World's first solar car - How does it feel to drive Lightyear 0?

Six years ago, we put a bright idea in motion: to build the world’s first solar electric car.
Creating an ultra-efficient, production-ready solar electric car had never been done, until June 9 2022, when we unveiled Lightyear 0.
Weeks later, we held Destination Daylight: our debut driving event. Here, Lightyear 0 met the hands of its first drivers in sun-drenched Navarra, Spain. First customers and investors were able to experience the car many had been dreaming of since its idea was first conceived.
Read more about the reactions of our first customers and investors here → lightyear.one/...
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Twitter: / lightyear_cars
Facebook: / lightyear.cars
Website: lightyear.one/

[@3nduser]

I mentioned putting solar panels on the car a couple years ago on a Rich Rebuilds live stream years ago and he said it couldnt be done because of the shape of the car. It brings a smile to my face to know there are other people that bring similar ideas to fruition. Even though I will never be able to afford an electric car like this I am happy to see this innovated car. Great job.

[@PassiveEarnings]

You will be able to buy it. I know it's not easy, but you gotta keep pushing. Put in work on weekends, it really makes me feel sad when anyone say they can't afford something. You can and believe that you will, drive to it, put in work, you got this!

[@Nikoo033]

You should be able to eventually. They are planning to release much cheaper version from 2025-2026.

[@danahantoiu3808]

aaaaaand bankrupt just announced

[@Nikoo033]

@@danahantoiu3808 😳😢😭

[@stuartgray5877]

@@danahantoiu3808 because ITS A SCAM! There is nowhere near enough surface area on a car to make them solar powered

[@jameswoll]

Wow, I'm so happy they liked their test drives! Made me cry actually. Been waiting for this technology for a long time. Good job, Lightyear!

[@ClassicFormulaOne1]

They went bankrupt last week.

[@Soarano]

@@ClassicFormulaOne1 lol they're back in business again.

[@ottot3221]

Helaas past deze prachtige wagen niet binnen mijn budget, maar de 30K versie waar aan gewerkt komt kijk ik enorm uit. Veel succes Lightyear!

[@portuguesepetrolhead]

This is the way to go, not conspicuous, mega powerful, extremely heavy battery-powered electrics. We only have one planet.

[@stephenchallis1592]

Owning a car like this is a beautiful dream!

[@Gurci28]

Dutch startup Lightyear has unveiled its Lightyear 0 electric car that has solar panels covering its roof, bonnet and boot so that it can be charged while driving. Lightyear, founded in the Netherlands in 2016, is making 949 of the models featuring curved solar panels across the car's hood and roof. Sources: Bloomberg; Dezeen 2:30

[@ApteraOwnersClub]

Love it. Solar Electric Vehicles! Hoping much success for your Lightyear!

[@8Arachne8]

In the USA, looking forward to even better versions becoming available to us one day. Way ahead of the competition. Love it.

[@parasjanpara]

I am proud of your hardwork and innovation Team Light Year. Feeling envy about these people who got a chance to drive LYZ!

[@operationrescuer6049]

Please don't stop evolving your God damn good works.

[@fainzor]

Can't wait for the Lightyear 1. You are doing a great job!

[@kidsgamingstation6205]

Bravo Lightyear team! This car - and your efforts - are a sublime inspiration!

[@1inamillions]

Lightyear 0 is my dream car and i will buy one as soon as it is available

[@tanvigawde1612]

Beautiful!! I will wait to buy this car!! Congratulations!!

[@kunalmahajan9489]

Lightyear should market these cars more in the equator side of the earth. Brazil, India, UAE, Mexico. Because there can be more solar energy absorbed by the car.

[@avecesarEmperador]

Fantástico auto . Ojala puedan lograr que los requerimientos económicos que requiere su compañía se puedan dar nuevamente. Sigan adelante ... No se rindan ... Saludos desde COLOMBIA.

[@kalvinreese8387]

Here before 1 million views. Great job!

[@SachinMotivationGK]

Solar charger.. How long will it take for fully charge the battery 🔋

[@SJAutomotiveDesign]

Given that it's in Finland where there's not much sun... maybe a whole year? 🤣

[@andrew60199]

I can't wait to be an owner too! Keep it up guys!

[@RM16120]

Oh I was thinking of this kind of regenerating machines, it's existing? Lovely.

