Solar car developer Aptera relies on batteries from LGES

Aptera Motors will source the batteries for its Aptera solar electric car exclusively from LG Energy Solution (LGES) between 2025 and 2031. Both sides signed a supply deal with a volume of 4.4 GWh capacity at the CES in Las Vegas.

In addition to Aptera and LGES, the agreement also involves the company CTNS, which assembles the Korean manufacturer’s cells into battery modules and packs and then passes them on to Aptera Motors for installation. The contract specifies that LGES will be the exclusive battery supplier for the Aptera solar electric car from this year until 2031. LGES will provide 2170 round cells with NCMA cathodes.

Aptera Motors plans to launch its three-wheeled debut electric car on its home market in the US this year. A production-ready model is currently on display at the CES in Las Vegas. Interest in the small solar car is said to be high. Aptera claims to have received “nearly 50,000 reservations representing over $1.7 billion in potential revenue.”

The Aptera solar-powered EV is said to have a battery range of up to 643 kilometres (400 miles) and, thanks to integrated solar cells, can drive up to an additional 64 kilometres per day on self-generated electricity. In “sunny climates,” Aptera promises around 10,000 extra miles or 16,000 extra kilometres per year using solar energy alone. To achieve this, the model has four solar panels “strategically placed on the hood, dash, roof, and hatch of the vehicle.”

To keep the vehicle light, it is primarily made of a carbon fiber sheet molding compound (CF-SMC). Aptera had already experimented with other manufacturers for the drive system, such as Elaphe, an in-wheel motor specialist, and Eve Energy, for the battery cells. However, as already mentioned, battery manufacturer LGES will now supply the battery cells for the production vehicle, while Vitesco will provide the motor.

“This partnership represents a significant milestone in bringing our solar electric vehicles to market with the reliability and performance our customers expect,” said Chris Anthony, Co-CEO of Aptera Motors. “LG Energy Solution and CTNS bring unparalleled expertise, and we’re excited to work together to power the future of sustainable transportation.”

lgcorp.com