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Solar EV startup Aptera Motors continued its welcomed level of public transparency today, posting another progress update video for February, offering some juicy details. Aptera co-founder Steve Fambro walks you through the first glimpse at the upcoming Aptera app, which promises several cool features; plus, we get a look at some Solar EV battery packs and some hints at how safe the production vehicle will be. You can learn more in the full video below.

There is a multitude of reasons why Aptera Motors is different from the other OEMs out there. The most obvious is that the California-based startup is really the only company left trying to bring Solar EVs to full-scale production, and it is closer than ever, following a successful $34 million crowdfunding program.

Additionally, Aptera constantly keeps its growing fanbase as well as EV enthusiasts in the know of its progress in developing its solar EVs, posting monthly updates to YouTube. There is also plenty of news coming out of Aptera HQ in between those monthly videos. For example, Aptera offered the public a look at its production-intent build process in mid-February.

Today, Aptera posted its monthly update, and it’s one of the more exciting ones. There’s lots to unfold here, so let’s dig in.

Aptera update
Our first look at the upcoming Aptera App / Source: Aptera Motors/YouTube

Aptera update includes app, batteries, safety, and BinC

First, we recommend watching the entire six-minute update video from Aptera below, but here are some key details. First, co-founder and co-CEO Steve Fambro shared the first look at the upcoming Aptera App (seen above).

If and when production builds of the Solar EV hit the market, owners will be able to control and monitor several functions from anywhere, including HVAC and charging, and can even see how much solar power their car is gathering in real time.

Next, Fambro discussed an update on the battery packs that will go in the solar EVs, developed and manufactured by CTNS in South Korea, as part of a supply agreement signed in December 2023. Fambro said CTNS is moving quickly and will provide Aptera with “some of the most energy-dense and safe battery packs in the EV industry.” The first run of full production-intent battery packs will be built soon, and Aptera is promising another update in the coming months.

Next, Steve Fambro shared that Aptera will unveil its Body-in-Carbon (BinC) design to the public at JEC World 2024 in Paris next week. Per the video, Aptera’s co-founder thought February would be an excellent time to show off the company’s years of hard work, teasing a crash simulation of the solar EV.

The test footage, which can be seen below at around (2:37), shows the large crumple zone in the front absorbing all of the crash impact, while a hit to the solar EV’s side protects passengers with reinforced doors and a structural battery pack. These remain simulations until Aptera can compare the data to real-life crash tests with the production-intent builds.

Additionally, Fambro offered some excellent insight into what transparency means to Aptera and why it continues to post monthly updates:

Transparency is a cornerstone of our values, and we consistently strive to adopt a transparency-first approach. Sharing our story and allowing all of you to join us on our path is what has allowed us to get to where we are today. Being a startup, we’re tasked with staying nimble, and constantly adjusting to rapidly working conditions. We must also do this while being as accurate and as forthcoming as possible. It’s a tight line to walk.

Fambro then digs into the question on every Aptera reservation holder’s mind, sharing an update on delivery timelines. Aptera is currently developing production-intent builds that will be used for validation and crash testing to ensure safety.

However, Fambro reiterated previous statements that reaching production of its Launch Edition Solar EVs will require additional capital. Fambro went on:

We intend to share delivery timelines as soon as we can.

Lastly, Fambro shared that some vehicle design changes will be happening, and they take those changes “very seriously,” saying those decisions are only made if they require less capital, including R&D and tooling costs. Aptera promised to share more information once partner supply agreements are officially signed.

That’s all for now. If you’re interested in joining the solar pack, you can reserve your own Aptera EV today for $70. As promised, you can watch the full Aptera February update below:

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Tesla throttles down Cybertruck production, shift workers to Model Y

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Tesla throttles down Cybertruck production, shift workers to Model Y

Tesla is throttling down Cybertruck production as it shifts workers to Model Y production because inventory of the electric pickup truck is piling up.

The automaker had planned a production capacity of 250,000 Cybertrucks per year at Gigafactory Texas, and CEO Elon Musk said he could see this being ramped up to 500,000 per year.

However, things are not going in that direction.

After having sold roughly 40,000 Cybertrucks in its first year of production (2024), Tesla is already throttling down Cybertruck production, according to documents obtained by Business Insider.

The report states that Tesla asked employees working on Cybertruck production to switch to Model Y production for “business needs”:

“As we continue to assess schedules to meet business needs, we’ll be making a change to Model Y and Cyber schedules and we want to ensure that your preferences are considered.”

