While electric vehicles (EVs) are currently experiencing a massive upswing in popularity, the next generation of “green” transportation is already gearing up to make its debut, as the world’s first commercial solar electric vehicles are due to hit the market within the next few years, reports say.
However, while the technology behind these new solar-powered vehicles still needs to mature before they become a viable alternative to EVs or gas-powered cars, the future potential is evident; currently, California-based Aptera Motors and Dutch company Lightyear are manufacturing solar EVs whose solar panels can – in conjunction with an on-board lithium-based battery – allow the cars to eke out an additional 15 to 45 miles of travel, with more to come as the tech matures.
Solar vehicle manufacturers believe that eventually these cars will be able to accommodate all of the short-range travel needs of motorists, and eventually could evolve to the point where the majority of their mileage will come from the power of sunlight.
The first solar-powered car scheduled to hit the market is the Sono Sion, which will enter production in Europe in the middle of 2023; the vehicle will come with a 190-mile range battery, in addition to an array of 465 solar panels integrated into its body, according to Sono Motors co-CEO and co-founder Laurin Hahn.
So this car gives you per year 5,700 miles free of charge, you know, free of any costs, because it comes from the sun. This is roughly 15 miles a day, which is perfect for commuters,” Hahn said.
Another European vehicle, the Lightyear 0, is expected to the market by the end of 2022, and comes equipped with a lithium-ion battery that gets 390 miles per charge along with an additional 20 to 45 miles per day from its solar panels.
Meanwhile, the U.S.-produced Aptera is a three-wheeled, two-seat vehicle that will enter production in early 2023; due to its light weight, the premium version of the vehicle will include a battery with a whopping 1,000 miles in range, coupled with an additional 30 miles per day coming from sunlight.
But the road to a completely solar-powered car may be complicated, as the total surface area of most cars severely limits the maximum number of panels that can be installed, along with the fact that even the best panels on the market currently have an efficiency rating of just 22 percent.
However, newly-emerging solar glass technology that can turn car windows into solar panels are paving the way to vehicles that could potentially achieve 80 to 100 miles based on sunlight alone are possible, experts say.
Joe Mcdermott is a staff reporter who keeps his eyes peeled for interesting automotive news. He works mainly for our subsidiary, The Published Reporter® as well as our IT firm, SEARCHEN NETWORKS®. Mcdermott, one of our first and thus veteran reporters, is also a data analyst for select independent news and media organizations in the United States.