Aptera’s Production-Intent Solar EV Hits the Mojave
Aptera Motors, the innovative solar EV startup, has released its latest monthly progress report, and it’s generating considerable excitement. The company shared footage of its production-intent validation vehicle undergoing real-world testing in the Mojave Desert. This marks another step forward in Aptera’s journey towards Series-produced EVs.
Aptera’s progress, while incremental, is notable considering the company’s long and evolving path, as well as the financial demands involved. The solar-powered vehicle continues to advance, and the company’s commitment to transparency, reflected in its monthly updates typically hosted by either one or both co-founders and co-CEOs, is appreciated.
Previously, updates pertaining to testing had been limited. Last October, Aptera released footage of its initial production-intent solar electric vehicle (SEV) traveling at low speeds around a parking lot. The arrival of the “production-intent validation vehicle” represents an especially important milestone.
Last month, Aptera took a refined and completed production-intent solar EV to a proving ground in the Mojave Desert, where core efficiency testing took place. Testing under real-world conditions revealed impressive results, as shared in Aptera’s February 2025 update.
Aptera conducted coastdown tests to measure the solar EV’s aerodynamic efficiency, rolling resistance, and powertrain losses. The validation vehicle’s deceleration time from 60 mph to a complete stop was particularly impressive, even while traveling uphill.
Aptera’s testing determined that the SEV’s coastdown distance is “significantly more than any other vehicle on the road today—gas or electric.” The company also conducted aerodynamic tuft testing to confirm that real-world airflow matched its computer simulations. These findings give engineers the data to fine-tune the SEV for maximum efficiency in its production version. Lastly, the vehicle underwent extensive highway drive cycle testing, covering hundreds of miles while closely monitoring energy consumption. The results aligned closely with the company’s predictions, according to Aptera.
Aptera co-founder and co-CEO Steve Fambro emphasized the importance of these results:
Our validation testing confirms that we’re on track to achieve our target energy consumption of roughly 100 Wh/mile—unlocking a level of efficiency that makes solar mobility possible in a way never seen before. What started as Matlab calculations is now coming to life on the road. This is the future of transportation.
Looking ahead, Aptera is already developing its next production-intent validation vehicle, targeted to be refined with reduced gaps, a design-intent weight, and optimized parts. The second validation SEV will return to the track for further testing, including a complete range test as well as determining real-world solar charging capabilities. Further updates are expected.
