Solar Powered Cars Are Here - But Can They Go Mainstream?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 พ.ค. 2024
- Three companies, Sono Motors, Aptera Motors and Lightyear are all developing solar electric vehicles that are set to hit the European and U.S. markets over the next few years. While these cars have regular, lithium-based batteries that can be charged using electricity from the grid, they also contain integrated solar panels which can provide an additional 15-45 miles of range on a sunny day. As the technology develops, many see the potential for solar electric vehicles to gain wider adoption as EV manufacturers and consumers alike seek greater efficiency and range alongside a decreased dependence on the grid.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:18 Chapter 1: History of solar cars
3:45 Chapter 2: Solar cars today
8:38 Chapter 3: The future
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Solar Powered Cars Are Here - But Can They Go Mainstream?
If you're an efficiency nut, Aptera is the clear choice!
The Aptera shocked me the moment i heard it, it was a normal night just like any other and i had the same shower thought bugging me, Solar powered cars. Last time i checked it was "unviable" or whatever, but when i searched it up again (Early 2022 i think?) I stumbled upon the Aptera, 1000 miles!?! Thats absurd! Thats 1600 kilometres! I can drive from Toronto to Quebec city and back on a single charge! and the price is fantastic!!!!
Truly amazing.
Too bad the solar charging part would be a challenge in eastern Canada. Here in Arizona, I can't imagine ever having to charge the thing as long as you parked it outside. Solar cars are going to make garages unfashionable :-)
@@jmccoomber1659 Yah idk, passively charging is still a good idea and while it may only be worth it during the summer here don't forget it's still a plug in for winters.
@@Nabee_H In the winter, you can put reflectors on the side while it is parked. Note, it has to be colder to do this, because too much heat damages solar panels.
@@jmccoomber1659 that seems really interesting. I wonder whether it would make sense to pay for a parking spot to charge your Solar EV. 😅
I've been tracking Aptera for years, they definitely deserve more exposure.
I got into an argument online with someone about this dumb looking "car." I researched them to prove what an idiot he was and now have reservations for two cars and have invested a few thousand in the company.
Yeah they definitely need more solar exposure lol.
@@robertd9850 nice! Someone with the ability to change their mind! Kudos!
@@robertd9850 yes I believe you
@@robertd9850 If true, i respect you
Aptera is the coolest and best by far
“It comes in any color, so long as it’s black.” - Sonos 😂😂😂
The Ford Model-T classic
Correct! Light black, dark black, ebony black, true black, depending on the angle of the sun's rays.
comes with a free black cat as pet with every purchase! 🐱👍🏿
Solar panels on vehicles are the future. And thanks to everyone who promotes such projects. We also produced a series of golf carts last year that travel up to 41 km per day exclusively on solar energy in the summer and just over 20 km in late autumn. This practically made it possible to use this type of transport purely on solar energy.
I found this video "Solar Golf Car up to 40 km per day only with solar power. Slavyanka Technology"
th-cam.com/video/UBInO_GXGEo/w-d-xo.html
And this video - Solar Golf Car - 40 - th-cam.com/video/JhtiKo_B_ls/w-d-xo.html
Went to your site, very nice things there! My favorite conversion type is big old riding lawn mowers. The efficiency of making it electric is astounding. I have not seen one with a solar roof though. I have seen others do the golf carts. it is like they were already designed for it with the existing roofs!
Can you elaborate on how you achieved these results?
