2e

In Feb 2009 Aptera released full details for the second-gen 2e at the Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) Conference underway in Palm Springs, California.  Headline specs inlcude:

• charge time of 8 hours,
• a battery pack with 10-13kWh charge
• wide range of equipment, including keyless entry, tire-pressure monitoring system

The first vehicles will be delivered to pre-ordered buyers starting in October. The interior of the 2e appears more practical and realistic than the beige interior seen on the Typ1e concept vehicle.

The pre-production vehicle is equipped with a lithium-based battery and features a number of vehicle enhancements such as front wheel drive, aerodynamic side-mounted mirrors and wider door openings that make getting in and out of the vehicle much easier than with previous designs. The aerodynamically-inspired 2e will go from 0-60mph in under 10 seconds, top out at 90mph and get the equivalent of more than 200mpg based on a standard EPA driving cycle.

The car will have an expected cost between $25,000 and $45,000. Initial sales of the all-electric version will solely be in California, with plans to distribute the Aptera to the rest of the United States by late 2010.

About a year after the all-electric version goes into production, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model will become the second Aptera to go on sale. It is designed with a 40mile (64km) electric-only range, beyond which it relies on a range-extending engine as a generator for the batteries. It therefore can provide identical fuel economy to the all-electric model for trips up to 40mi, but as trips go beyond that mark, fuel efficiency diminishes until at about 350-400mi (560-640km) it has fallen to the equivalent of about 130mpg (1.8L/100km).

All of this will depend on the production and development process going perfectly to plan, however - something nearly unheard of in the electric and hybrid automotive business. Nonetheless, the prospect of an attractive, futuristic and highly efficient electric or plug-in vehicle for a reasonable price is something to keep an eye on.

Full features can be found on the Aptera electric cars manufacturers website.

2e - Top Trumps Stats

Manufacturer: Aptera
Availability:
Top Speed: 90
Acceleration: 0-60mph in 10 secs
Range (max): 40
Max Charge Time:
Price: 35000