‘World’s First Solar Car’ Is Built To Drive For Months Without Charging

Back in 2018, up-and-coming startup Lightyear announced its plans to develop an electric car that could be powered by the sun. While that may have only seemed like a lofty dream, the company has recently announced the launch of the “world’s first solar car,” otherwise known as the Lightyear 0.

The vehicle, which is road-legal and could take to the streets as early as this November, was six years in the making—from research and design to engineering, prototyping, and testing—and is scheduled to be finally produced this fall. 

Most impressively, the car’s doubled curved solar arrays allow it to go for up to seven months without having to be plugged into a charging station. Yup, you read that right. The brand said drivers will be able to go beyond 1,000 km (620 miles) between charges, allowing you to venture off the beaten path without fear of losing steam.

In fact, just through the sun, the vehicle can power itself for an extra 70 km (43 miles) per day in addition to its default 625 km range. During the summer, drivers using the car for their daily commute will be able to go months without plugging it into a charger of any kind, though the exact time period differs according to region.

Apart from being solar-powered, the Lightyear 0 tops the charts for efficiency, with the car only using 10.5 kWh of energy per 100 km (62 miles). Plus, with a drag coefficient lower than 0.19, it could possibly be the most aerodynamic family car available to date.

Within the car’s interiors, almost every surface is composed of vegan and naturally-sourced materials, including ecological microfiber suede seats and rattan palm detailing, promising a comfortable ride alongside the large 10.1-inch infotainment system.

Lightyear aims to produce a maximum of 946 vehicles at a cost of €250,000 in order to lead it into its next high-volume model, which will be offered in late 2024 or early 2025 to the public at an affordable price point of €30,000.

As co-founder Lex Hoefsloot put it, “After six years of testing, iterating, (re)designing, and countless obstacles, Lightyear 0 is proof that the impossible is actually possible.” 

[via Robb Report and Lightyear, images via Lightyear]