One of our favorite things to do is debunk the biggest myths and misconceptions about our solar electric vehicle, Aptera.
Myth #1 — A solar vehicle only makes sense for people who live in sunny areas.
While Aptera does thrive in high sun exposure areas, solar mobility is for everyone, not just those who live in warm climates. According to our calculations using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory data, even the gloomiest places like Seattle or Ireland would average about 8,000 miles of free solar-powered driving per year — That’s over half of the average yearly mileage for American drivers! You can check out how many free solar-powered miles you’ll get and how much money you’ll save on fuel based on your location and driving habits at aptera.us/savings-calculator.
And you can’t forget that Aptera comes equipped with a battery pack of up to 1,000 miles in range (depending on your configuration) so it can be plugged in just like any other EV.
Myth #2 — It’s inconvenient to charge.
If you’re like us at Aptera, you’re all about freedom and believe fast, efficient charging is part of the solution for sustainability in transportation. With Aptera, most people will be able to drive for months without having to plug in to charge — freeing up your time, saving money, and doing something good for the planet. When or if Aptera owners do have to plug in, we’re making the charging experience as ultra-efficient as our vehicles. With the adoption of the North American Charging Standard (formerly known as the Tesla connector) in our solar vehicles, you’ll have access to select Supercharger locations all around the US, and Tesla destination chargers at hotels and resorts. With a CCS adapter, you will have access to other popular charging networks like ChargePoint and Electrify America. Plus, at a roadside charging station, Aptera will charge at least twice as fast as other EVs on the market today.
Myth #3 — The cords at Superchargers don’t reach Aptera’s charge port.
Watch the video to find out!
Myth #4 — You can’t increase the amount of solar energy Aptera gets per day.
False! To harness as much energy from the sun as possible, you can maximize the solar exposure of your Aptera. While you can’t necessarily change the weather, you can change the level of sun exposure by parking in optimal locations and at optimal angles. The more cells that are exposed to sunlight the more Aptera will receive charge. We’re working on technology to show how much sun your Aptera is exposed to when parked, tips on finding optimal parking spaces and angles for maximum sun exposure, and more.
Myth #5 — Aptera’s wrapped exterior is not durable.
Because Aptera is partially wrapped, some people are concerned about the lifetime of Aptera’s exterior finish. Aptera vehicles will be wrapped where needed, just on the sides. There is no wrap on the top or bottom, where much of the potential damage to a vehicle takes place. We chose to finish Aptera with an extremely durable wrap because it is more environmentally friendly and eliminates approximately 98% of the need for a traditional painting process while offering essential UV protection to the composite body. We also hope people will find it easier to repair damages or switch out colors of their choosing. We expect Aptera’s film wrap to last 5 to 10 years in aggressive UV environments. We are testing with vendors now to set expectations and warranty.
We had so much fun dropping truth bombs with all of you. See ya next time!
Catch up on episode 1 here, and episode 2 here.