APTERA solar-powered electric vehicle – All photos are by APTERA.
Design, Technology. At CES 2025, California-based startup Aptera revealed its production-ready solar-powered electric vehicle (sEV), which the company claims will transform our perspective on mobility. This three-wheeled, two-seat car is a striking departure from the automotive norm. Unlike larger, heavier vehicles dependent on fossil fuels or grid power, Aptera generates its own energy. It’s a lightweight, self-sufficient solution tailored to today’s world and tomorrow’s challenges.
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“Today marks a pivotal moment not only for Aptera but for the future of sustainable transportation,” said Chris Anthony, Co-CEO of Aptera Motors. “This vehicle embodies years of innovation and relentless pursuit of energy-efficient mobility. CES is the perfect stage to share our vision and invite the world to join us in creating a cleaner, solar-powered future.”
Solar panels are strategically placed on the bonnet, dash, roof, and hatch of the vehicle. They can generate enough energy to drive up to 40 miles each day, which is the average commuting distance for an American. An EV battery enables you to travel up to 400 miles on a single charge for longer journeys.
The vehicle’s structure is made from Carbon Fiber Sheet Molding Compound (CF-SMC), an advanced material that dramatically reduces complexity. It requires fewer than one-tenth of the parts of traditional vehicles, resulting in a lightweight yet robust design.
The sEV is also ultra-aerodynamic. Altera teamed up with Italian automotive design studio Pininfarina to develop a sleek and high-performing design, which was tested and validated at the studio’s wind tunnel in Turin, Italy.
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Anthony and Steven Fambro, who founded Aptera in 2006, relaunched it in 2019. However, they had to shut it down in 2011 because it failed to qualify for the US Department of Energy’s advanced technology loan program. Thanks to crowdfunding and other means, the company is now back on track and ready to become one of the first companies in the world to mass-produce a solar-powered car.
All photos are by Aptera.
