Photo: CESAR MANSO / AFP / Getty Images
For: The opinion Updated 06 Jan 2023, 20:16 pm EST
Electric cars continue to gain ground, but projects for the development of solar-powered cars have begun to emerge a couple of years ago, and one of them could hit the market with a price of less than $40,000.
The Lightyear company has announced its second model, exhibited at CES. This is the Lightyear 2, a car powered by solar energy, which is captured by its solar panels installed on the body.
This new electric car is expected to go into production in late 2025 and go on sale with a starting price of around $42,000.
“Powered by the sun, Lightyear 2 makes electric driving accessible and comfortable at a more affordable price than other long-range electric vehicles,” reported the German company Lightyear.
Among the first regions for the release of Lightyear 2 will be the US, UK and EU. To access the vehicle, the company recommends that those interested register now on the waiting list and be the first to pre-order on the website.
More sustainable than electric cars
According to its creators, by harnessing the power of the sun, Lightyear 2 elevates the experience of electric driving and reduces reliance on strained power grids.
“Lightyear 2 will accelerate our mission to bring clean mobility to everyone and everywhere. It is the first electric vehicle that allows consumers to prioritize sustainability without sacrificing practicality,” says Lex Hoefsloot, CEO and co-founder of Lightyear.
The company highlights that with Lightyear 2, drivers will halve their lifetime CO₂ emissions compared to a conventional electric vehicle and will offer a real range of more than 800 kilometers until their next charge.
“Solar electric vehicles are the next generation of clean electric mobility, and Lightyear 2 is the vehicle destined to democratize solar electric driving”, highlights the company.
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