By now it should become obvious even to those that have never believed, that everything is possible in the world of technology. This is not only with the emergence of self-driving cars or even with electric cars, but rather with the emergence of Solar cars, which a few years ago were thought as something impossible.
What makes it even more interesting is the fact that we do not have to wait for too long before these solar powered cars get to hit the streets, as it is expected that in 2019, the first of these cars known as the Lightyear One, will be released.
The development of the car was reported mid-2017 when it was argued that it may, in fact, be what may be a good competition for Elon Musk’s cars such as the Tesla Roadster.
The Lightyear One is designed with a very powerful battery that charges itself using power from the sun. When fully charged, the battery the solar car can cover as much as 800 KM, and in a very good and sunny environment, one may even get to move for as much as months after just a single charge. The thing though is that this is most unlikely until the company is able to test run it.
It was since 2012 that Lightyear began its journey into producing this car when it came to be thanks to 5 Solar Team Eindhoven alumni.
Recognized as one of the innovators of 2018 during the year’s CES, Lightyear One is attempting to put an end to the fiery debate about the practicability of actually having a car that will run specifically on solar power. What we have been seeing before this was the possibility of solar assisted cars and not those that would completely run on solar power. It has remained that way until this Dutch startup decided to surprise us with the impossible.
If everything goes as expected, the Lightyear One will come with solar cells that are going to power a 4-seat electric car solely by the sun. What is more is that the car also promises to come with the capabilities of letting you also drive anywhere at night.
With very little details to the exact specifications of the car, it is understood that it will bring in a solar option to electric cars in such a way that you no more need public charging spots to have your electric cars charged.
When all is set and done, it is the US and Europe that will get to have the first of the solar cars. One of the main problems they are trying to solve is as regards the charging of electric cars which are now designed to be charged in charging infrastructures that are built for such purposes.
The first Lightyear One cars that are going to be released are 10 in number, and for one to be able to afford one, you will need as much as €119,000 (US$137,000). The limited edition is only available for those in the Netherlands.
A year before Lightyear One came out to announce how what it has been doing, there was another car company from Beijing, Hanergy Holding Group, that came out in 2016 to claim that it has developed a car that would also completely be powered by energy from the sun with its Hanergy Solar R.
