The electrification of vehicles goes hand in hand with positive developments toward an electricity grid powered by green energy. However, the gradual electrification of vehicles will take years, and we need to find a solution that can transform mobility in clean mobility globally.
Solar electric vehicles (SEVs) could be the solution to this problem. SEVs can dramatically decrease EV dependency on the electricity grid by harnessing the power of the sun. They are essentially EVs, but with the critical ability to top up their battery with solar power between plug charges. They can drive for months without charging and hold the power to drastically free up the electricity grid.
Design for efficiency
Lightyears SEVs are highly-efficient in every carefully considered detail of design, from powertrain to aerodynamics. They minimise energy consumption and maximise performance where it matters most — everyday life. By reducing energy consumption, our cars can become a more scalable solution for the environment.
One of the biggest drawbacks drivers of electric cars face is range anxiety. To combat this, electric car companies traditionally opt for increasing EV battery size, so vehicles drive further on a single charge. However, this creates heavier cars that rely on more frequent charging. Heavy dependence on charging infrastructure can be taken out of the equation with SEVs.
SEVs can also reach the remote and tackle the vast, without taxing the planet or fear of an empty battery. They charge wherever there’s daylight, whether parked or on the move. They are built around an ecosystem of efficiency to reduce plug charges, stretching each joule of energy as far as it can go. It results in months of driving without plug charging.
Making SEVs accessible and affordable
Lightyear 2, the reasonably priced model, will play a key role in making SEVs accessible and affordable to all. In Europe, readiness to adopt EVs is slowly growing, in part thanks to EU laws and regulations. From January 2021, the EU started imposing penalties on car manufacturers that do not meet a fleet-wide target of 95 grams of CO₂ per kilometre. This means that automakers must produce low or zero-emission vehicles in larger numbers to offset their high-emission models.
The crucial role of SEVs in achieving climate targets
SEVs are an opportunity for the future of (clean) mobility. They reduce energy consumption, make EVs more scalable, and dramatically decrease EV dependency on the electricity grid. The development of SEVs is crucial to help achieve the Paris Agreement climate targets and a zero-emission future. This motivates us every day to keep pushing for clean mobility for everyone, everywhere.
