Automotive X-Prize: finalists announced, X-Tracer now last team standing in Tandem class

Filed under: Emerging Technologies , EV/Plug-in , Green Culture , Hybrid , Green Daily , Automotive X-Prize Automotive X-Prize Knockout Stage - Click above for high-res image gallery Ladies and gentlemen, meet your finalists for the Automotive X-Prize : Mainstream Class Edison2, Very Light Car (team name, car name) Alternative Class - Tandem X-Tracer, E-Tracer Alternative Class - Side-by-Side Aptera, Aptera 2e Li-ion Motors, Wave II RaceAbout Association, RaceAbout TW4XP, TW4XP ZAP, Alias These are the cars that have passed all the on-track testing at the Michigan International Speedway this summer and those that will now move into the Validation Stage at the Argonne National Lab next month. As you can see, X-Tracer has joined Edison2 as a team with no one but themselves to beat, which means that these two teams are just a few in-lab tests and one more road event away from earning the $2.5 million or $5 million prize money, respectively, on September 16 in Washington, D.C.

Video: Automotive X Prize "moose" tests show Aptera hitting cones, other difficulties

Filed under: Automotive X-Prize Automotive X Prize Shakedown Stage - Click above to watch video after the jump We’ll be out at the Michigan International Speedway tomorrow to check in on the Automotive X-Prize teams conducting the first battery of tests in the Shakedown Stage. No one crashes, but not everything goes smoothly, either. As we discovered last week, the crash avoidance test (also known as the moose test ) was a challenge for some teams, like Aptera Motors

Report: Aptera raises $9.8 million in new funding, investors not disclosed

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Green Daily , Aptera SoCalTech is reporting that Aptera Motors has filed information regarding new funding coming in to the company. According to the report, Aptera has raised an additional $9.8 million to help produce its lightweight Aptera 2e vehicle . Six investors have reportedly chosen to put their funds behind Aptera in the latest round of financial support for the company.

Aptera clarifies production plans, will not export Chinese-built vehicles to U.S.

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Aptera Following a recent trip to Shanghai by Aptera CEO Paul Wilbur, we heard news that the company was looking to build the sleek, three-wheeled vehicle in China . Because, “the message got somewhat lost in translation” with the interview Wilbur did with Automotive News China, the latest Aptera newsletter clarifies what he said to the Chinese media.

Aptera seeks production partner in China, could export 2e to U.S.

Aptera 2e - Click above for high-res image gallery By now, we have all grown accustomed to Aptera announcing setbacks in production , company difficulties and other hardships . But this latest development could truly indicate that the company is trying one last time to get things right and present the 2e to the world

Aptera lays out vague plan for 2e production, sales - more info coming next month

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Aptera Aptera 2e - Click above for high-res image gallery News - well, hints of news - from Aptera is coming out at a steady pace now that the company is getting ready for its big press conference next month . Last week, the company held an online town hall and discussed in vague ways its plans for the future. Green Car Reports brings us the the highlights: The company is still waiting to hear about its updated Department of Energy’s Advanced Vehicle Technology Manufacturing Program loan request .

Aptera newsletter explains search for new manufacturing facility

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Manufacturing/Plants , Aptera The Aptera newsletters continue to talk about the good while staying silent about the bad . The latest example (available after the jump) mentions an update to the Department of Energy’s Advanced Vehicle Technology Manufacturing Program loan request, how the vehicle will indeed be made with composites (with partner Energetx) and a bit of confidence building opportunity thanks to participating in the Auto X Prize (”they will tell you if we are ‘full of it’ or not”)

Speak No Evil: Latest Aptera newsletter stays mum about company turmoil

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Green Daily , Aptera Aptera 2e final design rendering - Click above to enlarge Aptera Motors has been in the news recently because there’s been a lot of trouble behind the scenes, with company founder Steve Fambro being let go and the vehicle being pushed back to 2010 . The latest company email newsletter is out and it mentions three items: An Aptera 2e that was on display at the Reliant Football Stadium in Houston, Texas for the Texan/Titans game five days ago

Aptera update: backstory uglier than we knew

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Green Daily , Aptera Aptera 2e final design rendering - Click above to enlarge Electric automaker Aptera has had a very tough week, starting with news of a boardroom showdown last weekend over money troubles - which were then walked back a bit . During the week, we’ve been hearing that the problems run deeper than we expected, and Karen Pease from Gas 2.0 has put more pieces of the tale together

Aptera update: Vacation instead of ousters?

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Green Daily , Aptera We’re still waiting for an official response from Aptera Motors on the ouster of top company members Steve Fambro and Chris Anthony and others , but Popular Mechanics has been able to get a bit more information about the “boardroom showdown,” and it may not be as bad as first rumored . First, it seems that Fambro has not left.

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