Lightyear – All about car

A new upstart automaker out of the Netherlands, Lightyear, took the wraps off of its first offering late June, the One, an electric four-door vehicle (to call it a sedan would be stretching the definition) designed to charge its batteries using the power of the sun.According to the company, it has a maximum range of 725 kilometres when its batteries are fully juiced with the help of a wall charger.Maximum solar range is said to be in the 30-km ballpark, given ideal conditions.To cheat the wind, it has been sculpted to look like a lozenge, or, some might even suggest, a suppository (at least to this authors jaundiced eye).It does herald the long-awaited return of wheel skirts, with the half-moon cover evoking memories of the Hudson Hornet and just about any Citron. The car is roughly 200 inches long, about the same size as a new Ford Explorer.That 725-km range, by the way, is measured by the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP). This is a new global harmonised standard for determining the levels of pollutants, energy consumption and electric range from light-duty vehicles. It is said to provide more realistic estimates for customers than older methods.Lightyear One is propelled by four independently driven wheels. The company says in addition to lowering the weight and improving control, this setup means no energy is lost in transit from the motor to the wheel. Horsepower isnt mentioned, but the Lightyear One can allegedly scoot to 100 km/h from rest in about ten seconds.As for those solar panels, the cells are said to function independently, meaning even if part of the roof or hood is in shadow, the other cells continue to collect solar energy. Its estimated that a person could get about 40 per cent of their mileage from solar energy, even in a cloudy place like the companys Dutch homeland. Thats based on driving 20,000 km per year, by the way.The Lightyear One will be priced at 149,000 euros (about $223,000 Canadian bucks, at todays exchange rate). Its website says 411 of 500 Pioneer Edition cars are available at that price, requiring a reservation payment of 119,000 euros.The company says Pioneer Editions will enter production in early 2021. Slobs who popped for the regular Lightyear One, requiring just a 4,000-euro ante, will have to wait about an additional six months for their solar
Origin: Solar-powered car upstart Lightyear promises some bright stuff

Dutch start-up Lightyear has revealed a prototype of its upcoming new One, which it claims will be the world’s first long-range solar car. The One is a lightweight, four-wheel drive, coupé-style four-door, which Lightyear says will offer a range of around 450 miles on the WLTP combined cycle from a solar-electric hybrid powertrain. Lightyear claims the One is able to achieve this segment-leading range even with a much smaller battery than that found in equivalent BEVs, because it consumes much less energy than conventional electric cars. Each wheel is independently driven, minimising loss of energy throughout the drivetrain, while the use of ultra-light materials for its body construction reduces strain on the battery’s output. As well as generating as much as 12,430 miles worth of energy each year from solar power, the One can be charged from a conventional domestic 230V outlet, gaining up to 250 miles of range overnight The car’s five-metre-square solar panels are located on its roof and bonnet, comprising solar cells integrated in safety glass so strong that, Lightyear says, “a fully-grown adult can walk on them without causing dents.” Company boss Lex Hoefsloot said: ““The main goal of the car is to fill in where electric cars fall short. Research has shown that range and the lack of charging options are still the top concerns that people have when considering purchasing electric cars.” The One marks the start of Lightyear’s planned solar vehicle development strategy. While reservations for the One open at €119,000 (£106,000), future models will “have significantly lower purchase prices”. The company also says the One’s successors will be geared towards car-sharing, with high levels of autonomy and low operating costs, as it strives to create a product range that is fully sustainable. The first 100 One models, of a total planned production run of 500, have been reserved already. Build is set to get underway in
Origin: Lightyear One solar-charging EV revealed with 450 mile range