@@Engines_of_Progress The solar panel is 410 watts, the frame of the golf cart itself is made entirely of aluminum, that is, the weight of the golf cart is reduced. But most importantly, we use high-torque motors with increased efficiency. In the video that you saw on my channel, there is a moment where two golf carts are pulled. So on the standard one there is the same motor in size, but the controller is 310A, and mine is with 275A. But in terms of torque, it excels. People may say a question about speed, but just in terms of speed, my golf cart is faster compared to 35 km/h to 48 km/h. But all trips were completed at normal golf course speeds. During the first test at the end of November, from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, we drove 11.5 km, and at the same time, the voltage did not drop, but increased by 0.4 V, compared to the beginning of the test. That is, in 3.5 hours we drove 11.5 km without using energy. In the afternoon, the panel gradually begins to reduce the amount of energy produced. Therefore, the stop time is increased so that the charge remains at the same level, and so on up to 20 km distance, per day in the month of November. In summer it is much higher and instead of 220.240 watts, the panel gives out almost to its maximum, and the day is sunny longer than in November.
This is going to be huge in Arizona, New Mexico, etc…
I think it could be, but they have to get them into production. Fingers crossed.
Most people really only need 20mi/day
Good luck with powering that AC off solar. You'll be left with nothing for driving.
I assume you have to keep the car parked outside at all times? Putting it in a garage means you get no benefit from the sun. Great, so your car is now much more likely to be vandalized or stolen.
@@financeroyce474 I think it's closer to 40.
Preordered an aptera back in July. I am very excited for the future of solar vehicles. it feels straight out of science fiction
I've had a preorder for an Aptera for quite awhile now. I'm really excited for it!
The visibly aerodynamic Aptera certainly is the most appealing modern vehicle pointing towards the future. It's probably the most elegant vehicle of a time period since the legendary Citroën DS.
Look up the Elio car. This design isn’t anything new. A company even made a street legal f1 car that looks like this. The issue is, and always will be, the surface area of the vehicle. Unless you leave your car in direct sunlight for several days before driving it, these solar panels are useless. They are a marking gimmick.
@@AtillatheFun Using Aptera's full solar option during 10 years saves the owner about $ 3000 in electricity (or more if electricity prices will go up, which most likely will happen). If not flushing $ 3k down the toilet is just a marketing gimmick for you, well then be it so!
@@charangohabsburg1 You can also stop being lazy and save more by taking transit, walking, or doing this crazy thing called “riding a bike”. You would save thousands more and it would be great for the environment, unlike electric cars.
Are you serious? No one will want to be seen in that car except eccentrics and woke hipsters.
@@AtillatheFun The Elio is not as aerodynamic as the Aptera and more importantly, *it wasn't even an electric car.* What exactly is your point?
My Aptera reservation # is something under 80, excited to see this exposure!
My research tells me the Aptera is the blue-ribbon holder. More efficient, better priced, and bleeding edge engineering, which should result in very low to no maintenance, extremely safe, designed as a formula one race car, with a monocoque carbon fiber body stronger than steel by a factor of 6- or 7-times tensile strength of steel. Lightyear comes in a second place, but the Sono is much more in line price wise.
Got my Aptera on preorder. probably gonna be a couple years but worth it
Same, I'm guessing 2025 at the very earliest before I see it though. That's if they truly get off the ground, I'm still questioning if they'll be able to raise the money. Given the financing headwinds in today's environment, and a very possible recession/depression on the horizon, timing might be a significant challenge.
Cost of solar panels on cars, including the glass, will come down so eventually they will be standard equipment on all cars. However, all cars will be charged traditionally too.
There are also solar panels in the development stage than are much more efficient. Aptera has designed its vehicles so the panels can be replaced with more efficient ones as progress is made.
Mostly all from China.
China burns coal to make solar panels.
@@gregsz1ful So?
@@gregsz1ful What's your point?
The future is looking bright, my friends!
As bright as the sun!
The Aptera model looks the most intriguing to me. Simple nothing fancy and low cost. Most people don't need much room or a huge truck to commute. I can see this taking of
“Most people don't need much room or a huge truck to commute.”