[@dougselsam5393]

I agree that solar cells mounted on an electric car is an obvious good idea. BUT (and here's the big "but") How can anyone pretend such a small amount of solar panels would be sufficient to generate enough energy for any car to enjoy normal use? And they don't even have any solar cells on the front, rear, or sides of the car. No fold-out auxiliary panels, no trailer with solar panels. This car looks to have about 2 square meters of solar panels. The sun at noon puts out about 1 horsepower (745.7 Watts) per square meter, of which solar panels capture maybe 20%. And that's with the sun overhead. That's like a max output of 300 Watts? What about early or late in the day? What about cloudy days? What about parked in a garage? Let's not even get into "night"! So the panels on such a car could produce MAYBE, what, 2 kWh per day? If you're lucky? So if the battery pack can hold 65 kWh, the onboard panels could add maybe 3% to the charge if it charges all day in full sun, and is never driven? How about in Finland on a cloudy winter day? I am in the clean energy field and I do a lot of these math problems. My take is these solar panels would be lucky to even just MAINTAIN a full charge, if the car were JUST SITTING in a warm, sunny environment, and would be unable to even maintain a charge sitting still on a cloudy winter day. Nice idea, but the numbers have to work out, right? Most people looking at this basic situation have come to the conclusion that it is not even worth the trouble to place solar panels on a car. i disagree - I think they would be helpful to at least help maintain a charge, but someone would have to explain to me how ANY car could possibly be totally powered by onboard solar panels, especially when most of the surface does not even HAVE any solar panels. What am I missing here?

[@koudJakSvin]

Thank you. Wanted to write something similar. With one exception - I would say weight of solar panel will drain battery faster than it can solar panel recharge. (probably even for trips less then 50km a day)

[@KevinSmooove]

Assembled in Uusikaupunki at the Valmet Automotive plant just like my Porsche Boxster many moons ago hehe

[@YashRaj-m8b]

Super ❤❤❤

[@mrasposito]

Das goot!! Bring to Holland Michigan?

[@bakirgroup2055]

Why are the rear wheels closed like retro future cars?

[@EEzrah100]

I'd like some more technical details. The video is kinda fluff. Looks and sounds amazing though.

[@rui4762]

This amazing company should get the financial support of the government if they have a co2 aim and help slow down the global warming/extrem weather.

[@MR-blackRavn]

Ik zou wel een update video willen zien van julie ben benieuwd hoe het gaat met lightyear ik ben zelf 18 maar de lightyear 0 is echt mijn droom auto 🎉

[@jeusgarcia8597]

*TRACKLIST I.D PLEASE, THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.*

[@saptarshisarker]

Awesome 👌🏻

[@JesusLovesHisCreations]

👏🥰👍🫰when tis possible, next will b solar windows for buildings 🎉👏

[@raunaknayak8083]

amazing car. want to know more about this car.

[@mogglie]

Imagine the price of a stone shot hitting that hood…..

[@Bandit-Iggy]

Wonderfull autonomous mobility what took us so long? Job well done lightyear engineers!

[@MargauxHemingway]

The future is here! Great

[@cuet_bhaiya]

I'm here from India... i have been following lightyear for a while... i really liked the concept.. it's definitely a revolutionary concept and product... But i don't understand why aren't they getting enough publicity.. even after we can see companies like Mercedes copying the same concept... I look forward to see lightyear revolutionizing the automobile industry...

[@patreekotime4578]

Yup, Mercedes wont bring out an affordable solar car though. I really hope Lightyear succeeds in their dream!

[@billyfyre158]

You should have a look at the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA to see the original.

[@suunraze]

Is the video showcasing a special mode that restricts realtime energy usage to the solar input? If so, that's super cool (maybe not practical but definitely something amazing to experience)

[@stuartgray5877]

It's a SCAM! There is nowhere near enough surface area on a car to power it with solar. If we lived on MERCURY, then sure! If you covered an entire car in the mist efficient solar cells available today and gave it direct noon sun, you could just power a HAIRDRYER!

[@nr01vid]

Hello, what will be the range of the "two" car which will be sold for €30,000 in 2025 ? Thanks.

[@winatapb3250]

amazing

[@alk6225]

they say the target price will be €30,000 - I'll be buying one and also I think all my neighbours. i think it is game over for petrol and diesel

[@elijahschool2725]

how many watts can the solar panels do?

[@Josephg.1993]

Overall sweet looking car.. until you see that super long backend on that thing sheesh and the half wheel covers. That long extendo back end just kills it

[@djgate]

That long back makes for less drag as does the covered wheels, its all about efficiency not ones personal tastes of what is or is not good design, look at aircraft!

[@onceuponatime8978]

suggestion: Without rear tyre cover it looks great

[@0cer0]

According to an Asian proverb, imitation is the highest form of recognition. In this respect, you are now ennobled: The Mercedes Vision EQXX is almost a copy of your concept. But it will never be available for purchase.

