Electric vehicles are already part of the automotive present, but they will likely need an exemplary evolution for the future. There are other types of sustainable energies that could be the ideal complement to current technology. In Aptera Motorsa recently created American company, has a very groundbreaking commitment that wants to go one step further. They are testing a solar car prototype so efficient that it does not need plugs to recharge. And they seem convinced to take it to production.
This is a project that they have been developing for some time and is currently undergoing its first tests. It is very different from conventional cars, since it is a two-seater tricycle with very aerodynamic shapes covered in solar panels. It is not the first time that solar energy has been used in a vehicle, but has always had limitations. The Sono Sion, for example, was cancelled; while the Prius panels contributed in a fairly limited way.
The first thing was to ensure its efficiency, which is why it has such peculiar shapes. With the front wheels completely outside the body and completely covered, in addition to a teardrop-shaped cabin, a aerodynamic coefficient of 0.13 Cx. It is a notable difference compared to other production cars that are around 0.25 Cx at best. It also boasts of weighing 65% less than other current electric vehicles, with versions that They start at 816 kg.
The electric propulsion system, called EMR3, has a power of 204 HP and 310 Nm of torque. Although it is not too much, the low weight allows it to accelerate from 0 to 96 km/h in 4 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 162 km/h. The key is that several versions are proposed with batteries ranging from 42 kWh to 100 kWh. With the smallest one it could already reach 644 kilometers of autonomy, but with the largest one reaches up to 1,600 kilometers.
Furthermore, it is true that it would not be necessary to plug it in in most cases. This possibility still exists, but with the solar panels that cover its body it is capable of generating some 64 kilometers of autonomy additional per day. For many it would be enough to cover their daily commute, and they would always have the extra energy stored in the batteries. In the United States, reservations are already accepted and it is announced from a price of $30,700 the most basic.
