A solar-powered electric car has traveled hundreds of kilometers on a single charge, marking a major milestone for the launch of the world's "most efficient and sustainable" vehicle.
See also: Alice: The first fully electric passenger plane is ready to fly
This is the Lightyear One, an electric car that can be driven almost exclusively by solar/electric energy generated by its photovoltaic roof. The car promises enormous autonomy, thanks of course to the battery it has, since it is essentially a battery electric vehicle that has the ability to self-charge with the help of a photovoltaic roof panel.
During the most recent tests in the Italian city of Aprilia, the Lightyear One covered 400 kilometers (248 miles) at 130 km/h before needing to be recharged. Previous tests conducted at a lower speed saw the electric car travel more than 700 kilometers.
Lightyear, the Dutch company behind the solar electric car, claims its car will allow customers to “drive for months without charging” and hopes to deliver the first vehicles to customers by mid-2022.
See also: Hyundai and Genesis cars may support CarKey by summer
Reservations for Lightyear One can already be made through the company's official website
“On a single charge, you will be able to drive for more than 400 km. For example, that is a distance from Amsterdam to Luxembourg,” said Megan Parfitt, vehicle testing coordinator at Lightyear.
“Comparing this to other vehicles on the market right now, we see that it is much more efficient than any directly comparable vehicle with the same battery size… It shows that we are well on our way to achieving our goal of being the most efficient car on the market, in real-world customer-experienced conditions“.
Lightyear also conducted real-world tests on aerodynamics, and the company claims the results were amazing.
"Our tests confirm that we are well on track to produce the most aerodynamic five-seater to date," the company said in a statement posted on its website.
See also: Mazda vehicle infotainment freezes due to Seattle NPR station
“As our world moves towards more sustainable energy sources, Lightyear is leading the development of clean mobility in the automotive industry“.
The Lightyear One won't be the first solar- to hit the market, but it will be the first four-wheeled car of its kind that can carry more than one passenger.
Source: The Independent
