A Dutch startup company called Lightyear has recently unveiled its groundbreaking creation, the Lightyear 0 – an innovative solar car. This remarkable vehicle is not only the world’s first solar car, but also the first electric car to be mass-produced. Lightyear introduced this game-changing technology, which allows the car to generate energy directly from sunlight, in July.
The initial prototype from Lightyear, known as the Lightyear 0, carries a price tag of 250,000 euros ($259,000) and has garnered approximately 150 pre-orders at present.
Lightyear plans to manufacture approximately 1,000 Lightyearr0s at the Valmet Automotive Oyj plant in Finland. Initially, the production rate will be one car per week. However, the company anticipates a production increase to five units per week during the second half of 2023.
The Lightyear 0 features a sleek and elongated design, weighing 1,575 kg and measuring over 5 meters in length, making it comparable in size to the BMW Series-7.
The car’s roof is designed with an aerodynamically beveled back, boasting a wind resistance coefficient of just 0.19. This places it on par with current sports car models, potentially making it a strong competitor to the Mercedes EQXX concept. Lightyear 0 is anticipated to become the most aerodynamic family car available in the market.
The standout characteristic of this electric vehicle is its sleek solar panels, which enable it to continuously charge itself at all times. While these built-in solar panels may not fully replenish the vehicle’s battery, they steadily and consistently recharge whenever the vehicle is in motion on a sunny day.
Lightyear mentioned that the solar panels are capable of continuously trickle charging, with an optimum capacity of up to 1.05 kW in ideal conditions.
During summer, the electric vehicle can extend its daily range up to 70 km with the help of solar panels. Considering that the user’s daily commute to work is only 35 km, the car can be utilized for up to 7 months in Portugal before requiring a recharge.
Based on Lightyear’s calculations, this electric vehicle can cover a distance of 625 km on a single charge due to its sleek aerodynamic design and efficient electric motors located in the wheels. When driving at a speed of 110 km/h, the car can travel approximately 560 km before needing to recharge.
Lightyear 0 is fitted with a 60 kWh battery pack and features fast charging capabilities. When using public charging stations, the car can travel up to 200 km after just 1 hour of charging. On the other hand, if charged slowly at home, it covers a distance of 32 km in 1 hour.
The car is furnished with four electric motors, delivering 174 horsepower and 1,720 Nm of torque. Lightyear 0 has the ability to go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 10 seconds. Its top speed is 160 km/h.
The interior of the Lightyear 0 is designed to be uncomplicated, utilizing primarily eco-friendly materials like recycled plastic bottles, insulating grain foam, and vegetable-based leather.
The car comes with a 10.1-inch central touch screen that operates on the Android Automotive operating system. Additionally, the car is compatible with the Android Auto system, Apple CarPlay, and has the ability to receive software updates wirelessly.
Please watch the video at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLQfH_RVCKQ
For a more comprehensive look at vehicle configuration, please visit this link: https://lightyear.one/lightyear-0.
