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Aptera Motors

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Aptera Motors Corp.
Company typePrivate company
IndustryAutomotive
Founded2019
Founders
  • Steven P. Fambro (Co-CEO)
  • Chris L. Anthony (Co-CEO)
  • Michael Johnson
Headquarters
Carlsbad, California
,
United States
Area served
not yet in production
Key people
  • Jason Hill (design)
  • Sarah Hardwick (marketing)
ProductsAptera solar EV
  • Increase (loss) $54.6 million (2023)
  • Decrease (loss) $61.5 million (2022)
Total assets
  • Decrease $37.6 million (2023)
  • Increase $39.9 million (2022)
Number of employees
31 (2023)
Websiteaptera.us
Footnotes / references
[1]

Aptera Motors Corp. (formerly Aptera Motors Inc. and before that Accelerated Composites) is an American crowd funded, pre-production startup company based in Carlsbad, California. It was founded in 2005 before liquidating in 2011. The company was relaunched by the original founders in 2019.

History

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2006–2011 founding and liquidation

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Aptera was founded as Accelerated Composites in 2006 by Steve Fambro, who formerly worked at Illumina. Fambro hired Chris Anthony to be the COO shortly after founding the company.[2] The company name was later changed to Aptera Motors, making reference to the Greek word meaning "wingless flight."[3] In 2006, the company announced it had a three-wheeled car design, classified as a motorcycle, that would get an estimated 330 miles per US gallon (0.71 L/100 km) at 65 mph (105 km/h).[2]

In 2008, Aptera Motors hired several industry veterans to oversee engineering and production as well as marketing, and raised $24 million from Google and Idealab. It also announced it would start to sell its car by the end of that year[4] and received $500 deposits from approximately 4,000 people for the vehicles.[5] Near the end of 2008, it hired Paul Wilbur as CEO and announced that the launch of the vehicle would be delayed until 2009.[4] By that time, it was calling the "typ-1" the "2e".[4]

In March 2009, the U.S. government denied loans to Aptera Motors under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program because it was limited to four-wheeled-vehicle research and production.[6] After successfully lobbying to change the regulations,[7] the company reapplied for a $184 million loan in October 2009.[8][9] Founders Fambro and Anthony were ousted from the company in Autumn 2009, remaining on the board of directors but no longer being employees.[10]

The automotive X-prize competition was held in 2010 and Aptera's car entered but didn't finish the 50-lap trial when it overheated after 30 laps.[11]

On August 12, 2011, Aptera Motors started to return deposits from customers.[12] In December 2011, it announced that it was going out of business because it was running out of money; it said that the Department of Energy had offered it a $150 million low interest loan conditioned on the company raising the same amount from the private sector, but the company was not able to raise the matching funds. A New York Times reporter contacted the DoE, which said that it had not committed to loaning the company any money.[13] By that time, the company had abandoned the three-wheeled model and was working on a mid-sized four-wheeled four-door sedan.[13] At the time, 60,000 people had expressed interest to the company in buying a 2e, and 2,000 of them had paid a $500 deposit.[14]

The company voluntarily liquidated in 2011.[15]

2012-2014 relaunch as Aptera USA

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In April 2012, the Chinese automaker Zhejiang Jonway Group purchased the intellectual property of Aptera Motors from creditors, and in May, it announced that it would start manufacturing the 2e at its factory in Shanghai and intended to ship chassis to a small assembly plant, initially employing 15-20 people, that it would set up in Santa Rosa, with sales commencing in early 2013. Jonway was a major investor in Zap Jonway, which had been working on electric cars in Santa Rosa since the mid-1990s. The company planned to name the US company "Zaptera USA" and it displayed a prototype 2e next to a Zap Jonway car at the Beijing Motor Show. However, the close association with Zap was met with protest by electric-car enthusiasts and by May, the company said it would call the company Aptera USA and keep it independent of Zap Jonway. The company stated it would manufacture 5000 vehicles by the end of 2012.[14]

In June 2013, Zaptera USA said it would split into two companies: the existing Jonway-owned Zaptera USA, and an independent Aptera USA; Zaptera would make the all-electric 2e and Aptera would make a gasoline-powered version called the 2g.[16] However, by mid-May the following year, those new Aptera companies had gone silent.[17]

2019 relaunch as Aptera Motors Corp.

