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We haven’t talked much about the Aptera we’ve pre-ordered, so we thought we’d use our newsletter, podcast and YouTube show this week to explain the seven reasons we pre-ordered one of these solar-powered EVs.
The Aptera is a solar-powered, three-wheeled vehicle enclosed like a car (so you’ll frequently catch us calling it a car) but regulated more like a motorcycle.
Reason #1: Extreme Efficiency
We expect the Aptera to be the most efficient vehicle on the road. With 10 miles per kWh of range, the little EV will be 2.5 times more efficient than our Bolt and five times more efficient than the Rivian electric pickup we’ve ordered.
Reason #2: George Jetson Style
Devin says the first thing that came to mind when he saw a photo of an Aptera was George Jetson’s flying car. It is that spacey!
We love that! We get that not everyone wants a car that attention-grabbing, but we do. We want to be talking to people about energy efficiency, solar power and Our Solar Electric Trailer Journey.
Even with our Chevy Bolt, we are frequently stopped by people curious about EVs. We can’t wait to drive the Aptera!
Reason #3: Solar Panels
The solar panels on the Aptera can provide up to 40 miles per day of driving! To get that, you’ll need to upgrade from the base model’s limited solar panel coverage to get the whole vehicle covered with solar.
With that upgrade, you could get 10,000 miles (theoretically even more) of free electricity from the sun every year! It is hard to imagine.
Reason #4: The Incredible Range
We’ve pre-ordered the 600-mile range version of the Aptera. The longest-range option will run 1,000 miles on a single charge! Production will begin, the company says, with the 400-mile range option and then move to the 250-mile battery.
The batteries in the Apteras don’t appear to be designed for super fast charging, but that may come. For now, the company promises 40 to 60 kW fast charging (about the same as our Bolt). Keep in mind, however, that given the vehicle’s efficiency, it will be charging 2.5 times faster than the Bolt in terms of miles per minute.
At this rate, the Aptera should be capable of adding 100 miles of range in ten minutes!
Reason #5: Affordability
The Aptera starts at an almost unbelievable price of just $25,900. The version we pre-ordered with all-wheel drive, the full solar package and 600 miles of range still comes in under $40k.
That is an excellent price for a car that doesn’t require charging for routine, around-town driving or even short road trips.
Reason #6: Speed
With the all-wheel drive package, the Aptera will have a 0-60 time of just 4 seconds. That’s fast.
We think of our Bolt as fast with its 7.2 second 0-60 speed. We can’t wait to put the hammer down in the little Aptera!
Reason #7: We’re Invested
Aptera is raising money via investment crowdfunding. We invested shortly after we pre-ordered the vehicle. Today, you can invest as little as $210 via the crowdfunding site Republic.
Let’s be clear about a couple of things here. We’re biased. Aptera can’t make our car until it raises more money. We want people to invest. We’re not financial advisors. Don’t invest because we did!
So, there you have the seven reasons we’re excited to have pre-ordered an Aptera!
Do you need a hook on the garage wall for your EV charging cable? This one might work.
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7 Reasons We Pre-Ordered an Aptera Solar-Powered EV