And yet, so many people use bigger vehicles like pickup trucks and SUVs s as their daily commuter vehicles when it’s just them and their lunch box (if even that much). Why? From what I gather, it’s one of two reasons: either they want to appear more capable/hard-working/generally-superior, or they think it makes them look more masculine specifically. Very rarely does it have anything to do with actually using what the vehicle is capable of, it’s more about image. And because the Aptera doesn’t fit the “macho/masculine” aesthetic, the main adopters for that will be those who are already looking to trade up from another EV. And of course those who choose to stick to ICE vehicles will still pull the same BS to trash these new solar EVs, as they currently use to say that modern EVs can’t do what they need them to (even when that’s just a bold-faced lie).
@@jacobcarlson4010 most people with trucks are SUVs and up using that space if they have families. It doesn't make financial sense to buy a small car for commuting and a big car for the family, it makes more sense to buy one car that does everything you need. And we are a long way off from electric vehicles being viable for towing as their ICE counterparts. The problem with gas is that even though you're only getting like 25% of the energy out of it, it's so energy dense that it still has more energy than an electric vehicle using 80% of its stored energy. Eventually ev batteries will be smaller and more energy dense, and the nice thing about buying an electric car now is that when you eventually replace the batteries you'll have a bigger tank than when you started, But the ticket still way behind what current technology offers in the ICE space because it's had decades of evolution versus maybe two decades of evolution for EVs. I'm really excited for the future of this technology.
Finally some recognition from Mainstream Media, well done CNBC, Aptera all the way!!!
This is the direction EV design needs to go -- high efficiency and solar assist. Aptera uses only 100Wh per mile as compared to today's SUV/Truck EVs that use 600-700Wh per mile requiring larger, heavier and more expensive battery packs. Aptera gets 250 miles range from a tiny 25kWh battery pack, 400 miles from a 40kWh (about half the size of today's EVs). Then its solar-assist provides up to 40 miles/day of "free" propulsion. That's over double my daily commute, which means I may never have to charge until a long trip. I just reserved one.
In southern Arizona, we would always park under one of the few trees in a parking lot, to avoid baking the car in the desert sun. But with these solar vehicles, you'd want to avoid any shade whatsoever. Park outside the garage, in the open, and just soak up that energy. It's a great idea and when they can get solar windows working, and maybe panels on top of the car that open out and add a few square feet of collection, these things will be quite practical, especially in sunnier climates.
What if you put a lamp over the car so it recharges itself 🤯
@@therapgame1091 that would be a perpetual motion machine :D
Also here in the Sonoran Desert and, yes, the best parking spaces during the summer months have traditionally been the ones not nearest the the store's entrance, but the shady ones at the opposite end of the lot. That's where I park my EV now. But with a solar EV (I've got my eyes on the Sion and know a few who already have Aptera reservations,) I'd be on the constant outlook for unobstructed Sun-drenched parking year round.
I hope these manufacturers are taking into account that you'd also want cabin air conditioning to be operating while the car is parked, locked and basically turned off. I'd gladly give up a few miles of solar-generate range if I knew I could get into my Sun-exposed car on a 110° F day and not instantly melt into the seat. Transparent glass that generates its own electricity is already a thing, but I'm guess still prohibitively expensive for now, especially in the shatter-proof automotive spec variety. Demand will dictate the mainstreaming of that tech as well.
Instead of avoiding the top level on parking decks, people will place a premium on them and likely have to pay accordingly.
I reserved an Aptera. I want my fish car.
I reserved two, one to drive and one to sell.
🐠
I put 120W of solar panels on my ICE vehicle. My alternator pretty much only runs on long road trips where the solar panels can't keep up and the battery is running low. It saves on gas, I never have to worry about a jump start, I can keep a car refrigerator in there without worrying about the battery dying, I'm ready for any camping or emergency power needs...
I put a nuclear reactor in mine. It's pretty cool.
@@robertd9850 Mr. Fusion?!?
Do you have a pic of it? I'd like to see how that looks. Do you have an Instagram account or other social media where you have a picture of the car?
@@JJs_playground No, I don;t want this getting out. Pretty volatile technology to deal with and most people, including myself, have no idea what we;re doing.
You should make a video on it!
