The Elusive Dream Of Solar Powered EVs Is Not So Elusive After All

A startup called Aptera is moving closer to selling a solar-powered electric vehicle, though it comes with a catch: it has three wheels instead of four. That design counts as an "autocycle" under US rules, which means drivers can use a regular license instead of a motorcycle license. It also means the car, called Atlas, qualifies for HOV (carpool) lane access in California even with just one person aboard, since three-wheeled vehicles are allowed in those lanes regardless of passenger count or fuel type. That access isn't a temporary incentive program, unlike California's old Clean Air Vehicle sticker program for single-occupant EVs, which ended last September.

The solar panels built into the car's body can add real range without plugging in. In tests, parking the car in one spot facing east or west picked up around 40 miles worth of charge over a sunny day, and repositioning it as the sun moved added a bit more. Even on a cloudy day, repeated repositioning still pulled in about 36 miles of range.

Aptera has cleared one federal hurdle, earning an EPA emissions certificate, and still needs a federal safety certification before it can sell cars. It has also started ordering parts for its first 40 production vehicles, expected at its California factory this fall. Reservations are open for $100, with a target price of $40,000 for a 400-mile version, and other options ranging from $28,000 for 250 miles up to $55,000 for 1,000 miles.