The prototype of the first long-range solar car has arrived. The announcement was made today by Lightyear, the Dutch pioneer in clean mobility. The Lightyear One, their proof of concept car, will be the first concrete step towards Lightyear’s mission of making clean mobility available for everyone, everywhere. Lightyear’s approach uses several innovations to free the driver and take the car anywhere. The Lightyear One was designed from the ground up to solve two of the biggest drawbacks of electric cars: range and charging.
The 4-wheel drive car is designed to go for long periods without cable-charging. The battery alone has a range of 600-800 kilometers, depending on the usage. When it does need to be charged, the model’s energy efficiency makes it charge two or three times faster than any other electric car on the market. This means drivers can charge up to 400km overnight with an ordinary power socket, providing them with the freedom to use the Lightyear One in places without electric car charging infrastructure. The revolutionary engineering of the Lightyear One isn’t limited to power. Its optimized aerodynamics, light weight and four independent in-wheel motors deliver torque with very high efficiencies; Lightyear ensures that its car makes the most of every bit of energy it produces. The prototype of the first long-range solar car will be unveiled in the Netherlands on June 25th.
