A solar-powered car that is able to drive hundreds of kilometres on a single charge is set to be released this year. You can see it in action here:
During a test in Italy last month, the Lightyear One was able to travel a whopping 400km (248 miles) at a speed of 130kph (80mph) before it needed to be charged and has previously travelled more than 700km (434 miles) at a lower speed.
Creator Lightyear say the new car will be the ‘world’s most efficient and sustainable’ vehicle on the market, allowing motorists months of travel without charging.
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Lightyear is hoping to get the cars out to customers by the middle of this year and are accepting reservations on its website now, with a €150,000 (£126,178) down payment.
As per The Independent, Megan Parfitt, vehicle test coordinator at Lightyear said: “We have achieved an energy consumption of 141-watt hours per kilometre. What this means is that on one charge, you’d be able to drive for over 400km. For example, that ‘s from Amsterdam all the way to Luxembourg.
“Comparing that to other vehicles on the market right now, that’s about one-and-a-half times further than a directly-comparable vehicle can do with the same battery size.
"It shows we’re well on our way to achieving our target of being the most efficient car on the market, not just in legislative cycles but also in real-world conditions that the customer will experience."
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In a statement on its website, Lightyear explains: “Lightyear One is a long range solar electric vehicle designed to be grid independent and to drive anywhere.
"Its unique vehicle architecture and technology have been developed with high efficiency in mind, allowing Lightyear One to consume only 83 Wh/km — two to three times less energy than any other electric vehicle on the market today.
"This results in an exceptional range of 725km (450 miles) (WLTP) with the lowest emissions, the lowest charging frequency, and 7,000km (4349 miles) to 20,000km (12427 miles) of free, effortless, and clean solar range every year.”
Alongside the distance tests, while in Aprilia, Italy, the car’s manufacturer tested real-world aerodynamics and said it showed ‘record breaking’ results.
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In a press release, Lightyear said: “Our road tests confirm that we’re on track to producing the most aerodynamic five-seater to date.
“As our world moves to more sustainable energy sources, Lightyear is driving the development of clean mobility in the automotive industry.”
Topics: Cars
Claire Reid