by Gabrielle DeSantis

Everyone’s talking about the Mercedes EQXX electric vehicle and its impressive 1,000 kilometer (621 mile) range. But there’s another concept out there that already gets more range than that. It’s called the Aptera, and it uses solar technology in order to produce an electric car that’ll go up to 1,000 miles on a charge.

The Aptera solar electric car

Flying under the radar is this futuristic three-wheeler, but the impressive stats make it a lucrative, high-range option. Marketed as a “never charge” electric car, the solar panels onboard collect energy throughout the day. The standard roof solar panel collects 16 miles per day. But there are optional hood and trunk solar panels that add an extra 24 combined miles to the car every day as it bakes in the sun.

But wait, 16 plus 24 doesn’t equal 1,000. How does it get that much range? Well, the car has shaped the way it is for a reason, able to slice through the air and reduce drag. But the chassis itself is also light. And every moment the car is out in the sun, you’re using less energy than when it’s cloudy.

So what you have is a car that was designed to be electric and efficient from the very start. But most production cars are built with the consumer in mind, who doesn’t want to sacrifice two rows of seating or a small trunk. Cars like the EQXX, on the other hand, are much more traditional.

Can you compare the Mercedes EQXX and the Aptera?

The one thing the Aptera and the EQXX have in common is that neither is on sale yet. The EQXX has only been teased, and while the Aptera brand has been around since 2006, they’ve struggled to get a production car off the ground. On top of that, there are no stats beyond the estimated range/battery capacity for the EQXX.

So, in order to compare these two cars, we’ll take the creative liberty of comparing the Aptera with the Mercedes EQS. One could assume the EQXX will cost more than the EQS, which only has 478 miles of range. Compared to the EQXXs theorized 621 miles of range while using a smaller 70 kWh battery pack, the EQS will look like the poor man’s electric Mercedes. But for now, it’s our baseline.

You can reserve an Aptera right now for $100, but the 1,000-mile range Aptera will cost nearly $50,000 once it rolls off the production line. The EQS, while not in production either, has an estimated price of $100,000. That means the EQXX will, most likely, cost even more and still get less range than the Aptera. Though the EQS has more power than the Aptera: 329 hp in comparison to the Aptera’s maximum 201 hp (when fitted with AWD).

Then there are the features, which both cars are full of. They’ll each feature some sort of driver’s assistant, with the Aptera available with a Level 2 Autonomous Driving feature. But the Mercedes EQS will have more luxurious amenities, naturally. Wireless charging, soft close doors, and a panoramic sunroof, all while being able to seat 3 more people.

So, the Mercedes is an obvious pick comfort waist. But the Aptera has a few other quirks that most Mercs couldn’t dream of.

Things the Aptera can do that the Mercedes can’t

Because it’s a ridiculous concept car, the Aptera has some ridiculous available options. For an extra $1,000, you can equip your Aptera with the offroad package. This raises the suspension and strengthens the wheel wells so that you can take your electric car offroading. Ridiculous, sure, but it’s not something you’re able to (or really shouldn’t) do in your electric Mercedes.

The same can be said about the camping package. For an extra $600, Aptera will turn your trunk into a tent, allowing you to camp out in the desert you just drove to. All without using a drop of gasoline. Provided, there’s a very niche market for 1,000-mile electric cars that you can take camping and offroading, but I’m sure there’s at least one person.

So thanks to solar power technology, the Aptera can conquer highways and already dominates the teased Mercedes EQXX in terms of mileage. We hope to see it enter production, as the concept is both forward-thinking and ridiculously cool.

RELATED: Mercedes-Benz Is Still Lagging Behind in the EV Game With the EQA250

The post This Solar Electric Car Gets Better Range Than The Mercedes EQXX appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Over the years our pal Ryan Brutt has discovered some amazing muscle car barn finds from original Hemi cars to Boss 429s and more. But finding a World War II B-17 bomber sitting in a barn in Illinois is crazy. But leave it to the “Auto Archaeologist” to find the cool stuff, be it planes, trains, or muscle cars. 

The B-17 Bomber was almost eliminated after the war

First, you must understand that there are very few B-17 Superfortress bombers left in the world. These were the planes that carried out the bomb raids throughout Europe and the Pacific theater. But after the war, what planes hadn’t been shot down were mostly scrapped out. After all, what private company or individual needs a bomber?

That was the fate of this B-17E, with a colorful history as the “Desert Rat.” Originally built in 1941, it ended up in a farmer’s field in Maine, where it languished for decades. It had been cut into seven pieces to prepare it to be scrapped. 

In 1968 its engines, propellers, and landing gear were all removed from the fuselage. The current owner purchased its remains in 1985 for $7,250. He had them shipped to Illinois, and was also able to track down the removed pieces to make it complete. 

The current bomber owner has been restoring the B-17 since 1995

But it was in poor condition. Since 1995 the owner has been painstakingly rebuilding and remaking the plane. As you can see in Ryan’s video, much has been done. But there is much more that needs to be completed.

What is amazing are all of the components strewn around the building. From engines to propellers, everything is there but dismantled. Reskinning the enormous fuselage and wings has been ongoing. There are even the original .50-caliber Browning machine guns that will be added to put this in true military condition. 

Though slow and vulnerable due to its size and bomb payloads, the B-17 is probably the most notorious aircraft of the war effort. Hundreds of missions were flown, with many crews and planes not making it back alive. But these planes could take a beating from flak and gunfire and still be airworthy. It was amazing how crippled some of these B-17s were once they made it back to their bases.

This is the only B-17E bomber that still exists

This plane is particularly important because it is the only one left with the E-series longer fuselage. The tail is taller than other series of B-17s. Most of these taller tails were susceptible to breaking under certain conditions and were redesigned. So that alone makes this a rarity. 

But the B-17 wasn’t exactly rare in the 1940s. Over 12,000 were built between 1936 and 1945. Only 45 still exist, mostly as static displays. There are only 10 that are currently airworthy. The goal for the owner of Desert Rat is to get it back to flying condition.  

Desert Rat was used during the war as a cargo plane, partly due to its added length. It mostly shipped supplies to China, India, and other countries. It is expected to be completed in possibly five more years. 

This is the ultimate enthusiast project. Each stage of the restoration is extremely specialized. The wings and most of the fuselage has been restored but there is a long way to go.

RELATED: We Love Car Barn Finds: This One Is Almost Unbelievable

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