Electric vehicles aren’t anything new - they have been around for years now. However, they aren’t exactly a common sight on all roads despite the many benefits they offer. Now, we have something that might change the game in the eco-friendly vehicle market.
A Dutch solar electric vehicle (SEV) startup called Lightyear just unveiled the production-ready design of their new car, the Lightyear 0. This sleek futuristic-looking vehicle promises to keep you on the road for seven months without a charge. If all things go well, you might get your hands on this beauty by November of this year!
So, what makes Lightyear 0 different from other eco-friendly cars? Most electric cars maximize their mileage by having a battery. However, these batteries increase the cars' carbon footprint, which is bad for the environment, as it contributes to urban air pollution.
Lightyear 0 tackles this problem by featuring five square meters of solar panels that keep it charged. These solar panels charge the car’s battery whether the vehicle is parked outdoors or driving in the sun. The company says the solar cells covering the top of the car will be able to power it with 43 miles (70 km) per day on the battery’s 388-mile (625 kilometers) capacity. This should be enough to cover a person's average commute and daily trips without needing to plug in.
The company estimates that people living in sunny areas can go up to seven months with Lightyear 0 without having to charge via a plug. "If you live in an overcast area, the car will still give you at least two months of drive time," they add.
Moreover, you don’t need a high-powered charging station for charging the Lightyear 0; a regular plug and socket will still charge the car at a rate of 20 miles (32 km) per hour. The company further claims that the Lightyear 0 is the world’s most energy-efficient electric vehicle; it takes only 10.5 kWh for every 100 km traveled at highway speeds.
The Lightyear 0 offers more than its groundbreaking solar panels. It also features four in-wheel electric motors that can generate a combined 174 horsepower and 1,269 pound-feet of torque. This can help accelerate the Lightyear 0 from 0-62 mph in just 10 seconds and a top speed of 100 mph (161 kph).
What’s more, the vehicle boasts of a ‘holistic’ design as well.The interior design features vegan materials and fabrics made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate bottles, while its outer panels are made from reclaimed carbon and residual carbon materials. The sedan's interior is fashioned with a 10.1-inch touchscreen that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
With all that said, Lightyear 0 doesn’t come cheap – the starting price for the sedan is a steep $265,000. But the good news is that the company is working on a second model that will be priced at $31,589. Production is expected to begin in late 2024 or early 2025.
For now, the company plans to build 946 Lightyear 0 vehicles a year. The car will be available to consumers in Europe in November 2022. Whether or not it will succeed remains to be seen, but the solar-powered car's main selling point will be that it delivers more range with less battery, reducing weight and CO₂ emissions per vehicle.
Subscribe and REMOVE ALL ADS
LOVE our articles but HATE our ads? For only $3.89 per month, enjoy a seamless, ad-free experience that lets you focus on what matters most — enjoying all of our content, uninterrupted. 🔒 100% Secure Payment 📅 Cancel Anytime, No Strings Attached Unlock a cleaner, faster browsing experience today and gain the freedom to navigate without visual clutter.
Ready for a Ad-Free experience? Upgrade now for just $3.89/month!
To enable your Ad-Free Subscription, please fill the fields below
Thank you for your subscription!
Your subscription was successful, now you can enjoy an ad-free experience!! Note: To make sure you get no ads, please make sure to log in to your account. If you are logged in already, then refresh the page. The subscription can be cancelled at any time.
Subscribe
Love vehicles of Any Kind?
Get updates on new posts directly to your inbox!
Login
Login via Email
The new BabaMail app is now available at the app stores.
