Lightyear has begun manufacturing its first solar-powered car at the Valmet Automotive plant in Finland, as reported by Gizmodo.
“Starting production of Lightyear 0, the first solar car, brings us a big step closer to our mission of clean mobility for everyone, everywhere. We may be the first to achieve this, but I certainly hope we aren’t the last.”
Lex Hoefsloot, CEO and Co-Founder of Lightyear
Production target
The Dutch high-tech company intends to build a Lightyear 0 car each week before progressively ramping it up in Q1 2023. As per the report, Lightyear is the first automaker to produce an electric car that draws its power straight from the sun.
Pricing
The estimated 150 pre-orders will pay $US259,000 ($359,544) for their Lightyear 0 vehicle. That’s undoubtedly expensive, but if the car can run on solar power, you could consider it a one-time price for early adopters.
Road to clean mobility
In an effort to revolutionize the mobility industry, the company has launched Lightyear 0. It seeks to develop a more efficient car with a smaller 60kWh battery, as the company aims to enable customers to bypass the grid.
Furthermore, Lightyear has overcome one of the most difficult stages for new automotive companies. It has entered the market with new technology after six years of creating its innovations.
“We have hit many milestones in recent years, from major funding achievements to great partnerships. However, today is the most significant, and probably the most challenging, milestone we have reached so far.”
Lex Hoefsloot, CEO and Co-Founder of Lightyear
Lightyear’s amazing capability
According to reports, the Lightyear 0 will be able to travel for two months without recharging in Amsterdam throughout the summer. Meanwhile, Lightyear CEO Lex Hoefsloot informed Bloomberg that customers in Portugal could spend up to seven months without charging.
Remarkably, the curved solar panels on the car’s bonnet and roof absorb enough solar energy to increase the range by up to 69 kilometers daily.
On the other hand, the 0 is anticipated to have a range of up to 624 kilometers when fully charged.
Apparently, Lightyear 2 is also under development. It will be a higher-volume vehicle with a starting price of about $US31,500 ($43,728). By 2025, that car should be in production.