This should be supported 101% by all people.
I like the Sion design and the 45kwh battery with 190 mile range. Suggests it is a bit over 2 watts per mile. Very impressive given the body shape. I have wanted an Aptera for 15 years. 38 years ago I dreamed of something like this being possible. I hope everyone who wants one gets that opportunity. Chris was thinking of making 3-4 thousand a year doing hand layup of aircraft quality composites. They have gotten so many reservations they had to find a better method to make the body and a new way to use carbon fibers came on the market. And that technology will bring carbon fiber structural parts down in price. Plus both these companies support the right to repair!! [correcting should have been 200W not 2]
Too much demand is the best kind of problems
@@my2cents795 agree! Never look a gift horse in the mouth. Learn to live with it.
0.23kilowatt (230watts) per mile
That’s pretty good but I was expecting it to be better since the Hyundai Kona previous generation was getting 4 mi./ kilowatt hour
@@TristenHernandez Are you ta&lking about the Aptera or the Sono ?
Who cares about what investors think. It’s about doing the right thing for the planet. I’ve been wanting a solar panel car since I was a kid! It’s about damn time! 🙏
Investors are the ones that supply the $ to get things going to they drive advancements. If you always wanted it have you been working on it?
@@ctighe2353 yeah I completely understand that but if they don’t want to invest in a company then progress cannot be made. And that’s why it hasn’t made the progress that it should been decades ago…I remember watching reading rainbow around 1991 in class, kindergarten, and seeing a that roach looking solar car doing that Australian race. It was fascinating! It’s now 2022 and we have barely scratched the potential of the panels.
Aptera 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. Faster than a BMW M3 for 30k. Sign me up!
I used to be on a solar racing team that competes in the Australian challenge. It’s still a long way to commercialisation. Plus it works with lightweight bodies but not necessarily the safest or practical.
Already reserved an aptera
Hugely excited for this especially 1,000 mile range and 3.5 second 0 to 60.
Amazing
15 miles a day would cover my daily round trip to work, home and some light shopping.
Wouldn't a souped up E-bike with a lightweight, aerodynamic trailer do similar?
I love these ideas, especially easying the strain the grid. So long as there is a backup way to charge. The sun can be hidden for many days in many areas of the world.
It would be amazing to see this technology implemented more into EVs. Thanks for sharing.
Sion is cool with LFP battery and bidirectional charging. 25000 excl. VAT is a very good price for a family car.
Still time to invest in aptera at 10/share. 💰
U folks at CNBC do a great job on these EV and auto-related “series” stories - topical and informative. Please produce more.
We need these made in right-hand-drive for markets like Australia and New Zealand.
Daily driving for free on stored sunlight with fast charging on long distance trips sounds viable.. eventually EVs will be competing on not just the total range of the battery but also the daily bonus miles from onboard solar, since many people only travel a dozen miles or so most days if at all, and that's not accounting for times when the car might sit parked for several days of free solar charging between shopping trips.
If one got the 1000 mi range Aptera version, to be honest, even without Solar panels, you wouldn't be charging much or that often.
They can go MAINSTREAM if cheap enough to buy.
With how cheap and better solar is getting and with how they can now integrate solar into surfaces without even looking like a solar panel, I think it's only a matter of time before many EV carmakers integrate solar into their cars.
For many, it could reduce how much energy they need for charging it up or not need any at all for the ones that don't use their cars that much and because of how cheap solar is getting and how it can be applied to almost anything, I wouldn't be surprised over the next decade if a lot of tech gadgets that we buy have solar on them to either extend their life or to fully charge them.
That Sion car looks the best one and mainly because of the price point which is key to adoption, a lot of the others are just too expensive to make any real difference in the market, but once they can make cars that most consumers can afford, that's where the real game changer can be and the Sion is hitting that market, assuming it's mileage on solar is as they say.
