The Lightyear 0.
Lightyear/lightyear.one
- The Lightyear 0 is a solar-powered electric car made by the EV startup Lightyear.
- The car is set to go on sale by the end of the year and cost 250,000 euros, or about $262,000.
- Rodrigo Fersainz got the chance to test the car at an immersive experience in Navarre, Spain.
This is an edited, translated version of an article that originally appeared on June 27, 2022.
Lightyear, an electric-vehicle startup in the Netherlands, recently held a test event for its Lightyear 0 electric car, which it claims is “the world’s first production-ready solar car.”
Rodrigo Fersainz
The defining feature of the car is its 5 square meters of solar panels, which Lightyear says can add up to 43 miles a day to its range.
Rodrigo Fersainz
You can monitor how much solar energy the car is taking in via screens in the car or an app on your phone.
Rodrigo Fersainz
To get going in the Lightyear 0, you press the brake, hit the “D” button, and accelerate.
Rodrigo Fersainz
The steering was initially quite heavy, but it seemed to improve over time.
Rodrigo Fersainz
It’s fairly slow for an electric car — it has a top speed of 100 mph and can go from 0 to 62 mph in 10 seconds.
Rodrigo Fersainz
When you lift off the accelerator in “light mode,” the car continues to cruise for a long time.
Rodrigo Fersainz/Lightyear
The car’s suspension was quite stiff.
Rodrigo Fersainz
The aerodynamic noise was a little loud both when the engine was running and when it was off.
Rodrigo Fersainz
The Lightyear 0 has a lightweight, sleek design, with body panels made from reclaimed carbon fiber.
Rodrigo Fersainz
It uses cameras instead of rearview mirrors.
Rodrigo Fersainz
Lightyear says the interior is “vegan and eco-friendly” as it’s made from plant-based leather and sustainable fabrics. It says the steering wheel is 3D-printed.
Rodrigo Fersainz
There are three seats in the back, but it’s a tight squeeze for your legs and anything you want to bring with you.
Rodrigo Fersainz
But there’s lots of space in the trunk — it can hold 640 liters without folding down the rear seats.
Rodrigo Fersainz
The car also has an infotainment system with a 10.1-inch screen.
Rodrigo Fersainz
But there were too many screens in the car. Here’s one of the rearview camera displays mounted in the front corners.
Rodrigo Fersainz
The Lightyear 0 is extremely expensive, at 250,000 euros, or about $262,000, but it comes with a warranty of eight years or 124,000 miles. Lightyear plans to start deliveries at the end of the year.
Rodrigo Fersainz