The solar-powered car from the Dutch brand Lightyear is ready to go into production. The Lightyear 0 can be recharged during your race, and would have 700 to 1000 km of autonomy.
The car will have a sleek, elegant, curvaceous look. Above all, more autonomous than any car on the electric market, it claims not to depend on charging points.
A luxury vehicle
The Lightyear 0 is an electric car equipped with 5 m² of solar panels. It’s a chic sedan, a revised version of the Lightyear One announced in 2019. Its body is made of recycled carbon fiber. Instead of mirrors, the Lighyear 0 is equipped with cameras. The interior is lined entirely with vegan materials: microfibers, plant-derived faux leathers, and fabrics made from recycled bottles. A large navigation touch screen will be compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Five adults can fit comfortably inside. The solar vehicle is just the first step in an ambitious evolution plan at Lightyear. It will be produced in a limited series: only 946 units will be available for purchase, at the (very high) price of €250,000. However, the company’s goal is to make this clean-energy car accessible to everyone: the Lightyear 2, which is expected to arrive in 2024-2025, will be mass-produced and available at an affordable price.
The solar powered car
Every day, thanks to its exposure to sunlight, the Lightyear 0 will be able to gain up to 70 km of autonomy. Thus, on the basis of a daily journey of 22 km per day, the Lightyear 0 could spend two summer months without needing to be plugged in, in a region with moderate sunshine like the Netherlands. In Spain or Portugal, it can spend almost seven months without being connected. The 5 m² of solar panels are mounted on the roof and on the hood of the car, a design thought to maximize exposure to the sun during the journey.
With solar charging, Lightyear circumvents the major problem of electric vehicles: finding charging points. According to the company, the major obstacle to the purchase of electric cars today is the lack of charging stations available on the road. The Lightyear 0 will not depend on these infrastructures, but can still be easily recharged on socket to guarantee you a long autonomy in all weathers (in one night, it can charge 300 km of autonomy). Additionally, it has a top speed of 160 km/h, an annual solar gain of 11,000 km, and a range of 560 km at 110 km/h on the highway.
Source : CNET
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