What’s Happening
Aptera, a pioneering solar electric vehicle manufacturer, has initiated the validation phase of its innovative aerodynamic design at the renowned Pininfarina Wind Tunnel. This key phase reflects Aptera’s commitment to constant innovation and the development of ground-breaking mobility solutions.
Why It Matters
Aptera is at the vanguard of ultra-efficient transportation, creating what could be the most aerodynamic vehicle yet, featuring three wheels, a highly efficient powertrain, and a distinctive teardrop shape. In collaboration with Pininfarina, an entity known for its exceptional aerodynamic expertise and collaborations with prominent brands like Ferrari, Rolls Royce, and Maserati, Aptera will be testing and validating its unique solar electric vehicle design.
Key Points
The intelligently-designed aerodynamics of Aptera’s solar electric vehicles are crucial to their superior energy efficiency. These attributes enable the vehicles to attain an industry-leading range of up to 1,000 miles per charge, and the potential to cover up to 40 miles per day from solar power alone. Alessandro Aquili, Head of Wind Tunnel at Pininfarina, highlights the excitement around the project and the synergies between Aptera’s design philosophy and the history of Pininfarina’s Wind Tunnel.
In the validation phase, the company will continue to refine its vehicle platform’s aerodynamic features to ensure maximum performance and efficiency. Initial correlation testing at the Pininfarina Wind Tunnel has supported Aptera’s computational fluid dynamics (CFD) work and provided valuable insights on the vehicle’s shape, which is projected to have the lowest coefficient of drag of any production passenger vehicle.
Bottom Line
This collaboration with Pininfarina signifies Aptera’s unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of mobility possibilities. Integrating Pininfarina’s aerodynamic insights, Aptera is on track to meet its ambitious goals, setting out to deliver the most efficient vehicle globally that requires zero charging for most daily uses. As Steve Fambro, CEO and Co-founder of Aptera, articulates, “Working with Pininfarina to validate Aptera’s shape marks an exciting chapter in our journey towards creating a passenger vehicle with the lowest drag coefficient ever.” The next steps involve building and testing Delta validation units in various environments, including CFD, wind tunnel, and real-world conditions.
