Aptera Coming Back With A $34,000 Aerodynamic Trike, Maybe

A name from the distant electric past has returned. Or wants to, at least.

Aptera, a company that was on a mission to build its three-wheeled hyper-aerodynamic electric vehicle over a decade ago, is back. The reborn Aptera Motors Corp. website says that “more efficient transportation is coming soon” and offers a link for people to invest in the idea of an elegant, improved EV. The company is looking for $2.5 million in order to build three running prototypes that they will show to the public in 2020, according to IEEE Spectrum.

Now, why would anyone want to give money to a ten-year-old idea that has already failed once? Well, in the electric era, a decade is a long time, and the people involved – including some who were there the first time, like Chris Anthony and Steve Fambro – say that the technological improvements that EVs have seen in that team mean a new Aptera would be able to go up to 1,000 miles on a single charge from the 100-kWh battery.

Yes, 1,000 miles.

Aptera says that today’s EV aren’t efficient enough, but thanks to the extreme aerodynamic efficiency of the three-wheeled EV, it could reach that target. Aptera also says that the trike is “lightweight, strong, and fun to drive” and that the design is safe, with a “passenger safety cell stronger than that of any other vehicle on the road today.”

A WeFunder campaign for the new Aptera has so far raised $2,300, and it is offering better terms to the people who contribute some of the first $110,000 of the overall target. In the pitch to crowdfunders, Aptera says:

“With renewed vigor and access to better technologies, Aptera is back to establish an automotive brand that delivers the ‘future’. Our advanced designs lever aerodynamics, clever lightweight materials, and efficient drivetrains to create a product portfolio of outstandingly safe, efficient, long-range electric vehicles that are also a blast to drive.”

The current Aptera plan will see the company build 10,000 units a year by 2022. This would include “several variants of our 2 passenger+ vehicles.” Then, by 2024, the plan grows to introduce more variants and building 40,000 units per year. Buried down on the page the company says that it might sell its vehicles for between $34,000 and $59,000, with an average of $47,500.

So, that’s the new plan. Don’t feel bad if you’ve a long-time EV fan and some of this rings familiar. After going bankrupt in late 2011, rumors of Aptera’s revival popped up here and there. In 2013, for example, Zap (now there’s another name from the past) was going to bring it back as Zaptera. That never happened, but maybe the third time is the charm.