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.
- » See also: Is the Renault-Nissan Alliance Going in Two Different Electric Car Directions?
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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
I am definitely saving to get this one, this will greatly compliment my 2000 Honda Insight. I always wanted a ‘motorcycle’.
Please read–Americans need to know!!!!!!!!
NHTSA Hearings 8/4/08
I just returned from the NHTSA hearings held today (August 4, 2008) in Washington D.C., regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for NEW Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards (CAFÉ) for years 2011-2015.
IMPORTANT FACTS: You will not believe what you are reading.
1) The 414 pages DEIS analysis was based on an average gasoline price of USD $2.16/gallon for 2011-2020. A calculation approved by the NHTSA administrators/managers. Would you believe it???????????
2) The new CAFÉ rules were also established, negotiated and pre-approved by the NHTSA’s management along with the influence of domestic automotive companies and their lobbyists. We have now established fuel standards for 2011-2020 that presently are already met in the rest of the Western world (see below)
As one guest speaker said today “are they on another planet?”
NHTSA “NEW Fuel Standards” (2011-2015) decision:
Automobiles are to achieve 31.2 mpg by 2011 and 35.7 mpg by 2015. Light trucks are to achieve 25 mpg by 2011, and 28.6 mpg by 2015.
The NTHSA is also setting a goal of 35 mpg on average for 2020.
America needs to know:
The European Union is currently establishing standards, with a goal of reaching 48.9 miles per gallon for new passenger vehicles as early as 2012. The current EU standard already requires more than 40 miles per gallon about 15% higher than the U.S. goal set for 12 years from now.
Japan currently has a standard of about 40 miles per gallon. Japan aims to further improve fuel efficiency by 17% by 2015, reaching 46.9 miles per gallon.
China has a current average of slightly under 35 miles per gallon. Chinese fuel standards are on target to reach the government’s goal of 35.8 miles per gallon by 2009. China will not only meet, but exceed, the goal just established by the United States for 2020 — more than a full decade earlier.
Australia is targeting 34.4 miles per gallon by 2010.
Canada is targeting 34.1 miles per gallon by 2010.
Under the current administration, purchasing an electric vehicle is becoming more of a necessity rather than an alternative.
BG Automotive Group, Ltd.
(www.BGelectricCars.com)
Sorry, but all this wining about small cars being dangerious - is crap. Go outside of US, visit UK for example, and you’ll find out that MOST of people are driving small, yaris-sized cars, or even smaller.
Also, even in full size toyota you WILL be dead if head-collide with a 18 wheeler.
So don’t panic, small electric - doesn’t mean it will kill you. Or at least more than thousands of cars on the road today.
I would definitely buy Aptera, if lived in Cali.
I’ve only just been made aware of this little beauty. I live in Autralia and I’m wondering when it will be available here! I’d like to find out more information on the safety standards and how it would be classified here in Australia. I’d even like to consider being a distributor of this vehicle.
BG Auto, I have some advice for you. If you want your comments to be taken seriously you should ditch the emotive overexaggerations and just present the facts. Additionally, you should present all of the facts. I know of no Australian legislation pushing 34.4 miles/gallon (14.5 km/L or 6.9 L/100km); however, I do know that these figures are very easily achievable not something deserving of the hyped up way your post presents them.
The Aptera looks gorgeous to me.
Repair worries? Most electric motors are good for about 400,000 miles so when it’s available, I’ll buy one & tow it to the midwest where I’ll use it except maybe in winter. The battery swap-out idea at gas/electric stations would make it possible to use an Aptera cross-country, but until then, I’ll rent a gashog for those trips. Forget handicap stickers, there are often lots of motorcycle parking spots near the front entrance. And for awhile, you’ll be able to forget about locking it. I don’t think the cops would have a hard time spotting a stolen Aptera…
Related point … Aptera gets and deserves highest marks in this latest Buyers Guide I just found online.
I came across this web site and guide from Google typing in “plugin buyers guide” and found
http://electric-cars-today.com
After checking out all the sites ahead of them in the Google list, as far as I can tell they are real and the first one that is comprehensive but kept to layperson speak as much as possible. I just bought the guide this week to help me buy a plugin car this year.
