Aptera’s solar electric vehicle (SEV) has completed the alpha phase of development, and during the process, was pitted against a Tesla Model 3 in a drag racing showdown. Now, it’s in the beta phase of development where major advancements have been made in the front / rear suspension, drivetrain and ergonomics. In other words, a test mule without the body pieces are used to integrate production parts to evaluate dynamic and transient vehicle behavior.
During this beta phase, test mules are undergoing vehicle dynamics testing, where engineers evaluate responses of the vehicle in various dynamic situations to assess how a component or subsystem influences the overall vehicle ride, handling, and performance. After the beta phase is complete, Aptera will move into the gamma phase, where production-intent vehicles are used to finalize the final details before hitting the assembly line.
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We use high-precision sensors on geometric points of the steering and suspension members to measure longitudinal and transverse dynamics during various driving situations. What we are looking for is information about how closely the vehicle matches steady-state stability characteristics we’ve designed for. Our goal is to build a vehicle that is exciting to drive, but still absorbs bumps over rough roads, and reduces vibrations and noise on the highway,” said Nathan Engler, Chassis Engineer.
