World’s first solar-powered production car that can travel 11,000 km/year without a charge – Times of India

Netherlands-based EV company Lightyear unveiled its first solar-powered electric car, the Lightyear 0. The company has announced that the production-ready model features of 60kWh battery pack that offers a range of 625 kilometers out of which 70 km of range is obtained by solar power alone. The vehicle is powered by four in-wheel electric motors that produce a combined 174PS of power. The solar output of the Lightyear 0 is claimed to be up to 11,000 km per year. The sedan features what is being called a ‘double-curved solar arrays, spread over 54 square feet between the front, roof and rear end of the EV. These solar panels can take energy from the sun at any given point.

The Lightyear 0 has also garnered attention due to its unique design and technology. In countries with the right conditions, for a person who commutes 35km every day, the solar EV could last for up to seven months without having to recharge its battery via an electric point. Even in countries without abundant sunshine, the Lightyear 0 could last for up to two months.
The engineering team took 6 years of research and development to make the production-ready model. However, it is not very different from the concept model that was showcased back in 2019. The car has long, flowing body lines that look elegant and add to its aerodynamic nature achieving a drag coefficient of 0.19 Cd. The company further touts the Lightyear 0 as the world’s most energy-efficient EV, consuming only 10.5 kWh for every 100 km traveled at highway speeds.

On the inside, the Lightyear 0 is in line with its sustainable mission statement. It features plant-based leather, microfibre upholstery, textiles made out of recycled bottles and 100 per cent vegan insulated particle foam. Entertainment and other information such as navigation come up on a 10.1-inch touchscreen that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Overall, the EV maker plans to build only 946 of these solar-powered vehicles every year. Starting price for the Lightyear 0 solar EV has been announced at USD 263,243 or Rs 2.05 crores (approximately).