The latest design features a lower profile and a new front wheel brace. If everything goes according to plan, Aptera will begin production of the airplane-like Typ-1 electric vehicle (EV) early next year, with the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version to follow soon after. The car will only be available in California upon launch, with pricing to range from the mid-$20,000 to mid-$40,000.
The EV version is claimed to have a range of 120miles (192km) on a single charge, with a full charge expected to cost only about $3 in electricity. This equates to better than 160mpg (1.47L/100km) on a dollar-for-dollar basis at current fuel prices.
About a year after the Typ-1 EV goes into production, the Typ-1 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will become the second Aptera model. 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 EV 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.
Via: AutoblogGreen