Update 12/3/2011 – Unfortunately, it looks like we won’t see an Aptera after all.   According to CNET, a couple of months ago Aptera stopped taking orders for the Aptera, and returned all  deposits.   Now, it looks like the company has closed its doors for good.   The CEO of Aptera, Paul Wilbur sent out a mass email stating that the company was close to getting a loan from the U.S. Department of Energy, but was unable to get matching funds from the private market. ******************************************************

The Aptera 2e, a 3 wheeled futuristic looking 2 seater electric car that has seen several design changes since it was first announced in 2007, may finally be coming close to actual production.  The company has lately been showing off what they say is the Aptera’s final design, and if they get the $184 million loan from the US Department of Energy that they’ve applied for, they can start production in about 11 months.   Aptera had originally hoped to begin production last year, but was unable to get financing during the 2009 credit crisis. The current design still has the car getting 100 miles between charges, and Aptera claims that the  2e will have a drag coefficient of 0.15 (by comparision, the 2010 Prius has a drag coefficient of .25).   According to the company, the 2e’s rate of energy consumption is equal to 200 mpg, and it will cost owners about 2 cents per mile to charge.  Top speed is 90 mph, and it’ll do zero to 60 in 9 seconds.  Also, Aptera says that the 2e will meet all the safety requirements that the government puts on 4 wheeled passenger cars, although they could technically get away with meeting a less stringent set of regulations, since the car is actually classified as a trike. The Aptera 2e is expected to cost between $25,000 and $40,000 depending on whether you want a pure electric or hybrid version.   If current plans hold (and the money comes thru), then the pure electric version of the Aptera 2e will go on sale in California in the spring of 2011, with the hybrid model coming about 6 months later, and nationwide distribution coming in 2012. via: Reuters , Car and Driver

Tags: aptera final design, aptera 2e april 2011, 3 wheeled cars 2011, aptera 2011, aptera 2e, aptera 2 electric car, electric cars 2011, 3 wheeled, apterra for sale, 2011 aptera for sale, 2 wheel electric vehicle for sale, aptera 2, 3 wheeled electric car, when will the aptera be for sale, aptera feb 2011