When it comes to alternative energy sources, nothing seems more sustainable and infinite than the sun. Sure, we’ve got wind power and hydrogen coming from water. But unless some mad scientist finds a way to block out the sun, we will always have sunlight as a power source.
So it is rather baffling why solar-powered vehicles haven’t gone mainstream just yet. Well, all this may just change, thanks to the efforts of young German entrepreneurs Laurin, Navina, and Jona. The three gentlemen from Munich set out to change sustainable mobility by being independent from oil and fossil fuels. The result is Sono Motors and its Sion solar-powered vehicle.
While not technically a fully solar-powered car, the Sion will utilize solar cells to supplement its innovative powertrain. In this case, the Sono Sion uses a host of 330 solar cells integrated into the crossover’s body. With its 30kWh battery offering around 160kms of range, the energy from the sun boosts this range by another 29kms. This pegs total driving distance to around 200kms per day.
This solar cell+battery pack combo should be enough to address initial doubts about such technology, particularly range anxiety. It should be more than enough for the daily commute, with a lot more juice left over. As for the battery, it can likewise be topped up via plugging it into a all outlet or charging station.
And the Sono Sion’s biggest come-on is arguably its price. With a base price of around $18,720, one will be able to drive home their very own solar car. The price, however, doesn’t include the 30kWh battery. This will have to be either leased on a monthly basis or purchased up front for $4,680.
At around $23,000, the Sono Sion will come with the 30kWh battery, the solar cells, bidirectional charging that turns the car into a mobile power port, a special moss air filter, and a 760kg tow hitch (the last one is optional, by the way).
The Sono Sion is set to go into production by 2019.