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In 2019, the company, Aptera Motors, was re-formed by the original founders, Chris Anthony and Steve Fambro, as Aptera Motors Corp.[18] It used a crowdfunding campaign to restart development of what aims to be the most efficient road vehicle in production.[18]

As of 2019, the Aptera had been redesigned to be a pure battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV) using under 100Wh per mile on the EPA test cycle. The company claimed the vehicle would get a predicted EPA test-cycle range of up to 1,000 mi (1,600 km), with solar panels that could add up to 40 miles of range per day.[19] This would make the Aptera the most efficient and the longest-range motor vehicle ever designed for mass production.[18]

Within eight days, they received deposits for over 3,000 Aptera vehicles, valued at over $100,000,000.[20]

In 2021 the company built three more engineering prototypes, revised the Aptera design to give it more interior room and an improved suspension, and raised over $39 million in funding.[21] They acquired three buildings in Carlsbad, California, with a combined space of over 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2).[22]

A month later in January 2022, the San Diego Business Journal reported[23] that reservations had grown to over 16,000, their employees had doubled to 60, and they were looking to hire 470 more by the end of the year. In May 2022, Aptera Motors released their 2021 annual report. It stated they had 103 full- and part-time employees and over 18,000 reservations for their solar electric vehicle.[24]

In May 2023, Aptera Motors' released their 2022 Annual Report. It stated that the company then had 55 full-time employees. As of the end of 2022 they reported $39.9 million in total assets and an operating loss of $61.5 million.[25] The company demonstrated its production-intent PI2 model in October 2024.[26]

Planned models

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Aptera Solar Electric Vehicle

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Main article: Aptera (solar electric vehicle)

As of 2019, the first planned production Aptera is a two-seat, three-wheeled passenger battery electric vehicle (BEV). Its design included two 50 KW wheel hub motors with a claimed EPA-test-cycle estimated range of over 1,000 mi (1,600 km), from a 100 kWh battery pack.

View of the solar panels throughout the vehicle

This range was estimated using computer models based on the Aptera's low estimated weight and the calculated aerodynamic drag based on its shape. The resulting vehicle was estimated (by the company) to require about 100 Wh of energy per mile,[19][27] making the two seater 2.5 times as energy efficient as the five seat Tesla Model 3.[28][29]

Embedded solar panels were designed to contribute up to an estimated additional 40 mi (64 km) per day from sunlight under optimal conditions.[29][30] Since most American drivers drive less than 30 miles (48 km) per day,[31] many drivers would seldom need to charge, depending on cloud cover. The company's website featured a calculator to estimate how often their owners would need to charge an Aptera, based on where they live and how much they drive.

Multiple solar panel, motor, and battery configurations were planned, with estimated ranges from 250 to 1,000 mi (400 to 1,610 km), and initial estimated prices from $25,900 to over $47,000.[32][33]

Design history

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Aptera Motors' vehicle design has undergone several design revisions. The first two vehicles were intended as concept cars for attracting investor funds, rather than as production vehicles. The third vehicle, the Aptera 2e, was intended for production, but the required funding was not achieved.

Aptera Mk-0
Overview
ManufacturerAptera Motors, Inc.
Productionno (technology demonstrator)
AssemblyUnited States
Body and chassis
ClassSubcompact
Body style2-door three-wheeled car
Powertrain
Engine
  • Diesel: 9 kW (12 hp)
  • Electric: 19 kW (25 hp)
TransmissionCVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase1,625 mm (64 in)
Length4,394 mm (173 in)
Curb weight386 kg (851 lb)
Chronology
Predecessorunnamed homebuilt prototype
SuccessorAptera 2e

Initial design & rendering

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Aptera's introductory press release stated its design would achieve 330 mpg, and included computer renderings of the vehicle. The body shape was estimated to have a drag coefficient of Cd=0.055 to 0.06, and would have sported a 12 horsepower (9 kW) diesel engine and a 24 horsepower (18 kW) permanent magnet DC motor. The design also called for a CVT and ultracapacitors, and would sell for under US$20,000 as of 2006.[34]

Aptera Typ-1 / Aptera Mk-1

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Aptera Typ-1

In September 2007, the Aptera Motors website was updated with the new Aptera design (dubbed the Aptera Typ-1), and the Mk-1 pre-production prototype was unveiled. The Mk-0 prototype was redesigned by Jason Hill, who worked on the Smart Fortwo and Porsche Carrera GT and engineered by Nathan Armstrong,[35] with a finished interior and new body styling. Aptera Motors then began accepting reservations from California residents for its pilot models – then called the Typ-1e and Typ-1h.[36]


Aptera 2 Series

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Main article: Aptera 2 Series

The next Aptera Motors' design was a three-wheeled two-seat vehicle named the Aptera 2 Series. Its advertised fuel efficiency of 300 mpg‑US (0.78 L/100 km), when plugged in every 120 mi (190 km), would have made it one of the most fuel-efficient passenger vehicles in the world.[37]

