Never heard of flying cars? Or solar cars? We've talked to you about electric cars many times. And about their future (now all but certain) too, describing them as an "enabling technology" essential to the development of the autonomous car — the vehicle that will drive itself, the true revolution in mobility. But beyond hydrogen-powered models, there are two other variants of the electric car — flying cars and solar cars powered by photovoltaic panels — which, though less well known, are making rapid progress and are becoming a very tangible reality.

And, in this case too, these are not entirely new developments. Long-time readers will remember the story back in 2016 of the Australian startup Immortus (now Evx), which had already developed a prototype sports car capable of reaching 160 kilometres per hour and running exclusively on solar energy. That project then faded from view. But the dream of powering an electric car with sunlight lived on through numerous other attempts, many of which feature every year at the American Solar Challenge, a competition dedicated to electric prototypes powered by "alternative" fuels.

But when will the first true solar cars arrive? And the flying ones? The truth is, they're already here — although in the latter case there are complex regulatory issues tied to the use of airspace, the same ones that apply to eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, which have recently been addressed by Enac. But let's come back down to earth.

Solar car: Aptera is the name of the first model ready for series production

The mobility of the future could be powered entirely by the sun. This is not a utopia, but the concrete vision of Aptera Motors Corp., the company redefining the concept of the electric vehicle with a revolutionary solution that integrates advanced solar technology and aerodynamic efficiency. A dream that became reality at the recent Consumer Electronics Show 2025 in Las Vegas, where the first solar-powered electric car ready for series production made its debut — a vehicle capable of generating the energy it needs to move autonomously and sustainably. In short, an epochal turning point. But who is Aptera? Aptera Motors Corp is a company specialising in solar electric vehicles (sEV), and the Aptera Launch Edition is the first in a series of vehicles designed for both commercial and private use.

Solar energy and record-breaking range

Thanks to integrated photovoltaic solar panels, its unique shape — which allows it to cut through the air using far less energy than other electric and hybrid vehicles currently available (with an aerodynamic contribution from Pininfarina) — this solar car can travel up to 640 kilometres on a single electric charge, with a range of up to 64 kilometres per day using solar energy alone. The manufacturer assures that in sunnier regions, the Aptera Launch Edition — whose market launch is said to be imminent — could cover more than 16,000 kilometres per year without ever needing to charge from the grid, relying solely on solar energy. In short, we are talking about a quantum leap in the evolution of sustainable mobility.

50,000 people have already pre-ordered the solar car: lightness and efficiency are the keywords

Aptera has designed the most aerodynamic vehicle possible, featuring three wheels, motors integrated into the outer wheels, and a striking teardrop shape — achieving, as confirmed by Pininfarina, the lowest drag coefficient of any passenger vehicle in series production. "This moment marks a turning point not only for Aptera, but for the future of sustainable mobility," declared Chris Anthony, Co-CEO of the company, who announced that they already have nearly 50,000 pre-orders for their solar car, representing potential revenues of 1.7 billion dollars.

We want to inspire people to do more with less. We believe it's possible to create a better way to move. By harnessing the energy of the sun, challenging the status quo and focusing on efficiency, we can create a future that runs on sunlight.

Chris Anthony

In short, a technological innovation that could give a significant boost to the development of the electric car — a car that, in this case, adds four solar panels to the electric motors and batteries, positioned on the bonnet, dashboard, roof and tailgate, completing the energy generation system — alongside innovative materials such as the bodywork, made from carbon fibre with a tenth of the components found in a traditional car. It is the sustainable lightness of the car, moving ever forward.

What if the electric car could also fly?

The flying car is not an entirely new concept either — research has been ongoing for years, with mixed results and a series of regulatory challenges that are far from easy to resolve. But this time, reality is closer than it has ever been. It's called the Land Aircraft Carrier, and it is a kind of six-wheeled van combined with an eVTOL. Here too, its debut took place at the recent Consumer Electronics Show 2025 in Las Vegas, where Chinese company XPeng Aeroht presented an innovative hybrid land-air vehicle that promises to transform urban mobility.

Electric and airborne: a profile of a revolutionary vehicle

The Land Aircraft Carrier (which sounds like an airborne aircraft carrier on land) is an electric vehicle that combines the functionality of a traditional car with that of an aircraft. What makes this vehicle unique is its modular structure: it is a six-wheeled ground vehicle that carries inside it a fully electric flying module, visible through a semi-transparent glass rear compartment.

How flying cars work

The aerial module, equipped with 6 propellers, can automatically detach from the ground vehicle to carry out low-altitude flights. Once airborne, it can be piloted manually via joystick or operate in autonomous mode. The system has been designed to ensure maximum safety, including a rescue parachute system in case of emergency. XPeng developed the Land Aircraft Carrier with both private transport and versatile solutions for emergency services in mind, such as medical rescues, responses to road accidents, and evacuations from buildings at great heights.

The flying car will go on sale in China before the end of the year

The first public demonstration with a crew on board is scheduled for November at the China Airshow in Zhuhai, with pre-sales in China set to begin before the end of the year. XPeng has announced that, to support the flying car, it is developing a dedicated infrastructure network of 60 "flying car camps" that will include airports as well as tourism destinations and suburban areas. At a historic moment when the urgency of the ecological transition in the automotive sector is becoming ever more pressing, these two projects demonstrate that a truly sustainable mobility future is not only possible, but is already taking shape.