Lightyear has finally revealed the production version of its ambitious solar power vehicle, the Zero. The car comes equipped with some groundbreaking tech, so let’s look at it closely.
Unlike its competition, the Lightyear 0 has 5 square meters (around 54 square feet) of solar panels on its roof and trunk. This should enable it to generate enough energy for around 4,600 miles (7,400 kilometers) of free driving range every year. The company claims the test prototypes were even more efficient than that with up to 11,000 km of free range.
Coming in at 5,083 mm (199 inches) long, the car weighs as little as 1,575 kilograms (3,472 pounds) despite being all-electric. This becomes possible thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber in the bodywork and chassis, as well as a medium-sized 60-kWh traction battery on board. The trunk is still not bad at 640 liters (22.6 cubic feet) large.
A quartet of electric motors rotates the wheels with an unspecified amount of power and torque. The vehicle needs ten seconds to reach 97 km/h (60 mph) from standstill and does not exceed 160 km/h (100 mph). Its range is estimated at 625 km (388 miles) on average, but utilizing the solar elements will net you a free 70 km (43 miles) per day if the weather is sunny enough. You can even drive it daily without ever using charging stations for as long as the weather holds.
An hour of charging from a wall socket only replenishes 32 km (20 miles) of range, but plug into a fast charging terminal, and you will get enough charge for 520 km (323 miles) within an hour. The drag ratio deserves a special mention here, because it amounts to a record-low 0.19: even the much-hyped Mercedes-Benz EQS has 0.20.
Lightyear 0 uses recycled carbon-fiber waste for its bodywork, which the manufacturer claims would otherwise have landed in the scrapyard. The cabin mostly relies on vegetable fiber-derived vegan leather, recycled plastic fabrics, and rattan inserts.
And then there is the pricing: the most basic trim will set you back no less than €250,000 in Europe.