Another advantage of that car is that it actually looks like a car whereas some of the others look like a spaceship from the future, the key to adoption is to use new tech on designs that we are a custom too and this is why the Sion looks the more promising to me, it looks like a car and the price point is reasonable, if it delivers on the miles as the company says, it could become a game changer as long as they keep the price point low for the average consumers to afford.
Apteras are nice addition to BEV 🚗. But don't fud facts, today one can drive using solar power alone by owning any number of EVs, have solar panels at home. Electrons is the same if you send it to the grid at peak, then at night pump it from the grid in your EV, at half price. With home 🔋, even better.
What about the 100s of millions of apartment dwellers?
@@shinequashie393 Nimbus. The packs can be brought up and charged in your living room. Not a perfect solution but could definitely work for some. Public level 2 needs to be expanded massively (more important than level 3 DCFC)
Agreed. There's the added benefit that I'm relying on one energy source (electricity) and I'm producing it myself. If the grid goes down I don't have anything to worry about other than how full my home battery is so I know when to charge the car.
@@madcow3417 If the grid goes down, especially as in permanently, it is most likely because of a strong Solar storm combined with the earth's ever faster weakening magnetic field (which is like a shield against those energies).
Hate to break it to you, but such Solar events will likely take out home Solar systems. It will burn up the wires via induction. It's possible, I suppose, to extra shield them, so that this will be less likely to happen. As regards that, alternating wraps of insulators and conductors is a way to shield the wires.
@@justinw1765 I thought that solar storms were really only dangerous for long runs of wire, like telegraph wires during the Carrington Event. With space weather prediction it should be possible to know ahead of time to detach from the grid.
This is awesome for students - I drive 5,000 miles a year and most of the time the car just sits in the parking lot, in the sun.
Never going to be cheap enough for students.
@@PistonAvatarGuy Aptera starts at $25,900. Perfect car for students. Even has a camping option.
Does anybody know if you can still invest in Aptera?
Yes, go to their web page
I have a reservation for an Aptera!!’ Can’t wait!’
Thanks a lot CNBC for updating us about the great Australian Solar Challenge. I was wondering what happened to all those innovative cars showcased there! Great to hear that Lightyear comes from that experience!
These will be perfect for surviving a zombie apocalypse
Yes, when the drivers of these cars are getting eaten on the side of the road by zombies you'll be able to get away quickly in a combustible engine car
@@chiquita683 only until you need to refill at the next gas station that's occupied by zombies
Combustion engines would be a liability. Zombies would always hear you. EVs are silent and require little maintenance. Solar will help you stay away from charging stations and keep you silent and hidden.
Cuz they don't make noise!
The cost over the lifetime of the car and even a conservative estimate of energy gained over 3+ years of driving is a much bigger selling point than on a per day analysis. I love the idea of trickle charging my car simply by being outside (Florida in my case).
I’m on the waitlist for Aptera, but I don’t expect the company will be around to deliver. Problem is that costs have risen dramatically since the car was announced. Not sure if the company is big enough to absorb the costs. Perhaps next time.
That last part is the most important. Governments can use personal transports that are actually just mobile batteries that plug into the city grid. Solar panels on buildings, roofs, and structures throughout the city. Three wheel transports are the future for sure
I love the lightyear. Will buy stock as soon as available and will buy the $30,000 version of the car.
I definitely drive at least 150 miles a day so definitely interesting to me to add back in some miles so I don’t have to stop at a super charger on way home. Most cases I stop to charge my car for like 15 minutes and then finish charging at home.
This will open up every square mile in the entire USA! People can affordably drive anywhere.
I love that they're pushing solar to the limit on cars. Clearly, this has a long way to go. 15 miles a day, or 5,500 miles a year from the sun, is not enough to justify the costs you'll pay for this technology and, more importantly, the amount you'll pay to fix it when someone crashes into you. If we assume a gas car getting a combined 35mpg and $4 a gall for gas, 5,500 miles would cost roughly $630. We all know any car with solar panels all over it is going to cost an additional $15K. You'd have to drive it 24 years just to break even.
