United Arab Emirates (UAE) is ahead of its time in the development of the auto industry. The world’s first production-ready long-range solar electric vehicle is launched in UAE, Lightyear 0. The vehicle is from a Netherlands-based firm Lightyear. It was launched at a ceremony held in Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park (SRTIP).
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Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of SRTI Park unveiled the Lightyear 0. There were also other representatives from the Dutch high-tech company and other sectors in the UAE. The company has priced the vehicle on its website at Euros 250,000 (almost Dh 900,000). Interested buyers in the UAE and the region can order the vehicle from the company’s website. In June 2022, the parties signed a preliminary agreement and intend to establish university research exchange programs on solar electric vehicles (EVs) and promote policy initiatives promoting government incentives for EVs, including solar-extended EVs.
Three months ago early customers put Lightyear 0’s aerodynamic capabilities to the test and discovered the thrills of coasting! Lightyear 0’s aerodynamic design turns coasting into a soaring adventure. Read more → https://t.co/GNBdZmmaNz pic.twitter.com/L9lw2sMaXD
— Lightyear (@lightyear_cars) October 13, 2022
The vehicle will be available to customers from early 2023. As per the reports, the car is twice as efficient as the Tesla Model S, as a comparison. It uses just 1,500-kilowatt hours per year. The Lightyear 0 is production ready and can run for months in the summer before needing to be plugged into a general charger or a home outlet. It has a top speed of 160 kilometers per hour and accelerates from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 10 seconds.
Solar energy
STRI Park CEO Hussain Al Mahmoudi said the UAE, as the world’s third-largest producer of solar energy, is the ideal place to test Lightyear’s patented solar technology. Mahmoudi said: “This is a great day for SRTIP as we are the first in this part of the world to unveil this unique car that is making waves globally. Having Lightyear at the SRTI Park boosts the UAE’s position as a nation at the frontline of transition to sustainable mobility, and in doing so, contributes to combating climate change through innovative technologies. UAE is already the world’s third-largest producer of solar power, making it the perfect place to test and prove Lightyear’s solar extender solutions for EVs. We are confident that Lightyear’s presence at SRTI Park will spark interest among all countries in the region to embrace EVs.”
Aerodynamics is a major energy consumer, with air resistance increasing significantly at higher driving speeds. At highway speeds, aerodynamics account for around sixty percent of overall energy consumption. Battery range is one of the main points of concern for potential and current electric car drivers and therefore many EV manufacturers are continually optimizing their designs to improve the range.
