is more at risk from colliding with the insane amount of SUVs that are out there than somebody in a tank would be… but being safe on the road is less about owning a large behemoth and more about good driving habits.
And another thing Ms. Bradshaw, this is about choice. You don’t choose to ride on a motorcycle? don’t buy it. Don’t like the cars Detroit or Japan produce? don’t buy em. Why is it bad to have a choice in such a market?
We all have a choice to walk, ride, drive etc., and to have an option to drive a 3 wheeled motorcycle is a good one if you ask me.
Scott
Kerry -
So, what oil company do you work for that you oppose fuel efficient vehicles??? Seems to me that Aptera is trying to make things better. I’m sure you have visited their site, and read all the literature about safety. As Nick mentioned, carbon fiber, advanced crumple zones. Sure it is classed as a motorcycle (3 wheels) but this also helps with reducing drag and improving mileage. When is the last time you saw a motorcycle with side impact air bags and a safety cage (per their website).
Does size matter in crashes, sure, but unless we all start driving 18 wheelers, this is the way to go. Was I concerned about that when I was driving a Honda CRX, Triumph Spitfire or Fiat Spider, sure, but so are the drivers of the Mini and Smart Car. Having seen the Smart Car and read the specs on the Aptera, I would feel much safer in the Aptera.
Now you can go back to your H2 (or was it H1) and tell the rest of us that we will be sorry!
To All,
I agree with what you are all saying. I mean, come on, the whole idea here is choice. I will say that we do need to have safe vehicles but Nick is correct, It is much more about safe driving habits than blind luck. Believe me, I drive a 89 honda civic. You just have to drive safely out there.
LOL, nothing like a cash infusion to get things moving along! LOL
JT
http://www.Ultimate-Anonymity.com
I just don’t think that form factor will work with the safety requirements, but I might be wrong. Good luck!
It’s really not even worth responding to Mr. Bradshaw, as his knowledge and intellegence far surpasses any of our objective thinking.
On, a separate note, I believe Aptera is the best electric car in production, any time you are dealing with three wheels there will be safety issues, but it appears that aptera has gone above and beyond the governmental standards for a normal four-wheel vehicle. From a composite shell much stronger than steel, air-bags, and everything else they list on their website, the car seems to be safe. I hope the funding grows exponentially so these EVs can be available in every state.
I think a lot of people will find these attractive, they met just about all of my needs for a vehicle. If you can fit two 6 ft. surf boards, I bet I could take my bike apart and put it in there…