It was in 2019 that Dutch EV startup Lightyear first revealed an idea for a glossy sedan with in-wheel motors and photo voltaic panels spanning the hood and roof.

On Thursday, the corporate revealed the manufacturing model which has been confirmed because the Lightyear 0. It is resulting from enter manufacturing within the fall and is slated to achieve the primary prospects in November.

The 0 encompasses a 60-kilowatt-hour battery which the corporate claims will ship a variety of 388 miles on the WLTP take a look at cycle used outdoors the U.S. This could nonetheless lead to greater than 300 miles on the stricter cycle utilized by the EPA.

The important thing to such excessive vary with such a small battery is effectivity. Along with having a claimed drag coefficient of lower than 0.19 Cd, which might be a document for a manufacturing automobile (the bottom is the Mercedes-Benz EQS at 0.20 Cd), the 0 additionally options environment friendly motors, inverters and tires.

Going with in-wheel motors meant the corporate may save weight and house by eliminating issues like transmissions and driveshafts. And people tires are a specifically designed skinny set developed by Bridgestone.

The automobile has a claimed effectivity fee of 10.5 kwh per 62 miles, which is approaching the effectivity of Mercedes’ experimental Imaginative and prescient EQXX idea which used 8.7 kwh per 62 miles throughout a current real-world take a look at.

However what in regards to the photo voltaic panels? There’s roughly 53 sq. toes lining the hood and roof, and with ample entry to daylight they’ll cost at a fee of 1.05 kw, or sufficient so as to add 6.2 miles of vary in an hour.

It signifies that with a full cost of the battery, a Lightyear 0 as a commuter automobile may doubtlessly drive for months with no need charging, relying on the size of the commute and entry to daylight.

The primary 150 examples, a particular Pioneer Version priced from 150,000 euros (roughly $159,000), are offered out. The subsequent within the collection is the Restricted Version which will be ordered now and begins at 250,000 euros ($265,000). Lightyear hasn’t mentioned whether or not the 0 might be out there within the U.S.

Manufacturing might be outsourced to Finland’s Valmet Automotive, which constructed the unique Fisker Karma sedan and can also be contracted to construct the Sono Sion, one other EV that may be charged by photo voltaic panels.