Aptera Motors has announced the successful completion of real-world testing for its solar electric vehicle in California’s Mojave Desert. The announcement, made on February 28, 2025, marks a significant milestone for the production-intent model of the vehicle. Following this phase, the company plans additional rigorous tests to assess aerodynamics and solar charging capabilities before moving to the production stage.
The Mojave Desert tests followed up on earlier testing conducted at Aptera’s workshop in San Diego, California. In this most recent phase, the team focused on measuring the car’s aerodynamic, rolling, and powertrain losses. The company noted that coastdown testing is a standard industry method used to evaluate a vehicle’s efficiency in moving through air and along the road. During the Mojave Desert trials, the solar electric vehicle decelerated from 60 mph to a complete stop in over three minutes, even while traveling uphill. Aptera stated that “this coastdown distance is significantly more than any other vehicle on the road today, gas or electric.”
Following the distance tests, Aptera performed aerodynamic tuft testing on the solar electric vehicle. This technique helps visualize airflow across the vehicle’s surface. The team attached tufts to the wheel fairings and other gaps on the vehicle. The results confirmed that real-world airflow matched Aptera’s comprehensive computer simulations, enabling engineers to fine-tune the vehicle’s fittings and finishes.
Subsequently, the Aptera team conducted an extended highway-drive-cycle test. They drove the solar electric vehicle for hundreds of miles to monitor its energy consumption. This allowed the team to validate that their “mathematical simulation model predicts real-world efficiency within just a few percent, a major validation of the vehicle’s aerodynamics, drivetrain, and overall design.”
Aptera’s next validation solar electric vehicle is already under development. The focus is on refining key areas, such as improving the fit and flush around vehicle gaps, and achieving a design weight profile using optimized parts. Once this new vehicle is ready, the team intends to begin another round of rigorous testing, including driving the vehicle from a fully charged battery to complete depletion.
