Aptera Motors
 |
|
| Private company | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Fate | Liquidation |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Steven P. Fambro Chris L. Anthony |
| Defunct | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Carlsbad, California, United States |
|
Area served
|
California, USA |
|
Key people
|
Paul Wilbur (CEO) Marques McCammon (CMO) Tom Reichenbach, Chief Eng. |
| Products | Aptera 2e |
| Website | [N/A] |
| Aptera Mk-0 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Aptera Motors, Inc. |
| Production | no (technology demonstrator) |
| Assembly | United States |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Subcompact |
| Body style | 2-door three-wheeled car |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
Diesel: 9 kW (12 hp) Electric: 19 kW (25 hp) |
| Transmission | CVT |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 1,625 mm (64 in) |
| Length | 4,394 mm (173 in) |
| Curb weight | 386 kg (851 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | unnamed homebuilt prototype |
| Successor | Aptera 2e |
Aptera Motors was an American startup company seeking to manufacture high-efficiency road vehicles. Formerly known as Accelerated Composites, the company was based in Oceanside, California. The company was bought by a Chinese auto manufacturer in mid-2012 and reactivated as Zaptera USA as a going concern after having announced closure on December 2, 2011.
Aptera’s first product, a three-wheeled two-seater named the Aptera 2 Series, was under development. The fuel efficiency of 300 mpg‑US (0.78 L/100 km) when plugged in every 120 miles (190 km) would make it one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the world. This is without accounting for any fuel used for generating the power that charges the batteries. If that is provided for, the equation could stand significantly altered, depending on the source of the energy.
The name Aptera is Greek for “wingless,” a nod to their light-aircraft-inspired design and construction techniques, and is correctly pluralized either as 'Apterae' or ‘Apteras.’ However, Aptera Motors maintains that Aptera translates to “wingless flight.”
In January 2006, startup Accelerated Composites issued a press release detailing an automobile design that would get an estimated 330 miles per US gallon (0.71 L/100 km) at 65 mph (105 km/h).
The Mk-0 technology demonstrator was unveiled at the TED Conference in March 2007.
In August 2007, it was announced that Aptera was one of the first 30 participants in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize, where they were considered a front-runner in the alternate class. Aptera made it to the finals of the event in 2010, where they failed to finish the performance race due to a battery overload from the regenerative braking system. During validation, the competing vehicle was independently measured to have energy efficiency of 195 MPGe.
On April 22, 2008, Aptera announced that Neil Hannemann, who previously led a number of projects including the Dodge Viper, the Ford GT, and the Saleen S7, was hired as Senior Vice President of Program Management & Manufacturing.
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Wikipedia