The Aptera. It’s Electric!
We in the tech world are intimately familiar with business ventures that found their start in someone’s garage. Steve Fambro’s latest accomplishment began in much the same way, but with one big difference: he gets to drive his product back into the garage every night.
Fambro is co-founder and CTO of Aptera, the company behind an extended range electric vehicle known as the Aptera Typ-1. Growing up, he tinkered on cars then repaired electronics in the Army. He put himself through college by working as a freelance programmer and building custom loudspeakers, then went on to hone his biotech skills at Illumina, where he brought several projects from R&D into manufacturing. In his ‘spare’ time, he found himself back in the garage, teaching himself composites which would ultimately become the first Aptera.
Designed with safety, comfort and fuel efficiency in mind, the Aptera Typ-1 is a two-seat, three-wheeled passenger vehicle that more than delivers on its promise. It exceeds many of the required safety specs, and integrates a strong, yet lightweight composite shell.
Sliding into the Aptera’s driver’s seat is a cinch, and thoughtful touches like an iPhone docking station in the latest model only serve to enhance the driving experience (as do all the onlookers!). The side doors open to the front and upward completely inside the front wheel track, and there’s enough storage in the back for 15 bags of groceries or two full-size golf club bags.
The Aptera battery averages 120 miles per charge, and a base model Typ-1 will cost you approximately $30k. Reservations are being accepted now with a $500 deposit.
