aptera completes real-world test of its solar electric vehicle

Aptera’s solar electric vehicle drives around mojave desert

Aptera Motors announces the completion of the real-world test of its solar electric vehicle in the Mojave Desert in California. On February 28th, 2025, the team shares the news, which marks a milestone for the production-intent model of the solar electric vehicle. After this phase, they plan to conduct a few more rigorous tests to monitor and check the vehicle’s aerodynamics and solar charging capabilities before moving to the production stage. The Mojave Desert run follows the solar electric vehicle’s test in Aptera’s workshop in San Diego, California.

In the most recent phase, the team measures the car’s aerodynamic, rolling, and powertrain losses. The company says that coastdown testing is a widely used industry method to check how efficiently a vehicle moves through the air and along the road. They say that the solar electric vehicle takes over three minutes to decelerate from 60 mph to a complete stop, even while traveling uphill. Based on their calculations, ‘this coastdown distance is significantly more than any other vehicle on the road today, gas or electric,’ the company adds.

all images courtesy of Aptera Motors

next validation vehicle already in development

After the distance check, Aptera conducts aerodynamic tuft testing for the solar electric vehicle, which is a technique manufacturers use to visualize how the air flows through the car. The team applies tuts to the wheel fairings and the vehicle gaps. After testing, they say they’ve confirmed that real-world airflow matched Aptera’s extensive computer simulations. It allows engineers to fine-tune the fittings and finishings of the solar panel-surfaced car. Then, the Aptera team performs an extended highway-drive-cycle test. They take the solar electric vehicle for hundreds of miles to monitor its energy consumption.

From this, the team validates that their ‘mathematical simulation model predicts real-world efficiency within just a few percent, a major validation of the vehicle’s aerodynamics, drivetrain, and overall design.’ Aptera’s next validation solar electric vehicle is already in development. Here, they refine key areas such as better fit and flush around gaps of the vehicle and a design-intent weight profile using optimized parts. Once complete, the team expects to return to the track for another round of rigorous testing, which includes driving from a fully charged battery to zero percent.

Aptera Motors announces the completion of the real-world test of its solar electric vehicle in the Mojave Desert