Looking like a cross between something George Jetson might drive and a three legged helmet on wheels, the ultra-sleek and aerodynamic Aptera 2e most definitely stands out. Scheduled to debut this fall, the electric vehicle has a carbon composite construction that offers both a light overall weight as well as impressive structural integrity. In fact, the website touts three main features of the vehicle: aerodynamics, light weight, and safety. According to a review in Road and Track Magazine, “the 2e is scheduled to begin rolling off the Vista, California, assembly line this October for an as-yet-to-be-determined price between $25,000 and $40,000. Charge it overnight from your 110-volt home outlet, and it’s claimed to have a range of 100 miles…in the carpool lane, if you wish.” The ability to plug into a standard home outlet is an obvious and necessary convenience for potential buyers. As for the cost of charging the Aptera 2e, a fascinating article of a test drive by Jason Harper on Bloomburg.com says that “…cost per mile, based on a national average utility rate, is 2 cents” according to executives who were interviewed. It takes about 8 hours to charge.

Backed partially by Google.org and Idealab, Aptera has two facilities in California. The assembly plant is in Vista (just north of San Diego) and the composite factory is in Carlsbad. The story behind the formation of the company is interesting, as the following blurb from their website shows:

Traffic Jam Brainstorm

What do you do when you’re stuck in traffic? Some people talk on the phone, engage in elevated verbal communication or practice creative hand gestures. Our co-founder Steve Fambro used the time to drum-up a more efficient way to get from point A to point B.

Frustrated by being land locked in a sea of steel and asphalt, Steve dreamed of cruising past the masses in a vehicle that was safe enough to protect his new family, yet efficient enough to keep money in his pocket instead of feeding a gas pump.

The Solution

The idea was simple yet brilliant. Design a vehicle that follows nature and glides through the wind instead of pushing it. He was almost there, but there was something missing. The answer came when Steve met entrepreneur and boat builder Chris Anthony. Chris introduced Steve to a composite body system that enabled the vision to take shape.

Together, Steve and Chris carried their dreams to Pasadena, Calif. and the doorsteps of new business incubator Idealab and it’s founder Bill Gross. Gross saw the vision and seeded the team with the investment needed to make a dream become a business.

The Rest

With hope in hand and the future in mind, Steve and Chris recruited a couple of bright young engineers. The team brought form to philosophy and the result may very well be the most efficient production vehicle in the world – the Aptera 2e.

With innovative design and all-electric fuel efficiency equivalent to 200mpg, the Aptera stands apart as an instantly recognizable vehicle that could represent the future of transportation, much like the Toyota Prius did for hybrids.

- Justin Manger