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Watch: Aptera's solar EV hits Route 66 for a 300-mile road trip

By Abhimanyu Ghoshal
March 31, 2025
Watch: Aptera's solar EV hits Route 66 for a 300-mile road trip
Aptera took its solar EV out on a 300-mile road trip, taking Route 66 on its way from Flagstaff, Arizona, to Imperial Valley, California
Aptera took its solar EV out on a 300-mile road trip, taking Route 66 on its way from Flagstaff, Arizona, to Imperial Valley, California
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Aptera took its solar EV out on a 300-mile road trip, taking Route 66 on its way from Flagstaff, Arizona, to Imperial Valley, California
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Aptera took its solar EV out on a 300-mile road trip, taking Route 66 on its way from Flagstaff, Arizona, to Imperial Valley, California
The Aptera's lightweight body and aerodynamic design help it cover up to 40 miles a day on solar power alone
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The Aptera's lightweight body and aerodynamic design help it cover up to 40 miles a day on solar power alone
This is what the Aptera's interiors will eventually look like – simple and functional
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This is what the Aptera's interiors will eventually look like – simple and functional
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Some 20 years after it was first founded, San Diego, California-based startup Aptera has taken its solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) out on a proper 300-mile (~480-km) road trip – the first time it's been filmed doing so.

Co-CEO Steve Fambro set off in the company's production-intent vehicle from Flagstaff, Arizona, on to Route 66 all the way to Imperial Valley in California. Aptera says this journey represents a major step in validating its systems in real-world conditions.

In the video below, the Aptera solar EV really looks like something that dropped onto the freeway from beyond Earth's orbit. This vehicle is pretty close to what the company will build and ship, but the interiors still need a bit more work, with exposed components visible in the footage.

Aptera — The First Road Trip

Fambro notes that the car managed to hit 520-W charging in the sunniest weather of the day. The two-seater is designed to go up to 40 miles (64 km) per day without needing to plug in to recharge, thanks to 700 watts of solar panels along the roof and hood. For longer rides, the Launch Edition that will arrive first comes with a 400-mile (640-km) battery pack you can juice up with a charger; a massive 1,000-mile (1,610-km) battery option is also available.

This is what the Aptera's interiors will eventually look like – simple and functional
This is what the Aptera's interiors will eventually look like – simple and functional

Those figures are made possible by the Aptera's lightweight carbon fiber composite body, and aerodynamic design which makes for an ultra low drag coefficient that's lower than what you'd see on a land speed record car. It can hit a top speed of 101 mph (162 km/h) with its 201-peak-horsepower (150-kW) electric drivetrain.

The Aptera's lightweight body and aerodynamic design help it cover up to 40 miles a day on solar power alone
The Aptera's lightweight body and aerodynamic design help it cover up to 40 miles a day on solar power alone

Aptera successfully completed its first low-speed function test last November. With this road trip to prove its mettle done and dusted, it seems like it's nearly ready for prime time. The company says it's already racked up 48,000 vehicle reservations, with the Launch Edition coming in at US$40,000 apiece. It plans to begin producing a small number of units this year, and ramp up to building 20,000 cars a year by 2027.

Read more about everything that goes into the Aptera to make it go beyond any previous solar-powered car efforts in our detailed piece here.

Source: Aptera

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AutomotiveSolar PoweredElectric VehiclesAptera
11 comments
Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Abhimanyu has been a trusted voice in the science, technology, transport innovations, startup and AI spaces for more than a decade at several global outlets, including three and a half years as the managing editor at TNW. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Psychology and Sociology. When he's not writing about breakthroughs in science and tech, he's usually out motorcycling around South India.

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11 comments
F
APTERA: Goin' nowhere fast, goin' nowhere for the long haul.
Will a vehicle, fully ready for consumers, ever reach the market?
kakarot98
I applaud what they have done, but my understanding was that this vehicle was supposed to be significantly cheaper than 40,000 dollars USD. At this price point, its little more than a novelty. Within 5 to 10 years, almost every car manufacturer on the planet will have an EV that can go 400 miles on a charge. I get that it can provide daily driving mileage from the solar panels, but again, at this price, the competition is going to be very stiff. This needed to come out like 5 or 10 years ago like they originally had hoped to do...
guzmanchinky
Look way too crushable in a collision with even a medium sized car, let alone the giants that cruise the US' streets...
Trylon
Alas, where Aptera is concerned, "a little more work" means at least three years.
Komakai.Okane
I watched some of this video on Youtube a few days ago. The history lesson on America was a boring distraction from the point that they were driving around in the middle of nowhere, not really representative of how most owners will be using this machine. For a vehicle that's promised to be near production it was a big disappointment. Aptera, you best had stop the crappy PR and get any version of this machine in owners hands before the exhausted anticipation completely evaporates. The other electric vehicle manufactures are on your heals and your quickly going to be irrelevant, with no practical timetable for a next generation Plan B. All your eggs are in one basket.
johanschaller
"Life is a highway, I wanna ride it all night long...." Um,...
PAV
I want one, have wanted one for a couple of decades. I'm curious why he didn't have a passenger. I've always felt like this vehicle should have wings!
michael_dowling
This is what,their 3rd time at bat? Have been following this car from the beginning,and it is my fervent hope they make it to production this time.The concept is revolutionary,especially for long daily commutes. Got this from ChatGPT: Aptera's target pricing ranges from $28,000 to $55,000, with models ranging from 250 to 1,000 miles of range. We will begin production with the 400-mile range Launch Edition vehicle targeted at $40,000. For the daily high mileage commuter,you couldn't ask for a better alternative. Also got this from ChatGPT:
Yes, Aptera vehicles undergo rigorous safety and crash testing, including FMVSS and NHTSA tests, to ensure vehicle durability and reliability. Here's a more detailed explanation:
Rigorous Testing: Aptera adheres to industry-standard testing protocols to validate vehicle durability and reliability, including mileage accumulation, accelerated wear testing, and extreme environment evaluations.
Safety Focus: Safety is a top priority in the design and development of the Aptera, with the body structure crafted from advanced materials like Carbon Fiber Sheet Molding Compound for exceptional stiffness and strength. Crash Testing: The Aptera undergoes safety and crash testing, encompassing a range of real-world scenarios to ensure passenger safety and vehicle integrity. FMVSS and NHTSA Tests: The original Aptera passed the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests. Validation Process: Safety and crash testing are a crucial part of Aptera's validation process, ensuring long-lasting performance and peace of mind for drivers.
veryken
Definitely want one but totally undecided on how it could possibly fit my lifestyle. Will it be an urban run-about, parking in common areas with that kind of attention grab, day after day? Or will it be a long-distance cruiser that's missing capacity for luggage and passengers? Or is it the type of vehicle that depends on where you live, ideally owning some out-in-the-boonies, sustainable, sunny property?
guzmanchinky
@michael, there's more to crashes than hull integrity. Don't forget, when you crash into a wall, you are colliding with YOURSELF. If you put this up against a Ford Explorer, with double the mass, the occupants might be intact, but the deceleration forces (even acceleration BACKWARDS) will do INTENSE damage to organs and brains...
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