The moves come as Tesla is facing mounting Cybertruck inventory and has started to directly discount them by $1,600 and even add “free supercharging for life” on some inventory:

Last month, we reported that Tesla went as far as buffing out “Foundations Series” badges on some Cybertrucks to sell them as regular cheaper ones and homologated US Cybertrucks for the Canadian market to try to move them.

With the release of its sales report for Q4 2024, Tesla showed that Cybertruck deliveries in Q4 are flat or even down compared to Q3 despite having launched cheaper versions of the vehicle during the quarter.

The move of workers from Cybertruck to Model Y also comes as Tesla is preparing to build a new version of the Model Y at Gigafactory Texas after launching it in China.

However, Tesla usually doesn’t launch a new production at the detriment of another vehicle program, but this time, it is convenient because of the Cybertruck’s demand issues.

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Brooklyn trio raises $10 million for startup that wants to help open-source developers get paid

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Brooklyn trio raises  million for startup that wants to help open-source developers get paid

Sam Ragsdale, Ryan Sproule, and Mason Hall have raised $10 million in a seed funding round co-led by Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto fund and Blockchain Capital.

Sam Ragsdale

Inside the Domino Sugar Refinery in Brooklyn, a 19th century landmark perched on the banks of the East River, three engineers have transformed 3,000 square feet of the former factory into a workshop housing their new startup, Merit Systems.

Sam Ragsdale, Ryan Sproule and Mason Hall are five months into creating Merit, which they hope will solve a longstanding challenge in software: rewarding open-source developers. On Thursday, Merit announced it’s raised $10 million in a seed funding round co-led by Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto fund and Blockchain Capital.

Sproule says Merit is trying to address the “attribution problem” in software development. In the world of open source, which underpins more than 97% of the apps consumers use on a daily basis, tech giants and independent programmers alike contribute to products that are freely available for anyone to access and improve.

“Because the price is zero, and there is no attribution to the people that created it, there is not a very sustainable set of economics to keep it alive,” said Ragsdale, Merit’s CEO, who previously spent three years at Andreessen Horowitz and before that worked as a software engineer at Google.

Substantial amounts of open-source code can be found in artificial intelligence frameworks, databases, web browsers and mobile operating systems. Some of the best known open-source projects include Android (now owned by Google), GitHub (acquired by Microsoft) and Apache Spark, data analytics technology at the heart of Databricks.

While many companies have been able to commercialize versions of open-source software or sell support and services as a way to generate revenue, there’s no consistent model for rewarding individuals or small groups of contributors who often do valuable work.

Merit Systems CTO Ryan Sproule working at the whiteboard at the company headquarters in the Domino Sugar Factory.

Sam Ragsdale

Chris Dixon, managing partner of Andreessen’s crypto fund, said that open source is “poorly funded and too reliant on altruistic contributions.”

In comments he’s posting on X, Dixon wrote that Merit “is building a protocol that properly attributes and rewards contributors proportionally to the value they create.”

Ragsdale, who worked with Dixon at the venture firm, first met Sproule as an undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis. Sproule went on to crypto-focused firm Blockchain Capital in San Francisco, and the pair then teamed up with Hall, who was also on Andreessen’s crypto team.

The project is still in development, even as the company says it’s obtained a post-funding valuation of $55.5 million. Most of its current users are friends and acquaintances of the founders. Merit expects to roll out a broader release by the end of February after gathering and incorporating feedback from its early testers.

Sproule, Merit’s CTO and a former Amazon Web Services engineer, says the startup has the opportunity to sit “in the middle,” connecting software buyers and users with the actual creators of the technology.

“If you can solve this attribution problem, you can essentially get users to pay directly for the software people build,” he said.

Three entrepreneurs in a sugar factory

The Williamsburg community in the Brooklyn borough of New York, where the small Merit team is based, has been transformed over the past few decades from a former industrial district, first into a vibrant arts and music center and more recently into an upscale neighborhood filled with new high-rise apartment buildings and luxury shops.

But the old Domino factory, two blocks north of the Williamsburg Bridge, remains a relic of the past. The refinery was the last operating industrial facility on the waterfront before closing in 2004.

After years of neglect, the building has been reimagined as a hub for modern innovation, with panoramic views of Manhattan visible through the original brickwork. The facility opened as a modern office complex in 2023, and now offers carved-up startup space as well as full floors for bigger organizations.

Ragsdale says the building’s history is important to the startup’s story.

