Vroom! At CES 2025 - Aptera EV solar panel design

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The layout of solar panels on the Aptera EV longitudinal axis is a patented invention. The US design patent, USD939430S1, titled Solar panel layout on a vehicle, was granted on December 28th, 2021. The patent was awarded to four inventors: Jason Hill (US), Steve Fambro (US), Chris Anthony (US), and Darren McKeage (US). The patent was assigned to Aptera Motors Corp.

As a reminder, a US design patent only covers the ornamental aspects of an invention, or how the invention looks. How an invention works, and/or how the invention is produced, are aspects of an invention covered in US utility patents. Thus, the present design patent only covers how the panels look on top of the Aptera EV, rather than how they work, or how they are manufactured to capture energy on the roof, front and rear car hood. Only a utility patent covers how the captured solar energy is designed to provide users with a minimum quantity of free power each day.

Below, the patent Figure 1 depicts a plan view of the solar panel layout, on the Aptera EV longitudinal axis, together with a top view image of the soon-to-be-launched Aptera EV.

Reference

Aptera (website)

https://aptera.us/

USPTO MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent.
https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html

Vroom! At CES 2025 – Aptera grid-free EV

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Still hesitant about getting an electric vehicle (EV)? Afraid to run out of charge in the middle of your trip? In comes Aptera's multi-patented, aerodynamic, grid-free, solar-powered EV. With a 700kw, patented, solar-paneling system, built into the aerodynamic roof, front and rear hood of the car, drivers get 40 miles of free solar power, each day, just from driving. Otherwise, the car has a 400-mile range, on a full charge from the grid, with a built-in lightning-fast charger.

The trade-off for such a solar gem? The Aptera is a two-seater with three wheels.

The US design patent, USD633821S, titled Aerodynamic vehicle, was awarded on March 8th, 2011 to a group of nine American and Canadian inventors: Jason Hill (US); Tom Reichenbach, (US); Kurt Danielson, (US); Larry Thomas (US); Miles Wheeler (US); Marques McCammon, (US); Paul Wilbur (US); Nathan Armstrong, (CA) and Dean Bartolomucci,(US).

Below the patent Figure 1, showing a right perspective view of the Aptera solar-powered car, together with an image of the gullwing-door Aptera. On hold since 2019, due to the pandemic, the USD 40,000 Aptera is scheduled to enter the market later this year.

Reference

Aptera (website)

https://aptera.us/