The Lightyear 0 is a car from the Netherlands that uses solar power to go up to 500 kilometers without needing to recharge. It's like having the sun as your fuel. This car has special solar panels on the roof and front that can give you up to 70 kilometers of driving every day without needing to plug it in.
But, just like a regular electric car, it also has a battery that you can charge by plugging it into a wall or a charging station. When fully charged, it can go as far as 710 kilometers on a single charge. The solar panels can add about 10 kilometers of range for every hour of sun, which is like getting 1.05 kilowatts of energy all day. That's enough to drive 70 kilometers during a sunny summer day, according to Lightyear One, the company that makes the car.
If you have a full battery and the solar panels are working, Lightyear says that if you drive less than 50 kilometers each day, you might not need to plug it in for months.
The inside of the Lightyear car is simple and uses materials that are good for the environment. It's designed to be really aerodynamic, which means it can go a long way on less energy. It has special tires that make it easier to roll and go faster with less effort.
But, to be so efficient, the Lightyear 0 isn't a super-fast sports car. It takes 10 seconds to speed up from a complete stop to 100 kilometers per hour, and it can go up to 233 kilometers per hour. Some electric sports cars today can go from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in less than four seconds.
The Dutch car is also practical because it can carry five people and their luggage. The inside is made from materials that are good for the environment, like plant-based leather, recycled bottles, and rattan palm. It also has a 10.1-inch touchscreen.
They're only making 946 of these cars, and each one costs $266,000, which is about R4.3 million. They were supposed to start delivering them in November 2021.
