Aptera (SEV) reveals off meeting line for photo voltaic electrical ‘automotive’, updates on battery and testing

Photo voltaic electrical car startup Aptera Motors launched a brand new replace at the moment, giving us a primary have a look at its validation car meeting line, together with progress on battery manufacturing and effectivity testing because it strikes nearer to its purpose of low-volume manufacturing.

The replace comes simply weeks after the corporate started buying and selling on the Nasdaq below the ticker image $SEV.

The transfer, together with a deal to promote some shares, secured entry to as much as $75 million in financing for Aptera, which was struggling financially.

It enabled Aptera to get busy, and now the corporate has launched an replace about its progress over the previous couple of weeks.

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You possibly can watch the total replace video right here:

On the personnel entrance, highlighting an expanded workforce throughout engineering, operations, and manufacturing. Within the video, a number of new hires launched themselves, together with administrators of provide chain and varied engineers, signaling that the corporate is attempting to employees up for the subsequent section.

However the meat of the replace is on the manufacturing flooring.

Aptera’s Validation Meeting Line

Steve Fambro, Aptera’s co-CEO, walked us by means of the power, which he says is now “buzzing with exercise”, with a couple of attention-grabbing time-lapse movies that confirmed progress.

The corporate has begun the buildout of its validation car meeting line.

In contrast to the hand-assembled prototypes we’ve seen prior to now, Aptera says this new setup is designed to function as a “regular car manufacturing line” with a multi-step course of. This contains receiving, stock, kitting, and progressive set up of auto techniques at particular person stations.

On the coronary heart of this new line is a large-scale precision meeting fixture. It is a essential piece of apparatus for Aptera’s distinctive two-piece composite physique construction.

Fambro defined the significance of this fixture:

“It’s a significant step ahead from the unique hand-assembled method we used on the BinC (Physique in Carbon) for the primary three validation autos. With this new fixture, we are able to now assemble BinCs with far larger repeatability and tighter management over ultimate geometry.”

We additionally bought a have a look at the frames, which Aptera says are sturdy and optimized for weight and energy.

Battery Manufacturing and ‘Gemini’ Testing

One other important replace is the battery meeting. Aptera’s battery companion, CTNS, is now on-site constructing battery modules.

That is the primary time CTNS has assembled modules straight in Aptera’s facility. The video reveals what look to be clear, exact modules prepared for integration. It is a good signal for the availability chain, because the battery pack is commonly a significant bottleneck for EV startups.

On the testing entrance, Aptera has been conducting inside effectivity evaluations with “Gemini,” its third production-intent car.

The corporate claims preliminary outcomes from mixed drive cycles (excessive pace, stop-and-go, city) are “encouraging.” They plan to maneuver to extra formal regulatory testing quickly with the brand new and larger fleet of validation autos.

Electrek’s Take

It is a good progress replace from Aptera. I’m cautiously beginning to get hope that Aptera would possibly find yourself delivering a couple of of those autos.

Now, let’s be sincere, there’s nonetheless lots of work to do. The meeting line that Aptera confirmed at the moment is clearly a piece in progress.

$75 million would possibly sound like quite a bit, but it surely’s nothing within the automotive manufacturing trade.

The query stays whether or not that capital might be sufficient to get them by means of this validation section and into significant low-volume manufacturing.

As a disclosure, I’ve a small quantity of Aptera shares from the crowdfunding days. I’ve all the time mentioned I don’t see a major probability of success, however I want it, as I like the corporate’s ethos of effectivity.