Aptera 4-door

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By the time of the original company's liquidation in 2011, it had abandoned development of the Aptera 2e and had begun design of a 5-passenger, 4-wheeled EV sedan with a lightweight composite body and a projected 130-mile range. No body and only a few test mules for the car were built.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Aptera Annual Report". SEC.
  2. ^ a b Bradley, Fikes (2007-09-25). "Prototype gets 300 mpg, company says, qualifies for car-pool lane". North County Times. Archived from the original on 2008-06-08.
  3. ^ Lambrecth, Andrew (2021-05-29). "Aptera Motors Founder on Reviving an EV Startup". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  4. ^ a b c Wert, Ray (2009-11-16). "Aptera Founders Ousted in Boardroom Showdown". Jalopnik.
  5. ^ Nikolewski, Rob (2023-04-27). "Will drivers buy a 3-wheeled EV that's also powered by solar? A Carlsbad carmaker is betting on it". San Diego Union Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  6. ^ Squatriglia, Chuck (2009-03-11). "Tri, Tri Again for Aptera 3-Wheeler Loan From Feds | Autopia". Wired. Archived from the original on 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  7. ^ Squatriglia, Chuck (2009-10-30). "Obama Says Aptera's 3-Wheeler Is a Car". Wired. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  8. ^ Korzeniewski, Jeremy (2009-10-30). "Aptera officially resubmits application for DOE loan – Autoblog Green". Green.autoblog.com. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  9. ^ "April 14 Press Release". 2010-04-14. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  10. ^ Siry, Darryl (2010-02-01). "Aptera Founder Takes a Permanent Vacation". Wired. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  11. ^ "Automotive X Prize: Why some teams failed". Consumer Reports News. 2010-09-23.
  12. ^ John Voelcker (2011-08-13). "Futuristic Electric-Car Dream Dead? Aptera To Refund Deposits". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  13. ^ a b c Jim Motavalli (2011-12-02). "Unable to Raise Financing, Aptera Shuts Down". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
  14. ^ a b Quackenbush (2012-05-07). "Santa Rosa said to be home for reborn Aptera electric roadster". North Bay Business Journal. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  15. ^ Groom, Nichola (2011-12-02). "California electric car startup Aptera shuts down". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  16. ^ Coxworth, Ben (2013-06-10). "New company set to resurrect the Aptera automobile". New Atlas.
  17. ^ Sloan, Jeff (2014-05-31). "Where Are They Now?". CompositesWorld. Gardner Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  18. ^ a b c Voelcker, John (2019-08-28). "Exclusive: 3-Wheeled Aptera Reboots as World's Most Efficient Electric Car". IEEESpectrum.org. IEEE. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  19. ^ a b Lambrecht, Andrew (2023-07-18). "Can Aptera make a cheap solar EV?". HotCars. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  20. ^ Sensiba, Jennifer (2020-12-14). "Aptera Is Getting A Lot of Orders For Its 'Never Charge' EV". CleanTechnica.com. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  21. ^ "21 Aptera Highlights from 2021". aptera.us. 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  22. ^ Ruffo, Gustavo Henrique (2021-11-08). "Aptera Plans Micro-Factories and IPO in Nine to Eighteen Months". autoevolution.com. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  23. ^ "Aptera Scaling Up for Big 2022". San Diego Business Journal. 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  24. ^ SEC (2022-05-02). "Aptera Motors Corp 2021 Annual Report 1-K". SEC.report. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  25. ^ Daw, Cameron (2023-05-02). "ANNUAL REPORT Aptera Motors Corp" (PDF). SEC.gov. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  26. ^ Mark Vaughn (2024-10-31), "Whatever Happened To Aptera, Anyway?", Autoweek
  27. ^ "Aptera efficiency". aptera.us. Aptera Motors Corp. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  28. ^ "Here Are The 2022 Tesla Model 3 EPA Range And Efficiency Ratings". insideevs.com. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  29. ^ a b "Solar electric vehicle startup says its car will go 400 miles on a full battery and never needs to be charged". businessinsider.com. Insider Inc. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  30. ^ "Electric Vehicles". Aptera.us. Aptera Motors Corp. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  31. ^ "National Household Travel Survey Daily Travel Quick Facts". bts.gov. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  32. ^ Markus, Frank (2021-09-30). "2022 Aptera First Look: The Solar-Powered Electric Vehicle". MotorTrend. Discovery, Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  33. ^ Hardwick, Sarah (2020-12-04). "Aptera Reveals First Never Charge Solar Vehicle". Aptera.us. Aptera Motors Corp. Archived from the original on 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  34. ^ "330 MPG! Aptera Hybrid Promises Amazing Mileage for Less Than $20,000". Edmunds.com. 2006-01-20. Archived from the original on 2006-10-10. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  35. ^ Eric, Hagerman (2007-12-20). "1 Gallon of Gas, 100 Miles – $10 Million: The Race to Build the Supergreen Car". Wired Magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  36. ^ Ackerman, Evan (2007-09-28). "OhGizmo! » Archive » Aptera Electric/Hybrid Car On Pre-Order for $500". OhGizmo!. Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  37. ^ Baker, Billy (2006-09-01). "The Race to 100 MPG". Popular Science. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
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