Dutch electric vehicle startup Lightyear has released the world's first production-ready solar-powered car. It is reported that the Lightyear 0 is a family car that adds 5 square meters of solar panels, which can increase the driving range of up to about 70 kilometers per day.
Lightyear, founded in the Netherlands in 2016, will deliver the world's first production-ready solar car to customers later this year. The company promises that the solar-powered car can be driven for months in summer without recharging.
Lightyear will build 949 solar-powered cars with curved solar panels on the hood and roof, providing a range of up to 70 kilometers per day.
The company says the Lightyear 0 can travel about 624 kilometers on a single charge. One hour of sunlight exposure can add about 9 kilometers of driving range to the vehicle.
The company's CEO said: "Electric vehicles are a step in the right direction, but they rely on electricity, which is still largely dependent on fossil fuel energy. Adding solar panels ensures that the vehicle can be powered by solar energy and can Recharge your vehicle less often." The car sells for $263,000.
According to Lightyear, the optimized solar roof and overall design can allow the Lightyear 0 to drive for weeks or even months without charging. With an average commute distance of about 35 kilometers per day, the Lightyear 0 can travel for up to two months in cloudy climates before needing a charge. In sunny countries, the Lightyear 0 can last up to 7 months. Lightyear 0 can travel 32 kilometers after charging for 1 hour after connecting to ordinary household power.
Lightyear will begin production in the fall, and the first solar-powered cars will be delivered to owners in November.
