The innovative sedan uses the sun to gain range when possible—but it’s not exactly cheap.
- Valmet begins production of the Lightyear 0 in Finland, with the sleek sedan entering small-volume production.
- The partially solar-powered sedan promises a range of 388 miles in the WLTP cycle, but also promises up to 11,000 kilometers of range from the sun each year.
- The pricey sedan is meant to be a technology demonstrator, ahead of the planned arrival of mass-market EVs from the same company.
Lightyear 0 was always going to present a difficult equation, offering the most aerodynamic profiles in the industry with drag coefficient of 0.175 Cd, along with a solar skin, enough to get 43.4 miles of range per day from the sun alone. But it also comes with a price tag of just over a quarter of a million dollars.
Despite this ambitious proposition to prospective EV buyers and investors alike, Lightyear 0 has entered production this week in (occasionally) sunny Finland.
“In just six years, we have gone from an idea, to a definite proof of concept. Within weeks, the first solar cars will be driving on European roads to give the world its first glimpse of clean mobility,” the company said this week.
Valmet plans to build just one car per week.
Lightyear
The Lightyear 0, formerly known as Lightyear One, is being produced by contract manufacturer Valmet at a rate of one car per week—not exactly a breakneck pace—but the total number of units Lightyear plans to build is just 150 cars. So this is more of a proof of concept that will be available for 150 owners to drive on the street, while Lightyear focuses on a mass-market model, due in 2025.
Powered by a 61.2-kWh battery weight only 771 pounds, and promising the highest energy density of any EV, the Lightyear 0 is set to offer a range of 625 kms (388 miles) in the WLTP cycle, with a highway range of 347 miles.
Depending on the amount of sun your locale enjoys, Lightyear says owners will be able to get between 6000 and 11,000 kilometers (3728 to 6835 miles) of range from the sun alone each year. The hood, roof, and hatch are covered in 782 IBC monocrystalline silicon solar cells, which feature a peak solar charging speed of 1.05 kW.
Lightyear claims owners will be able to get up to 11,000 kilometers of range per year from the sun, provided they live somewhere sunny.
Lightyear
The innovative tech doesn’t end there, as the Lightyear 0 also features four independently controlled in-wheel motors that produce a peak 170 hp combined.
“Four traction inverters and direct drive-in-wheel motors eliminate the need for energy draining components, such as gearbox and driveshafts. Our drivetrain is not only in pole position for the highest efficiency on the market, it also reduces the number of rotating components for much lower maintenance,” the company notes.
It’s easy to see how the cost of all of these technologies can add up quickly—up to $260,000 to be exact. But Lightyear isn’t after volume production at the moment, rather using the innovative sedan to showcase its technologies for its next model.
Jay Ramey Jay Ramey grew up around very strange European cars, and instead of seeking out something reliable and comfortable for his own personal use he has been drawn to the more adventurous side of the dependability spectrum.
Keyword: Lightyear 0 Production Starts, Promising 388 Miles of Range