More companies are coming forward with electric vehicles but with a twist! Electric Vehicles (EVs) have been all the rage since Tesla came out with its series of purely electricity-driven cars in the early 2000s. People have been enjoying this futuristic development in the automotive industry, which aims to replace traditional fuel options like petrol, gas, and diesel with electricity.
The fever of Electric Vehicles also reached Pakistan when the Electric Vehicles Policy 2020–2025 was approved by the cabinet in 2019. The policy made it easier to import electric vehicles into Pakistan and take a step towards a clean environment. Now there are several electric vehicles charging stations in Pakistan to facilitate the EV owners.
Lightyear One
The increase in the use of electric vehicles also means an abundant supply of electricity for their charging is also required. This can be an issue in the long run with the depleting natural resources and inflation in the international oil market. To combat this issue, a Netherlands-based company, Lightyear, has designed a long-range solar-powered car called the Lightyear One.
The company claims that Lightyear One can easily travel 725 kilometers on its solar charge alone. This means you can quickly charge your car while driving it under the sun. or, leave your car out in the sun while going to the office, and you will find it charged when you come back out. This futuristic leap takes off the pressure of finding an electric charging station for the drivers and lets them go on trips conveniently.
The car also supports plug-in charging in case you’re experiencing bad weather. Usually, it will solar charge up to 12km every hour when in daylight which is a considerably good pace. The car is covered in tiny solar panels, with the bonnet and roof having more than 1,000 solar cells.
The car costs USD 150,000 and is yet to be mass-produced. The company is optimistic that the price will go down once its production increases.
Toyota launched a Toyota Prius back in 2017 with solar system, it had a limited range of 16 or around kilometers, however, the production was limited regardless, technically it is Toyota that took the first spot in this car type.