Lightyear, a Dutch startup, has recently introduced the Lightyear 0 electric vehicle equipped with solar panels.
The Lightyear 0 features a sleek design, weighs 1,575 kg, and measures over 5 meters in length, comparable to the BMW Series 7. Its roof is aerodynamically sloped towards the back, achieving a drag coefficient of just 0.19, on par with modern sports cars.
The standout feature of this electric vehicle is its curved solar panels, allowing it to recharge at any time. While these integrated solar panels cannot fully charge the vehicle’s battery, they can provide a gradual and continuous charge when the vehicle is driven on sunny days.
According to Lightyear, the solar panels can deliver a continuous trickle charge of up to 1.05 kW under ideal conditions.
In the summer, the solar panels enable the electric vehicle to extend its driving range by up to 70 km per day. If a user only commutes 35 km each day, they could use the vehicle for up to 7 months before needing to recharge.
Lightyear estimates that due to its aerodynamic design and high-performance electric motors located in the wheels, this electric vehicle can travel 625 km on a single charge. At a speed of 110 km/h, it can cover 560 km on one charge.
The Lightyear 0 is equipped with a 60 kWh battery and features rapid charging technology. It has four electric motors that provide a total output of 174 horsepower and a torque of 1,720 Nm. The vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 10 seconds, with a top speed of 160 km/h.
The interior of the Lightyear 0 is quite minimalist and predominantly uses environmentally friendly materials such as recycled plastic bottles, insulating foam, and plant-based leather.
The vehicle features a 10.1-inch touchscreen display running on Android Automotive OS. Additionally, it is integrated with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and over-the-air software update capabilities.
Lightyear has announced that it will produce 946 units of this solar-powered electric vehicle, which will start reaching consumers from November 2022. The retail price of this solar electric vehicle is approximately $263,262, significantly higher than the Tesla Model S (Plaid version at $129,990) and the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan (at $102,310). If all vehicles are sold, a more affordable solar-powered electric vehicle suitable for a broader customer base will be produced, starting at €30,000 (around $32,000 or approximately 731 million VND) in early 2025.
