The Aptera electric vehicle is the most futuristic of all the plug-in hybrids that I’ve seen. Popular Mechanics took a very detailed look at this vehicle recently as shown in the photo below. The manufacturers are promising 300 miles per gallon. This is an extremely innovative vehicle. In addition to plugging in, this vehicle also takes advantage of solar technology to power the climate control system in vehicle.

For under $30,000, you will soon be able to buy an electric car with a 120 mile range, or a plug-in hybrid that gets 300 miles-per-gallon.  

Sound like a fantasy, but this one could be coming to a dealer near you. Slated for release in late 2008, the company Aptera will be offering the initial limited release of their fully electric model Aptera Typ1, and the 300 mpg plug-in will follow in 2009.
At first glance, this thing looks as ungainly and futuristic as other highly efficient, low-drag vehicles (it reminds me of a wingless Cessna 206). But before you pass judgment, check out the test drive video from Popular Mechanics. Also see the short video segment below. This thing cruises, topping out at 85 mph:

Aptera’s car is really a study in advanced aerodynamics. As the PM video points out, the Typ1 has embedded body panels, glass, and even windshield wipers to reduce drag. You’ll also notice it has only three wheels, which makes it legally registered in California as a motorcycle (and eligible for use of carpool lanes). It also has some nifty features, like recycled interior components, and embedded side and rear video cameras that replace side- and rear-view mirrors. Solar cells on the roof supplement internal climate control and shunt warm cabin air out the back of the vehicle—further improving efficiency and decreasing drag.

It should only take a few hours to charge the Typ1’

s 10-kilowatt lithium-ion battery packs, at a cost of $1 to $2 (based on typical California electricity prices).

Aptera is currently taking refundable $500 reservations on their website.

If the unique style of the Apter Type 1 (above) isn’t your thing, there still might be a high-mpg Apters for you. Aptera CEO Steve Fambro toldAlternative Energy dot com that his company has other projects in the works (see three minutes into the video below the fold).

Fambro said, “we have other designs on the drawing board. Other projects that are certainly more mainstream. We aren’t really talking about those yet” (um, you just did). Fambro also said the company is finishing the last bit of engineering, putting their manufacturing in place in the next few weeks, and will launch by the end of the year. He said the company has plenty of business in California to keep them busy.

Fambro talked about the two types of cars they plan on making, the fully electric “Aptera Local” (120 mile range) and the series hybrid “Aptera Everywhere” (600-800 mile range) which will be available late next year. Fambro says even though the car has three wheels and is not required to comply with safety standards, lots of things on the Aptera are one and half or two times stronger than the FMVSS standard and the Type 1 has seat belts and air bags like you’d find in small aircraft.

Alternative Energy dot com also talked with the designer of the Type 1, Jason Hill, (see second video below the fold) of Eleven, LLC. He said the car was designed in a virtual wind tunnel and is the “best shape physics will allow.” Very soon, owners of the Aptera Type 1 will enjoy things like $3 instead of $30 weekly costs for fuel, lower insurance and driving in the car pool lane when only one person is in the car (thanks, motorbike classification!).

[Source: AlternativeEnergy.com]

For more information, see the following:

Aptera: www.aptera.com
Popular Mechanics (Nov. 20, 2007): 300-mpg, Electric Aptera Typ-1 Ready for 2008 Production
Popular Mechanics (Dec. 21, 2007): Aptera’s Super-MPG Electric Typ-1 e: Exclusive Video Test Drive

TreeHugger (Nov. 19, 2007): Unveiled: Aptera Typ-1 100% Electric and Series Hybrid Vehicles