Aptera's Solar-Powered EVs Take Another Step Toward Production (sdbj.com)
- Reference: 0180308447
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/12/06/0840202/apteras-solar-powered-evs-take-another-step-toward-production
- Source link: https://www.sdbj.com/technology/clean-tech/aptera-goes-public-moves-toward-production/
"The [2]validation line will set a technical foundation for the company's eventual low-volume assembly line, ensuring that manufacturing processes are optimized and refined, particularly for the company's composite body structure."
> To date, Aptera has produced three validation vehicles, two of which are in use driving around the San Diego region, with plans to build another 10 in the coming weeks as progress continues on the validation manufacturing line. "You learn things when you start to put miles on vehicles, putting 10s of thousands of miles on these validation vehicles and learning a lot from the durometer of the suspension, ride quality, spring rates and braking pressure," Aptera co-founder and co-CEO Chris Anthony said. "We've been able to incorporate a lot of the usability stuff back, but also, just as we've gone through the process of building these, a lot of order-of-operation stuff that's educated us on what's going to make for the best initial assembly lines," he added....
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> Aptera made its [3]public debut on October 16, with the company's executive team participating in [4]the Nasdaq closing bell ceremony that evening . Shares of SEV have hovered between $6.50 and $8.50 for much of the company's first month on the exchange. The company's equity line of credit also took effect in mid-November... expected to aid in Aptera generating at least a portion of the $65 million the company has said it will need to complete validation manufacturing and begin low-volume production for customers. Aptera previously raised some $135 million from more than 17,000 investors in what the company touts as the most successful crowdfunding effort of all time, but Anthony argued Aptera will soon need to invest larger sums of capital to scale its production needs.
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> "Publicly listing the company gives us a lot more funding mechanisms to get into production," he said. "So just having access to the public markets, public liquidity and the kind of instruments and tools that banks offer to public companies, it just seemed like now is the right time." Alongside the IPO, Aptera made its formal transition to a Public Benefit Corporation, giving the company a legal obligation to consider its effect on employees, communities and customers in addition to the profit motives of its shareholders.
California's state government also awarded Aptera $21 million "to support its push toward scaled manufacturing," the article points out.
It also notes that Aptera's vehicles "are technically classified as motorcycles rather than standard passenger cars, presenting a potentially cheaper alternative for consumers on the hunt for an electric vehicle."
[1] https://www.sdbj.com/technology/clean-tech/aptera-goes-public-moves-toward-production/
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmDqOKKbbQ0&t=60s
[3] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/10/12/0237231/three-wheeled-solar-car-maker-aptera-is-about-to-go-public
[4] https://youtu.be/9cUqWEGsRHc
Not Phony. Just Struggling. (Score:4, Insightful)
After six years on the Aptera waitlist, I remain cautiously optimistic, anticipating further refinements before production models reach my position. I expect to wait a while even though I was pretty early given the "invest now to get ahead in line" promotions that have occurred that I did not participate in.
The extended wait is reassuring, suggesting a more stable and sustainable Aptera by the time my order is fulfilled. Avoiding parts scarcity, a common concern for owners of any product from specialized manufacturers who may disappear on the road to viability, is paramount.
While I haven't invested, Aptera is now publicly traded (SEV). Aptera has persevered where other EV startups failed. And the executive team continue to successfully maneuver EV headwinds and the startup minefield that "bits mostly" tech companies do not have to worry about
They are not a fake or phony company. Though, I do expect some more plot twists.
Re: (Score:2)
After six years you should be demanding your money back.
Re: (Score:2)
"They are not a fake or phony company."
No, they're a company pushing a fake and phony product. Good job, though, AC promoting Aptera lies. Maybe you can make that "extended wait" another 20 years.
Re: (Score:2)
What a credulous moron. Or paid shill.
Re: (Score:2)
Apera started out as ICE and is nowhere close to solar powered. Aptera is allegedly a car company, yet it claims that unsprung weight doesn't matter, it's not at all clear that anyone should even consider them a car company.
Re: (Score:1)
> When are the /. editors (and the press in general) going to stop paying attention to this phony company?
When stories stop attracting eyeballs. .
Re: (Score:2)
The funny part is seeing us pointing this out getting modded down. Aptera the company has been going for 20 years and produced NOTHING. Aptera pivoted to solar powered EVs in 2020 and has produced NOTHING. I am 100% enthusiastic about EVs and solar power but at this point I have as much faith in Star Citizen releasing as Aptera and for the same reasons.
Re: (Score:2)
And Aptera's "product" is NOT solar powered, originally they made that very clear. But then they decided to get some mileage out of that lie.
To be clear, the Aptera, when operating, consumes electric at least 10x the rate that its solar panels can generate it. It should also be known that the Aptera, as undesirable as it is as a car, gets about 6 miles/kWh according to their own testing, not a lot better than the Model 3. Doesn't keep them from continuing to claim they get 10 though.
Aptera is a company o