But again, let's see where this goes. Personally, I'd prefer induction charging. You park you car, walk away and it's charging from plates under the road, just like when you put your toothbrush in its holder and it starts charging. This technology already exists. We just need it everywhere. Then, the country needs to build more solar farms to reduce our fossil fuel profile. Good stuff.
They are a great choice in a more rural infrastructure environment. the challenge I see is in places like Japan or China where cars generally parked underground. In Suzhou i park underground at my apartment and at my work. This would mean I could capture power only during the driving to and from work. I love the concept of this idea, but have to admit the challenges also.
I love that George Jetson looking Aptera.
Could be nice to see this on a larger scale in the future with full solar capabilities, it would be best if you have a nice sunny parking spot at work/school/etc. then you can get it charged throughout the day and have a nice green ride home
I have read some poignant as well as stupid comments.
These vehicles are not claiming they will work with just their solar cells. Some people will have to use charging stations depending on their mileage requirements. Lastly, these vehicles are not for everyone's lifestyle and situations.
Love the concept, but seems any number of accidents would render the vehicle inoperable and/or totaled. I mean a simple fender bender for the average car, would be tragic for some of these cars that has chargers in the front, panels on the side body, or motors in the wheels. I'm guessing they designed in best case and not for the hazards of driving in areas like Los Angles, or NYS, or where there are bad potholes and other obstacles to navigate through. Again, love the concept, but I feel some of these designs are lacking.
techincally theres no reason why solar panels cant be flexible even if the surface isnt
Elaphe´, the manufacturer of the hub motors, has tested them extensively under brutal conditions. The motors are durable. They might be torn off in a collision, but could still be reused once the damaged subframes have been replaced.
An accident that damaged the hub motor on an Aptera or Lightspeed would also destroy the wheel and/or suspension on a traditional car. The electronics are no more vulnerable than the coolant or other system on ICE vehicles and body damage may damage the solar panels but those can be replaced and the car is still operational even if it may need to be plugged in more often. So your arguments dont make much sense.
On the Aptera at least, the solar panels are designed in a way that they can be cracked/damaged and still function at high capability. These use a powder version of Solar panel tech for that reason.
How about an update on the Aptera? I have an early reservation on the 600 mile version but they are prioritizing the 400 mile version.
Solar-powered cars sound like a great idea. But how much to buy, fix,maintenance etc? Does it have heaters, air circulation. Possibly thoese 1970's triangle air pusher windows that take outside air and use it internally.
They need to make an unfolding solar roof to increase the surface area by 2-3x more when parked at a wide open space.
I already have 2 Apteras on preorder
0:19 looks like a scene from gtav , a person in the trunk. darn! merryweather :D
Seems like they need to be hybrids. They can harvest solar energy enough to heat up some conductive metals, and cars can generate friction heat to make electrons flow. Modern anti corrosion materials now allow salt water and conductive metal to make electricity as well.
Can't wait for Aptera. Hoping for a "blanket" or something to shade the windows so it's not blistering hot after parking in the sun
One of their videos said the HVAC system will automatically insure that the car gets no hotter than outside air temp while parked.
@@billman5379 That would be a fantastic solution...but now I wonder how much of the power from the panels is "wasted" on the HVAC.
Nice video
I mean, it is a good theoretical idea, but in the end, it's batteries that are holding us back, if we made a battery efficient enough then we can say drive 2x more for the same amount of fossil fuels. It's all about efficiency, I was in electrical engineering for multiple years and I made a project about the theoretical idea of solar powered cars, designed my own and everything, but when you crunch the numbers, it's a very weak idea because the weather can change it's efficiency. At least we're starting different ideas, but we still need to work on what we have currently and hopefully we'll find a solution in 50 years because that's all the time we got to reduce climate change caused by fossil fuels
I want one. Bring this to South Africa please
It's been an uphill battle but worth all the effort.
