The Netherlands-based startup, Lightyear manufactures solar electric vehicles. Its first and flagship vehicle Lightyear One was sent out for testing. The results show that the vehicles would be one of the most efficient vehicles in the world, even in suboptimal conditions. Lightyear One was tested at Bridgestone’s European Proving Ground (EUPG) in Aprilia, Italy. The vehicle was tested for aerodynamics, tire performance, and efficiency at high speeds.
Lightyear is an EV startup based in the Netherlands that specializes in solar electric vehicles (SEVs). From early on, the company has promised a range of 450 miles on a single charge from its ultra-efficient flagship SEV, the Lightyear One. As the solar vehicle moves closer to reaching production in the first half of 2022, its prototype testing has seen major milestones met. Last July, the automaker demonstrated that its Lightyear One prototype had delivered 441 miles of range on a single charge.
In October, the automaker was performing durability testing with its validation prototype, simulating real-life conditions to ensure safety for future Lightyear One owners (all 946 of them). At the time, the automaker claimed its Lightyear One prototype set a new standard in electric vehicle efficiency. Now, with its last test data, Lightyear has provided further evidence that the upcoming SEV will be one of the most efficient on the market.
Lightyear wanted to track test the efficiency of the Lightyear One in real-world conditions because factors like colder temperatures and higher speeds can have a major impact on range. Also, during the testing, the Lightyear One was sped up to 130 km/h (~81 mph), which was up from 85 km/h (~53 mph) in previous tests. The trials were completed in much colder conditions this time around, with a temperature around 10°C (50℉).
As a result, the automaker is declaring its Lightyear One the most efficient car on the current market, able to travel 1.5 times further than a comparable vehicle with the same battery size (60 kWh). We’ve asked Lightyear for clarification on what “comparable vehicle” it is referring to and will update when we hear back.
The company’s goal is to achieve the most efficient electricity on the market and on the strength of these results, it believes it is on track to achieve this goal. The trials and development tests will continue in the coming months. The manufacturer aims to put the Lightyear One on the road for summer 2022. The car will be built in 946 units at a cost of 150 thousand euros (excluding taxes).
