Aptera Motors, the solar electric vehicle (SEV) startup, has announced that it has been granted $21 million from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to help fund its Solar Mobility Manufacturing Project. The grant is a significant boost to the company as it continues to strive toward scaled production of its groundbreaking SEV, which has already generated a lot of buzz in the market.
Aptera is one of the few remaining SEV startups that is actively trying to make sustainable transportation accessible to the masses. While some of its competitors have failed or pivoted away from EV manufacturing, Aptera continues to move forward with its ambitious plans to mass-produce SEVs that run on solar power.
The company took a major step toward its goal in January with the launch of its Launch Edition SEV, which boasts an impressive range and aerodynamics. However, despite this achievement, Aptera’s cofounders noted that the company still needed significant additional funding to reach production, which is expected to be at least a year away.
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To that end, the company launched a crowdfunding campaign called “Accelerate Aptera” to raise an additional $20-$50 million to help propel its technology toward production. The program has already secured nearly $8 million in funding and secured production slots for 544 reservation holders, with the current leader’s investment eclipsing $1 million.
Meanwhile, the company’s cofounders also announced in January that Aptera had received a grant for $21 million from the CEC, though the award was not yet official at the time. Now, however, Aptera has confirmed that it has been granted the $21 million from the CEC, which will support its Solar Mobility Manufacturing Project in California.
The grant will be a reimbursement program, meaning that Aptera must first complete eligible purchases (such as production equipment and machines) up to $21 million with its own funds before the CEC will pay the company back. Despite this requirement, the grant is exciting news for Aptera’s employees and reservation holders alike, as it brings the company one step closer to scaled SEV production.
The Solar Mobility Manufacturing Project will entail manufacturing SEV components and vehicles in California while lowering cumulative greenhouse gas emissions. CEC commissioner Patty Monahan praised Aptera for its innovative approach to electric vehicles, saying that the Energy Commission is proud to fund Aptera to manufacture “the world’s first mass-produced, three-wheeled solar car.”
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Co-founder and co-CEO Chris Anthony echoed this sentiment, saying that working with the CEC will enable Aptera to produce “grid-free, carbon neutral solar mobility, while creating new jobs for all Californians.” He added that the company’s overarching goal is to meet the demand for its SEVs and have a real impact on climate change, in line with the CEC’s ultimate mission.
Looking ahead, Aptera Motors plans to move its specialized in-wheel motor manufacturing from Europe to California once scale has been achieved. The Accelerate Aptera program is scheduled to end on March 26, 2023, at which point the company will release the final investment total from reservation holders, in addition to the $21 million already awarded.
