Lightyear One, the first solar car, can now be reserved

Just over a year ago we first learned of the plans of the Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands) to create a solar-powered car. This car is based on the Stella Vie prototype, which was presented at the World Solar Challenge and has already passed several tests, so it can move into production.

The solar car is called the Lightyear One and is powered by the energy harvested by a five-square-metre surface of solar panels located on the roof and bonnet. These are responsible for capturing enough sunlight to charge the battery when it is outdoors, which allows it to recover energy as it drives.

This is a good solution for achieving an alternative energy source to traditional chargers and for having a good range. It should be noted that the batteries of the Lightyear One are charged with a traditional charger, and the solar panels work as a means of extending its range.

With a full charge the Lightyear One can travel about 400 kilometres, although if there is sun and conditions are favourable it can be increased to 600 or 800 kilometres. This would be very practical in countries such as Spain, which enjoys many hours of sunshine, and could be a very practical alternative to other types of vehicle.

Drawbacks of the Lightyear One

The solar panels are protected by a high-strength glass that is capable of withstanding a weight of up to 100 kg. This is enough to protect the panels from knocks and other problems, although it presents a serious drawback: in the event of a pedestrian being run over, it could cause serious injury, as the material is very hard.

This will be tested in the Euro NCAP tests and may pose problems in obtaining a good score for safety in pedestrian collisions. The range increased by the solar panels could also be affected in countries where sunlight is not as present. In these places a traditional electric car might be more practical, so the advantage would be smaller.

The Lightyear One is not yet on sale, but a first round of reservations for 100 units has opened. Once that first round was over, a second round of 500 units opened, which has not yet closed. The launch price is 119,000 euros, but the company wants to launch other variants of the model, possibly with less range and other features, at a lower price, so it may be a good idea to wait a little to see how the project evolves.