Lightyear Two, the solar car that only needs charging once a month

A few years ago we discovered the Lightyear One, an electric car powered by solar energy. This model, which comes from the Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands), has passed several tests and has shown that it can stay on the road and active throughout the summer without needing to charge through a plug. Production of this model will begin in a few weeks and it will be ready for the first deliveries in the summer of 2022.

The Lightyear One has a price of 150,000 euros, a fairly high figure but one that is justified by its low charging and maintenance costs. However, while it has not yet entered production and it is known it will still take a long time to reach its owners, a second project has been presented, based on this one and which will have a much more competitive price.

A new model for 2025

The Lightyear Two will be ready at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025 and will have a feature that will make it much more affordable. The price of this model will be 29,900 euros, which will place it at the level of other electric models. Another advantage over the previous model is that, in principle, 5,000 units of the model will be made available for acquisition under a subscription scheme, which will make it even more attractive.

The company assures that the vehicles will be manufactured by Valmet Automotive, a company that produces around 1.7 million vehicles for Mercedes and Porsche. The Lightyear One features solar panels that run from the bonnet to the rear, so the exposed area is maximised, which allows the charge to be maintained for longer.

These panels, together with the car’s limited weight, mean it can be used for a long time without needing to be plugged in every so often. The Lightyear One uses lighter battery packs, with motors designed to deliver more performance at a lower weight.

The Lightyear One’s battery has a capacity of 60 kWh and allowed a range of 710 kilometres, although in a test on a circuit where it was driven at an average speed of 85 km/h. As for the capabilities and features of the Lightyear Two, the company has not provided data, only that it will be able to recharge its battery through the solar panels.

We will have to wait some time to see what data they share about this model and how it will affect its range, given the price difference between the two vehicles. The images and video accompanying this article belong to the Lightyear One, but we can get an idea of what the brand offers.

https://youtu.be/lnEPjJBBjFg