The prototype of the first long-range solar car will be unveiled by Lightyear, a Dutch pioneer in clean mobility, in the Netherlands on 25 June.
The Lightyear One, the company’s 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. The Lightyear One was designed from the ground up to solve two of the biggest drawbacks of electric cars: range and charging. The four-wheel drive car is designed to go for long periods without cable-charging. The battery alone has a range of 600-800km, 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, according to the company. 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.
In addition, the Lightyear One’s optimised aerodynamics, light weight and four independent in-wheel motors deliver torque with very high efficiencies.
Lightyear’s goal is to deliver cars with very low operating costs and long lifetime, within the next ten years, so that the usage cost per kilometre becomes extremely low. At that point, driving electric will become accessible to a much larger group of people than it is currently.
The Lightyear Prototype One is eagerly awaited by environmentalists and car enthusiasts, as well as the almost 100 people who have already reserved a Lightyear One.
