When most people think of electric vehicles (EVs), they think of plug-in stations and long charging times. But a new, solar-powered car may change all of that.
The Dutch company Lightyear has announced that its Lightyear 0 model is being manufactured. The Lightyear 0 can charge literally any time the car is in the sun, meaning while parked or on the go.
The vehicle, which would be the first of its kind, comes after years of innovation and development.
This insanely sleek EV can travel up to 43 miles a day solely from the solar panels on its roof, meaning you could theoretically go for months without needing to charge it. And if you need to take a long trip, the Lightyear 0 can still go up to 185 miles from an overnight charge.
Make no mistake: this is amazing news. While EVs are already making a dent in improving air quality, especially in densely populated areas, much of the electricity used to charge them comes from dirty energy sources.
These solar cars represent a solution to powering our transportation while the economy transitions toward cleaner energy sources. And considering over 25% of the U.S.'s harmful carbon pollution comes from the transportation sector, using solar EVs could be an opportunity to make a huge difference.
Lightyear's Finland plant will produce the first thousand of these models, and by late 2023, the company will ramp up manufacturing — quintupling its initial rate of production.
The Lightyear 0 is currently quite expensive though, as the technology still isn't widely available. The model will cost about a quarter of a million dollars.
Lightyear is also developing a cheaper model, which should cost closer to $32,000. That car should be available by the end of 2025, Bloomberg reports.
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