Aptera 2e May Get US Funding

After the final, production-ready Aptera 2e was previewed thanks to a few leaked photos earlier this week, the three-wheeled fuel-efficient contraption has all the chances of becoming a reality thanks to a piece of legislation which just passed a conference committee of House and Senate leaders.

The bill, if adopted, will provide the framework for the US Department of Energy to provide funding for three-wheeled vehicles. The bill will likely go before the Senate next week, according to a Senate aide quoted by Autonews.

“Obsolete bureaucratic definitions should not create roadblocks and stifle innovation,” Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., one of the co-sponsors of the legislation told the source.

The legislation will overturn rules that limit funding to any four-wheeled vehicle that meets certain emissions and fuel economy requirements. This is one of the main reason why American manufacturers like GM have been somewhat reluctant to embrace the endeavor.

The vehicle that started the need for this legislation, the Aptera 2e, will be capable of achieving the equivalent of over 200 mpg at a top speed of some 90 miles per hour (144 km/hour). The need for funding for the 2e is even more urgent as the vehicle is estimated to be priced in between $25,000 and $40,000, a not-so-appealing price tag, despite its huge mileage.

"The 2e is as safe as any car on the road, and its groundbreaking aerodynamics helps it to fly past fueling stations,” Paul Wilbur, Aptera CEO said back in March, when the Aptera first broke cover.