Aptera Launch Edition Unveiled, Boasting Solar Power And A 400-Mile Range

Launch Edition, a new product from Aptera, will enter production before the year's end. Focusing on energy efficiency, the Launch Edition claims to use just one-fourth as much power as comparable electric and hybrid cars on the market today.

The Launch Edition does this with its ultra-lightweight construction and aerodynamic shape (a drag coefficient of 0.13).

Also included on this model are solar panels that, when left in the sun all day, may add up to 40 miles to its daily range. Aptera didn't disclose precise performance specs, but they did say the Launch Edition will be capable of going from 0 to 60 mph in four seconds and on to a peak speed of 101 mph thanks to its three in-wheel electric engines.

A single charge would take the Aptera Launch Edition 400 miles, it claims. Aptera also states that you can get more than 13 miles of range per hour of charging from a 110 or 120V outlet, making it a viable alternative to solar power. The range for this model is 57 miles per hour when plugged into a 240-volt outlet.

Having received over 40,000 preorders, the brand claims to be moving into the fourth and final stage of developing the product. In doing so, the company will have finished its crash testing and certification, and if everything works as planned, it will soon ramp up to full-scale single-shift manufacturing, producing 10,000 cars annually. By 2028, the company says it plans to have eight assembly sites throughout the world and produce 20,000 cars annually.