… as a suggestion, read the Preview pages available from their Order page.
I think they are right on target at least for me, who is in the market to get a car that plugs in at home today not 3 years from now. As for their definition of an “Electric Car”, and the choices they have included, which seem to be a few flying under the radar, they are on track and I hope to read about resources like this in your paper and on your online website - those efforts that are actually trying to mobilize our citizenry to actually do something about our oil addiction.
At this point in time a plugin car purchase only makes sense as an ideological rather than financial decision as their Introduction page points out, however Aptera is relatively affordable and may be the one I get in 2009 - this buyers guide certainly helped me get my arms around what is available and what may be available in 2009 - the longest I want to wait to help in a grassroots way to break our oil addiction!
Well the way I see it, if you want change, you have to be committed. Talking about a concept car or going GREEN is just that. I signed on to the Aptera list and yes I use to ride motorcycles! Its a $500. refundable deposit and supports consumer and investor confidence. You can put it in the bank short term and get less than 2%, which is what? $10. I drove 5,000 miles last month and some how I think it might of been cheaper in one of these!
I bought a 1996 Geo two weeks ago, it can beat 60 mpg with its 3 cyc, 5 speed. I don’t drive it for its good looks, though the Aptera design is a nice side effect. I saw a “Smart 4 Two” today and the guy paid over $20,000. to get 44 mpg. I have had a half dozen cheaper used cars that could do that.
If you want change you have to support it! What is the cost of a Prius? Not much different and you still only get 42-49 mpg, unless you are into “pulse & glide” driving techniques. I am #2505 on Aptera’s list and $500. was nothing if it helps to change the demands being placed on Detroit auto makers.
The homologated motorcycle concept (w 2 front & 1 rear driving wheel) is a winning approach to the challenges of building an efficient commuter vehicle. The benefits and demerits are known. This concept has had many iterations over the last 35 years.
Aptera, LoReMo (Low Resistance Mobile), and Zap are all working on vehicles based on this concept. Aptera is way ahead of the curve because the hull is composed of carbon fibre and their plug-in hybrid is to have an electric drivetrain with an onboard gasoline powered generator.
Electric drivetrains are inherently safer and more reliable than internal combustion engines and do not require transmissions or exhaust systems. We knew this in 1910, and we are rediscovering these truths in the 21st century.
LoReMo by comparison is to be diesel TDI driven with a metal chassis, and the Zap is to be electric only with an aluminum chassis.
Thus the Aptera is theoretically the best combination of available technologies to leapfrog traditional auto makers for a mild climate dedicated commute vehicle. It offers the best combination of drivetrain (plug-in hybrid w onboard gas generator), chassis (ultra low drag coeficient carbon fibre for low weight, rigidity, and safety), and low rolling resistance.
The ability to utilize the HOV lane is critical in the market appeal of this vehicle. Unless we are prepared to rebuild our cities and turn the suburbs back into farmland the highly efficient commuter car is critical to our dilemma. Presumably, 4 wheel vehicles may follow the success of this first model. Four wheels are essential for dealing with ice and snow.
The only possible improvement to the Aptera hybrid would be a diesel powered generator that could comply with CARB. That would probably require a German partnership.
If Smart Car (or even Mini) had been forward thinking enough to put TDI’s into their U.S. models, we would be much further down the road towards updating our Carter era CAFE standards. The TDI is the critical missing piece in the U.S. Only after the TDI comes to the U.S. in quantity, will we begin to see a shift in public perception around efficiency standards.
[...] heard of Aptera. Although the company’s original intention of reaching volume production by the end of last year never came to fruition, the Aptera 2e lives on. According to recent reports, you can expect to see [...]
WOW!!! You mean these guys could actually get some investment with the help of the government. What a novel idea!!! Let’s hope that they run the company not like the narcissistic Detroit execs or the thugs in the Auto Union who worked together to ensure a future death of an industry. I am a right wing conservative patriot who drives a hybrid and carrys a gun. I have total contempt for congress and hate the socialism the democrats are imposing. GO APTERA. Where do I put in my order for 2 units.