Aptera, self-proclaimed builder of the world’s most efficient passenger vehicle, is partnering with Elaphe Propulsion to bring in-wheel motor technology to its 1,000-mile electric two-seater.
If Aptera rings a bell but you can’t quite place it, it was a company that was seeking funding to build a hyper-efficient, three-wheel electric car way back in 2009. The concept looked more like a college engineering project than a conventional automobile, and while the two may have had next to nothing in common, Aptera ended up folding in 2011, after it was unable to secure low-interest loans to keep the program going.
But it’s back. Thanks to crowdfunding, the project has a fresh tailwind. In the intervening years, Aptera’s original co-founders quietly bought up the IP associated with the original concept and moved forward with refining the design into something more production-ready. It still has the private-plane-on-wheels looks, but underlying tech is ready for prime time.
This latest partnership is the next step toward proving that out. With in-wheel motor technology, Aptera can bypass the need for a traditional steering rack and simply use power-vectoring directional control instead.
“Elaphe is a perfect match for Aptera,” said Elaphe CEO, Gorazd Lampič. “We provide the packaging versatility and turning needed to enable Aptera’s industry-best efficiencies.”
Aptera is not the first EV hopeful to jump on the motor-in-wheel bandwagon. NEVS, which is working on an autonomous taxi pod, recently purchased the company behind a similar motor setup and hopes to implement it in a way that allows for 360-degree steering for optimum maneuverability and versatility in urban environments.
Not all automakers agree about whether in-wheel motor technology has matured to the level of durability expected for production cars, but its adoption is expected to accelerate as demand for urban mobility solutions increases.
View original article at: “https://www.greencarreports.com//news/1125542_crowdfunded-aptera-super-efficiency-ev-will-use-in-wheel-motors”
