Aptera EV Concept Car

When I first became interested in electric transportation in 2008, the Aptera was already on the scene, and, as I recall, hunting around for potential investors. Here we are, 12 years later, and apparently little if anything has changed.  In fact, the video below, though posted in 2019, must have been made much before then, before most of the traditional automakers began offering EVs and “neighborhood electric vehicles” were still a thing.

There are several reasons why this, at least IMO, isn’t going anywhere:

• Efficiency in terms of miles/kWhr isn’t as big a deal as some people think.  Today’s Tesla S gets 3.7 miles per kWh (370 miles range in a 100 kWhr pack), and its customers are fine with this.

• Range, however, is a very big deal, and the Aptera’s 100 mile range is really unappealing.

• I hate to think what the process of getting NHSTA approval for this concept is going to be like.

• Design is a subjective subject, but my belief is that most people feel funny receiving as much attention as this car would attract, especially since at least some (most?) of that attention would come in the form of ridicule.

• What I do know is that people don’t like being cooped up in small spaces.  This is why people don’t like to be in prison.

The Aptera was an interesting would-be entrant into the EV space 12 years ago, though it’s unclear why we’re still talking about it now.  I’d also like to know where all those investor dollars went over the years.

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3 comments on “Aptera EV Concept Car
  1. jiminy says:

    I’d love to desert test the new Aptera with it;s Solar roof and 1,000 mile range. Here in the Greater Phoenix area we have the best and most Sunshine. I’d drive to the Grand Canyon up all the mountains. Then the Apertra would recharge on the way down and with the abundance of Sun Shine.

  2. marcopolo says:

    Craig,

    Ah yes, the Aptera.

    Back in the days when this odd little vehicle was the darling of green advocates, I was asked to assist in finding funding for the venture.

    Very quickly into the due diligence process, I reached the conclusion the project had very little future outside a possible niche market for wealthy West Coast enthusiasts wishing to own an expensive toy, or as a novelty for certain resorts.

    Since those markets are extremely small, the venture made no economic sense.

    The vehicle itself was certainly unique, but totally impractical and exceeding dangerous in normal traffic.

    But, I guess the real clincher for me was the lack of automotive business (or any) acumen of the owners, promoters and designers of the project.

    While not actually dishonest or scammers, these guys made up with arrogance and fanaticism for what they lacked in automotive knowledge or reality!

    Belief in one’s self and confidence in a product, can be a fundamental ingredient for success, but delusions of grandeur and blind faith in a ludicrous product produces, …well,.. the Aptera!

    To be fair, to the best of my knowledge, none of the investor money was siphoned off or improperly diverted for personal purposes. (As I recall the founders lost substantial personal investment monies also).

  3. jim stack says:

    Using that perspective you would say Tesla is also a nich market and won’t take off.
    The updated Aptera can go 1,000 miles on a charge. 70% of vehicle owners drive to work alone.
    SAFETY- It’s the BIG SUV and TRUCKS that are unsafe not the Aptera.