It's not a matter of can anymore. It's not even a matter of when. The question now is really is in how many ways. Solar panels now are cheaper, lighter, more flexible and can even be made transparent. So EVs in the next 3 years will start to have solar panels. It's just a question of where nad how OEMs want to put them in.
Unless density is significantly improved, solar on cars will be a joke.
@@AtillatheFun density of what?
@@insolidusyt Solar cells.
@@AtillatheFun Still not sure what you're talking about. Solar cells aren't chips that you can make smaller and fit more into the same area. You make them better by increasing their efficiency, not density.
An issue I see is how they talk about few people traveling longer distances in a day
I routinely travel 40-60 miles a day. I also don't see talk about the capacity of the vehicles. If the vehicle can only carry the person and nothing else is it really a convenient solution?
The Sono and Lightyear vehicles are four or five seaters. The Aptera is a two seater, with a 28 cubic foot trunk.
@robertkirchner7981 I've flown in airplanes where 3 seats would fit in a 2 seat area and years ago traveling with my brother on a trip his "5 seat" car I was just about crushed in the seat area
Also 28 cubic feet sounds like a lot but that's not a lot of space. Roughly the size of a 55 gallon drum and that doesn't say anything about physical weight it can carry
I'm not knocking alternative vehicles but it's like when Tesla was commenting on hiw fast their electric semis could get to 55mph but says nothing about what it can carry
@@cliffcorson4000 Take another look at the videos of folks riding in the Aptera. Chris is in the neighborhood of 6 foot. Jack Sparrow of Fully Charged said he was comfortable in it too and he’s 6’8”! Looks amply spacious to a more average sized guy like me.
Two seaters are nothing new either. The Aptera also looks to be more spacious than any other two seater I can think of.
Very cool.
Okay so, Lightyear One and Sono Sion will basically come from the same factory. Interesting.
Replacement to public transport specifically a trampway spread across city. Instead of increasing consumption of already depleting resources.
In the USA, the average vehicle carries 1.5 passengers and average distance driven, 35 miles per day. I would like to see modular EVs, starting with 2 seats and modular batteries that starts at at range of 100 miles. The vehicle carrying capacity and range can be rented to add for the rare occasion people need to carry more or drive further distance. This would free resources to make more EVs and drive down the cost.
AWESOME BRO!!!!!
0:19 How many of you noticed the person in the trunk? 😆
This looks so promising. I can’t wait to go from be stuck in California traffic behind a Tesla to eventually behind an Aptera. The future looks so bright.
😂
@0:18 Do I see two people riding in the trunk???
I wish the Sono would have more regenerative braking ability. Only 50KW
i love the design of abtera, but sadly it does NOT look accident-safe
Nice balanced report. Thanks
Intresting that the motors in the wheels are a new design choice. Considering how bad some roads are in the US... yeah i could see that design not holding up over time.
Apparently, it was pretty much never adopted because it would significantly increase the weight of the car. Aptera and Lightyear made their cars so efficient, that they could pull of the trick and because of that made their cars even more efficient.
My main concern is the safety of the vehicle in a crash. Lightweight is great and all for range but if I am in an accident all of that means nothing to me.
They have passed all the same certifications as any other car on the roads.
I drive a gen 1 Honda Insight. Well, I drive it occasionally. Refuel it twice a year. It's only to get around town and use it as a shopping trolley.
A two seater solar car putting 10 miles a day into the battery would do just fine.
However it's the other costs that need to be addressed. Should my insurance really be the same as a person who drives hundreds of miles per week?
Should my road tax be the same as a long distance driver?
I think not. Cost of ownership currently encourages maximum use of the car. This needs to change.
4:12 "This car comes in any color as you like, as long as it is black", i'm skeptic that this guy didn't know that's a phrase that Henry Ford the First said. I was hopping to someone in the video giving credit where credit is due.
