Aptera Motors' solar electric vehicle generated more than 40 miles of estimated solar range per day during independent testing at its Carlsbad facility.
The Carlsbad-headquartered company (Nasdaq: SEV) announced Thursday, Aug. 27, that German testing firm TÜV Rheinland, which has certified solar technology since 1982, conducted on-site measurements in July at Aptera's final assembly facility. Dr. Giorgio Bardizza, a TÜV Rheinland solar expert, measured energy from sunrise to sunset on three separate days, each with a different scenario, using calibrated instruments that tracked power where it entered the battery after conversion losses.
All three days exceeded the target.
The results topped Aptera's stated goal of 4.0 kilowatt-hours per day:
- Parked and untouched (fixed position, hatch closed, left alone all day): 4.23 kWh, an estimated 42 miles of solar range
- Repositioned once at solar noon: 4.40 kWh, an estimated 44 miles
- Rear hatch raised toward the sun: 4.75 kWh, an estimated 47 miles, achieved on the day with the least available sunlight
"The most exciting result is the day we simply parked the vehicle in the sun and let it do the work … We built this system because we believed the sun could do this much work, and now an independent lab has measured it," Co-CEO Steve Fambro said in the company's announcement.
The range estimates assume Aptera's targeted efficiency of 100 watt-hours per mile, a figure the company has not yet confirmed in production vehicles. The testing is an on-site witnessing service and does not constitute certification of the vehicle or compliance with any regulatory standard, according to the press release.
Aptera announced June 25 that internal testing had exceeded the 4 kWh daily target, topping out at 4.42 kWh. The company said at the time it had engaged a third-party lab to formally validate the results.
Co-CEO Chris Anthony called it "the high standard we're holding ourselves to as we move toward production." The company said further independent validation work is planned on additional vehicle performance metrics.
Actual daily solar contribution will vary with weather, location, parking orientation and season. The July test days reflected clear Southern California conditions.
Fambro is scheduled to appear on a panel at the Carlsbad Regional Community Summit on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa.
