World’s first solar electric production car revealed

A Dutch clean mobility company claims to have introduced the world’s first solar car production model to market: the Lightyear One.

The Netherlands-based outfit, which has contested Australia's World Solar Challenge race in the past, has developed the breakthrough production model with the intent to draw on power from the sun and conventional charging.

The Lightyear One features a sleek, elongated body designed for maximum efficiency. An electric motor drives each wheel, the rears covered for aerodynamics, while the car’s stretched rear tries to maximise space for a total five-square metres’ worth of solar panels.

The solar cells sit beneath safety glass, which the company claims is "so strong that a fully-grown adult can walk on them without causing dents".

All told, the Lightyear One offers a claimed electric range of 725km on the WLTP test cycle, though in ‘optimal conditions’, 12km worth of range can be added each hour courtesy of the sun.

Though solar cars have been bandied for years and the annual Solar Car World Challenge is held in Australia, this is the first time the tech has been applied to a production-specification model.

What helps gear the One for everyday life is regular charging ports, as per a normal electric car. Officials claim it can offer 507km worth of range in an hour when hooked to a 60kW fast charger. Use of a 230V household socket adds about 400km worth of range overnight.

Lightyear has steered clear of otherworldly performance and headline power and torque figures. Instead, the One is focused primarily on range, which helps explain a circa 10-second 0-100km/h time.

Inside, the practicality theme continues with two large screen, an array of storage and a minimalist dashboard layout.

Pricing for the Lightyear One will start at $A244,000 in Europe, with production to commence about 2021.