He did know, Henry's comment is a too well known for that. He said it jokingly as it is as fitting as what Henry said. But perhaps he should have said it in a different way that would have given more credit to Henry.
@@zaros1781 That's my point. We agree.
"15 to 45 miles in a sunny area", depending on what you buy. Converting to real-life scenarios, with a/c on a usual summer day in "sunny areas", on-board computers and even fckn shade. And cities are being designed to provide as much shade as possible. Or even not summer.
All-in-all, a super cool and advanced tiny city commuter or a end-of-the-week groceries celebration. Definitely beats the e-corkinet swag.
How much?
Needs a light year factory
Disclaimer; storage under shade or enclosed structures, such as garages or carports, not recommended
5:50
I have a question!?
Okay... if solar cars can run independently on the solar panels alone...
And they have rechargeable batteries to accommodate the energy consumption level when boosting an engine for more power...
How much of the solar power is going back into the batteries when the car isn't running?
And another question...
I have noticed that electric vehicles are charging much faster now at charging stations ...
Does that mean solar power cars also feature this fast charging system to their process?
If so ...
That makes sense if it did have a fast charge .... you could drive 200 miles, grab some lunch , let it charge in the sun , then continue for another 200 miles ... and once it's normalized the tech should improve to eventually be able to charge from the night sky too.
All mentioned and future solar cars do run on battery, not on solar. Solar does only do some of the charging of the battery. And it does supply the AC, radio and other stuff. So the charge of the battery does last longer.
They all can be charged like every regular EV. You just don't have to do it as often.
I wouldn't get a Sion because black is hard to see at night, compared to the white Lightyear 2.
Sell it in Indonesia. We have sunlinght the whole year for 12 hours a day. 270 Millions population. And silica sand source can get from here for the source of solar panels.
this is like those solar powered torches that only REALLY work if you charge them up from the wall periodiccally
Super!
If you can create a car that can commute say 5-8 miles a day, 5 days a week, indefinitely, solely from solar, then absolutely put solar panels on it.
Someone was lying down in the trunk of the aptera?! Lol
It might have to be hybrid electric or hybrid hydrogen or all combined to be successful in the future with solar
Seems some workable option,
This is actually need of the hour, who will not purchase a car for daily commuting which is Costing less and no fuel required.
The world is yours my dear Solar cars Manufacturers
They cannot use solar panels to fully power shorter drives. They can't begin to generate enough electricity from solar quickly enough to power the vehicles in real time. What the solar does is kind of top off the tank when the car is parked and the sun is out.
this is true - over maybe 450 miles of driving you’ll only generate 50 or so in solar. it’s still a big deal, but it’s definitely not enough to power the car alone
Yeah so those that live in northern states or prefer to park their car under a roof, shop elsewhere.
@@vinny9152 Pretty much.
That's still pretty cool. As someone with an older short-range EV, it would be helpful if it could sit there charging in the sun while I'm at work, even if we're just talking about another 10-15 miles.
@@robertcowher I know. I have reservations for two Apteras.
I guess manufacturers see this as a feature to hold back to entice existing EV owners to upgrade.
Amazing very exciting
I can't wait.
I truly hope Aptera with sir Munro would be successful even though it only has 3 wheels which what turns everybody off and is quite expensive compared to Model 3. They should wait until it has four wheels before they sell it, I deeply pray, fast & deeply hope.
God bless.
? Cheapest version of a Model 3 starts at about 47, 000. Cheapest version of an Aptera starts at about 26, 000. That's a full 21 thousand cheaper for the Aptera. I'm confused by your statement in light of this?
And 3 wheels vs 4 also has some benefits. Less rolling resistance, easier to achieve more aerodynamic shape, less weight, less insurance and overall cost (because of regulatory hurdles/factors). These are all good things for electric vehicles in particular.
From what I've seen of tests, the Aptera still handles pretty well and nimbly. My only issue would be winter/snow driving. 4 wheel drive vs 3 wheel drive is better in the snow.