Merit Systems co-founders Ryan Sproule, Sam Ragsdale, and Mason Hall coding in their Brooklyn office.

Sam Ragsdale

The name Merit Systems is a “throwback to the companies of the ’60s or the ’70s, which had very industrial names that explain exactly what they do,” Ragsdale said. Merit is meant to be a straightforward description of the company’s mission.

There’s also a coveted view of Manhattan.

“You can see the skyline through the old brick in the windows,” Ragsdale said.

Inside the office, there are four desks and eight chairs. Whiteboards covered in notes and math equations fill the only corner of the office currently in use, while 3D printers from Ragsdale’s home produce prototypes, including the company’s tesseract logo.

“We’re definitely not using all 3,000 square feet,” said Ragsdale. “We’ll get there eventually.”

Merit plans to add seven new hires in the coming months and is specifically looking for people who want an in-person work culture.

“The idea flow between people when you’re sitting next to them is really important,” says Sproule. “We don’t really believe in the fully decentralized remote work model for an early-stage company.”

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Meet the new Genesis Electrified GV70: A refined SUV with more range and style

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Meet the new Genesis Electrified GV70: A refined SUV with more range and style

Genesis officially launched the updated Electrified GV70 in Korea, starting at just over $50,000. The new electric SUV now has a bigger battery for more driving range, added luxury, and even more style. Check out the new Genesis GV70 EV below.

The midsize luxury electric SUV was first launched in Korea in March 2022. Less than three years later, the GV70 EV is returning with “a more elegant and luxurious look.”

Genesis launched the new Electrified GV70 on Thursday in its home market. It improves on the current model in nearly every aspect, including added features, a new battery, and an improved exterior design.

Like the updated GV60, revealed earlier this month, the new Electrified GV70 features a redesigned front and rear end. The crest grille now includes a Gradient G-Matrix pattern, adding to its already sporty look. Genesis also added its new Micro Lens Array (MLA) tech to the signature Two Tone headlights.

The refreshed GV70 gains new 20″ matte dark gray wheels while the 19″ wheels have also been updated, “creating a strong yet sophisticated” look.

Genesis-new-Electrified-GV70
Genesis Electrified GV70 updated model (Source: Hyundai Motor)

Inside, the electric SUV “has been reborn” with added luxury and space. It now features Genesis’ new 27″ connected car Integrated Cockpit (ccIC) display system and touchscreen HVAC panel.

For a more luxurious feel, Genesis added an exclusive “Milky Way Pattern Mood Lighting” and other elements, such as a crystal electronic shift dial and horn cover with its branding.

Genesis-new-Electrified-GV70-interior
The interior of the updated Genesis Electrified GV70 (Source: Hyundai Motor)

Genesis reveals new Electrified GV70 prices and specs

Powered by its fourth-gen batteries, the new Genesis Electrified GV70 now has even more driving range. With an 84 kWh battery pack, the updated model now gets up to 423 km (263 miles) range. That’s up from 400 km (249 miles) in the outgoing model with a 77.4 kWh battery.

The new Electrified GV70 can also charge faster with its increased battery capacity. With a 350 kW fast charger, it can charge up to 80% in just 19 minutes.

To improve the drive, Genesis added new Highway Body Motion Control tech to minimize the jerk when suddenly braking or accelerating. The rear suspension also features a new hydro bushing, which was previously only on the front suspension, to reduce vibration.

Like several other new Hyundai Motor Group (including Kia and Hyundai) EVs, the Electrified GV70 now includes a Virtual Gear Shift function to replicate the feeling of a gas car shifting.

Despite the updates, the new Genesis Electrified GV70 starts at just 75.2 million won, or around $51,700 in Korea, with EV tax benefits included.

In the US, the 2025 Electrified GV70 starts at $66,950 with up to 236 miles range. Although prices are not expected to change drastically, the updated 2026 model is expected to have upwards of 250 miles driving range.


2025 Genesis Electrified GV70 trim
Starting Price Range
Advanced AWD $66,950 236 miles
Prestige AWD $73,750 236 miles
2025 Genesis Electrified GV70 price (Source: Genesis)

Genesis revealed the updated GV70 EV for the US at the LA Auto Show in November. It now includes an NACS port for accessing Tesla Superchargers. The vehicle will begin arriving at US dealers in the first half of 2025.

With the updated 2026 models en route, Genesis is offering up to $16,750 off the 2025 Electrified GV70 with lease bonuses. Ready to take advantage of the savings? You can use our link to find deals on the Genesis GV70 in your area today.

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