Solar-charging Lightyear One targets EV range anxiety

Lightyear One features five square metres of solar cells, integrated into the car’s roof and bonnet. The cells, which sit under safety glass, charge at a rate up to 12km/h in the sun. According to the company, someone driving the national average of 20,000km/year in the Netherlands would be able to harness about 40 per cent of their mileage from solar energy, with the rest coming from the grid.

A small battery delivers power to four independently controlled motors in the wheels, ensuring no energy is lost in transmission. Aluminium and carbon fibre components help keep the chassis weight down, with further efficiencies coming from aerodynamics.

Lightyear was founded by alumni of Solar team Eindhoven, serial winners of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. That competition’s relentless pursuit of efficiency has inspired the design of Lightyear One, and the company claims the best aerodynamic coefficient of any car on the market.