The Lightyear 0 electric car is set to become a reality this fall. Unlike many of its competitors, the Dutch Lightyear not only uses electricity from the socket, but is also the first series-produced solar vehicle. The price: 250,000 euros.
It took six years to develop the supposedly first real solar car in the world. The Lightyear 0 is expected to go into production this fall. Planned up to a maximum of 946 vehicles. The manufacturer promises that the aerodynamically styled electric vehicle can drive for up to seven months without refueling at the charging station. “Today is the day we’ve all been waiting for since the five of us sat in a kitchen and sketched out our dream of the world’s most sustainable car,” says Lex Hoefsloot, CEO and co-founder of Lightyear, “In 2016 we had just one idea. Three years later we had a prototype and now, after six years of testing, iterating, designing and countless obstacles, Lightyear 0 is proof that what seemed impossible is actually possible.”
The 5.08 meter long Lightyear 0 has a total of five square meters of patented, double-curved solar cells on its body. They enable the electric car to charge itself while driving or when stationary. Under optimal conditions, the Lightyear 0 achieves an additional range of 70 kilometers per day in addition to its range of up to 625 kilometers. Thanks to a solar yield of up to 11,000 kilometers per year, drivers who only use the Lightyear 0 for their daily commute of 35 kilometers, for example, can drive for weeks or even months in the summertime before the streamlined bolide has to be charged again. This should work for at least two months a year in Central European countries such as Germany, Austria or the Netherlands. In southern Europe, plug-free propulsion would be possible for half a year or more.
The Lightyear 0 does a lot differently than other electric cars. Its four wheel hub motors are one of the most efficient electric drives currently available. The drag coefficient of less than 0.19 makes it an aerodynamic family car, while the low vehicle weight increases its efficiency. Despite its overall length of five meters, the total weight is only 1,575 kilograms. With an energy consumption of 10.5 kWh per 100 kilometers (at a maximum speed of 110 km/h), it is the most efficient electric vehicle available to date. At a manageable top speed of 110 km/h, up to 560 kilometers are possible without recharging, while the top speed is 160 km/h. The battery pack has a capacity of 60 kWh.
The dashboard features a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system that allows for cloud-based updates, and rear view is via screens instead of mirrors. The interior, which can accommodate up to five people, is made entirely of vegan materials from natural sources – such as ecological microfiber suede seats and details made of rattan palm. The cargo space holds 640 liters. Production of the Lightyear 0 will begin this fall and the first car is expected to be delivered to customers as early as November. The company wants to produce a maximum of 946 Lightyear 0 models at a price of 250,000 euros each. The successor model is then to be designed in large-scale production at an affordable entry-level price of 30,000 euros. This is planned for the end of 2024/beginning of 2025.
Source: Stern
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