Aptera Motors has backtracked on a past comment indicating that its upcoming vehicles will not have DC fast charging capabilities just a few days after revealing the specifications of its Launch Edition solar EV.
Aptera has now assured its ardent followers that it has considered their opinion, promising to equip all of its solar EVs, including the above-said Launch Edition, with the ability to charge via Tesla’s supercharger network.
The Aptera team, along with cofounders Steve Fambro and Chris Anthony, wandered the public through the specifications of the startup’s unified, preconfigured Launch Edition solar electric vehicle during a live stream webinar on Friday.
While there was plenty to be excited about, such as the 400-mile range, all-wheel drive, and the possibility of being the most aerodynamic production car ever made, a few points in the presentation were less than encouraging.
For example, the Launch Edition alone is at least a year away, and Aptera cofounders revealed that the company needs an additional $50 million in capital to achieve its first gate of scale production, which still needs to be improved in tooling and machinery.
While this isn’t the best news to receive from a startup, the internet’s ire focused on a straightforward tidbit that Aptera’s initial presentation omitted: no acknowledgment of DC fast charging rates.
Aptera confirmed adapting DC fast charging capabilities
When the Aptera cofounders started the webinar to ask questions, one of the first was about DC fast charging. Fambro and Anthony clarified that Aptera was still investigating the possibility of adding DC fast charging capabilities in the coming years and that it could happen at any time. However, they clarified that the feature would not be available in the Launch Edition. Aptera’s team stated that gathering different ranges from the sun eliminated the need for DC charging.
On the other hand, the company’s following of potential clients and savvy EV enthusiasts disagreed. How fast that tune has shifted at Aptera HQ, as the solar EV expert has relayed that it hears you readers clearly and has made DC fast charging criterion on all of its vehicles.
Aptera has issued a press release with its YouTube video, clarifying that it will add DC charging capabilities to its solar EVs. Here’s a summary:
We will be able to offer between 40 and 60 kW of DC Fast Charging with our Launch Edition vehicles. Once testing is complete, we will update our max charge rates. We will also be working on a 100 kW version for release. Our DC Fast Charging system is designed to work with the Super Charger Network, so if Tesla agrees to open their network up to Aptera owners, your Launch Edition vehicle will be ready to go. Tesla’s Supercharging network has 60% more North American Charging Standard posts than all of the CCS-equipped networks combined, so it could be a huge selling point for future Aptera owners
Aptera’s press release on Youtube
Aptera’s good customer service
Aptera deserves an A+ for taking customer feedback sincerely and handing many EV enthusiasts what they want. If you recall, this is the same group of Aptera fans who gathered over 40,000 signatures to ask Congress to make Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug the go-charger for all EVs, including the Aptera SEVs.
As a result, Aptera pledged to make Tesla’s NACS plug the benchmark on its vehicles, which is why the news of no DC fast charging on Friday surprised many, particularly those with reservations. While potential Aptera drivers will (hopefully) be able to obtain a decent range from Tesla network level 2 capabilities, DC fast charging seems a lot nicer and more efficient.
Faster charge rates are critical, but access to the world’s most significant fast-charging infrastructure is even more important, especially for outdoor activities and road trips. It’s challenging to sell a solar EV that’s supposed to go 1,000 miles on a single charge but needs access to Tesla superchargers. According to Aptera’s press release:
Aptera was always meant to be a true road-trip vehicle, and now with the Fast-Charging standard, we can’t wait to see where you take your Launch Edition vehicles. We are truly humbled and motivated by all of you who support Aptera. Together, we will shift transportation toward solar sustainability through continuous innovation and improvements
Aptera’s press release on Youtube
Aptera’s upcoming phase will be to obtain official permission from Tesla to use its solar EVs’ DC fast charging functionality on the Supercharger network. And there’s still the matter of raising $50 million in extra funding to begin production.
