Sono Motors shows production-ready solar-powered car, unveils retrofit kit for buses
Sono Motors has debuted the manufacturing style of its Sion, a battery-electric powered crossover that employs photo voltaic cells to generate energy and extend range.
The Munich-dependent startup, which trades on the Nasdaq below SEV, pitches the Sion as “the world’s to start with economical photo voltaic electric auto.”
At a Munich event Monday, Sono also unveiled a photo voltaic kit for diesel buses that transit services can use to source electric power to subsystems these types of as HVAC and decrease fuel usage and emissions.
But in the Sion, solar will assist refill the batteries that power propulsion. The car features 456 solar fifty percent-cells that deliver adequate power to insert about 70 to 150 miles per week to the vary, dependent on climate and driving situations. It’s plenty of solar electric power to “help self-sufficiency on quick journeys,” the organization stated. The Sion’s 54-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery has an believed range of 189 miles.
Promoting issue of photo voltaic
Supplementing the automobile with solar-generated ability presents up to 4 occasions much more variety than identified on autos with the very same battery sizing, explained Laurin Hahn, co-founder and CEO of Sono Motors.
“That’s the offering issue of photo voltaic,” he told Automotive Information.
The Sion’s battery has a greatest charging potential of up to 75 kilowatts DC and 11 kW AC. Bidirectional charging enabled by the car’s solar panels allows powering of digital devices, a dwelling or even other electric powered vehicles at up to an 11-kW output.
Sono is developing a fleet of validation cars in Munich. The corporation claimed they would be tested in Europe and the U.S. in distinct climates. The testing will protect validation, homologation, crash safety and improving the photo voltaic technological know-how and driving dynamics on exam tracks and community roads.
The Sion has an believed cost of about $26,000. Sono said it experienced a lot more than 19,000 reservations for the car or truck at the begin of July, each with an typical down payment of about $2,300. Production will start off in the 2nd half of 2023, Hahn stated.
“We strategy to make 257,000 cars with Valmet Automotive, our agreement company that creates the Mercedes-Benz GLC and GLA,” Hahn reported.
Sono ideas to market the Sion in Europe first.
“But you can find massive possible in other markets, and we will soon disclose them,” Hahn included.
Include-on for community transport buses
The organization also has its eyes on larger autos. Its Photo voltaic Bus Package is an increase-on for 12-meter public transport buses these as the Mercedes-Benz Citaro and Male Lion Metropolis.
The package can help you save up to virtually 400 gallons of diesel and lower CO2 emissions by up to 4 tons per bus for each 12 months when utilizing about 8 square meters of photo voltaic panels, in accordance to Sono.
It “has a payback time of amongst 3 and four years, and these buses run for 10, 15, 20 years,” Hahn mentioned.
Sono is focusing on diesel cars very first.
“We are focusing on a sector of 10,000 cars for the up coming 10 many years and where by we see big opportunity of preserving fossil fuels,” Hahn explained.
The company has not unveiled pricing details for the package.
Sono is partnering with 19 corporations throughout the world, which include Guy Truck & Bus and fridge-truck maker Cherea to carry out its retrofit package on a wide variety of vehicles, like buses, trailers, vans and electric transporters. It is really also partnered with logistic giant Rhenus to develop a prototype previous-mile supply automobile with solar integration.
“You will find huge prospective in logistics,” Hahn explained. “They require to move to zero emissions and are urgently hunting for solutions. This is a person of them.”