[@peterslegers6121]

Congratulations on Koenigsegg's investment & partnership, plus the Dutch Innovation Credit of €3.8 million for scaling up production of your solar roofs. It's great to hear things keep on moving forward.

[@vpnconsult]

I guess so. We as consumers and investors will never know.

[@andrewsallee2702]

Try painting the "surrounds" on the wheels the same body color........Yuuum

[@wouterbakker421]

Leuk! Kan niet wachten op betaalbare lightyear

[@SJAutomotiveDesign]

Looks like a great project. Too bad Finland has so little sun that the solar panel seems basically useless.

[@szabiandi]

I would love to have a car like this, but I don't like cameras instead of mirrors, I like simplicity, minimalism, would you consider to make a minimalist lightyear? Without any fancy electronic device, just old school mirrors and mechanical seat adjusters... so on

[@StEvUgnIn]

If somebody intends to remake Back to the Future, please pick this car.

[@RnR1001]

If cars cannot be priced so that it should be affordable to the common public. You are not going to do anything for the climate while only less than 1% of the people can afford such cars.

[@djgate]

This is a start up company so pricing is not going to be on a par with established brands. What you will see is some of these ideas will appear on established brands after being proved viable on the Light Year. What is needed is for consumers to move away from wasteful SUV's, trucks etc and embrace efficiency over a perceived image of big is better.

[@nr01vid]

Hello, please, make a car that resists well to the sun because if we leave it outside all the time and in direct sunlight, the interior and exterior elements should not deteriorate due to UV, thank you.

[@djgate]

Interiors need to be ventilated by solar generated electric when parked and dash covered in reflective material. Better still vast car parks should have solar panel canopies that could shade cars while parked plus charge Ev's or offset store electric consumption.

[@Up40kito]

Off grid solar use pls

[@jgk381]

All cars should be solar. If it works, what do we need anything else for?

[@SanderM3P]

@RichRebuilds how about this, charging while driving!

[@person2186]

Please do 22kw AC onboard charger for any 11 or 22 kw public AC chargers. Most are 22 also they are cheaper than any DC charger. Also, they are a lot and at more hidden places. Hotels, and stuff. So actually the 22kw on voard AC would be more important to me than the fact does it rather have capabilities of 100kw or 130kw DC only example Pls don't put only 11kw on-board

[@Hanhinaari]

So the company just cancelled the production of "Lightyear 0" and trying to bring the more affordable model "Lightyear 2" in 2025.

[@andrewsallee2702]

I have "edited" the back wheel, want to see it?

[@atanu2531]

What are you guys up to this year in 2024?

[@Dazlidorne]

If you think about it, solar-powered cars could save the planet. Zero emissions, no electricity use. Plenty of sun in most places in the world. This would help reverse global warming and climate change and when it starts to reverse, the technology will even be more advanced.

[@eurotaxifrancescodomenicos7899]

Where can I buy it ?

[@maartenrijsdijk7823]

Even de feiten op een rijtje. 5 auto's geproduceerd. 600 werknemers. Een foeilelijke auto die 2 keer zoveel kost als een Porsche Taycan. Een compleet lege bankrekening en wat particuliere investeerders. Je hoeft geen economie gestudeerd te hebben om te begrijpen dat dit einde oefening is.

[@Einarmiger_H75]

Nice Car, but that horn does not match to it

[@jeffjefferson7384]

In 10 years? Nope. EVs need to become affordable first. However a mini panel like the one in the Ioniq 5 could be good as standard in EVs to top up the battery.

[@nox4000]

Efficiency (distance traveled for energy used) is the key for lowering the cost of cars

[@patreekotime4578]

An efficient vehicle requires fewer batteries. Fewer batteries reduces cost. A lighter vehicle can also use smaller tires to reduce rolling resistence and increase efficiency which also reduces cost. Solar is cool, but the real trick is its efficiency. And unlike the Mercedes EQXX, this wont be built out of exotic expensive materials.

[@stuartgray5877]

It's a scam. Don't believe a word they say. The energy from solar is only 1300 watts per square meter. Modern solar cells are 30% efficient (at the high end). A typical car has only about 4 square meters of area for panels. So assuming perfect alignment with the sun and noon light levels: 1300 X4 X .30 = 1560 watts or just about enough to run a hair dryer. Good luck with that.

[@nooneimportant4335]

For 170k is this thing gonna cook dinner too more then what I paid for my house total insanity

[@TwanJaarsveld1]

Prototype of this car is for sale on a auction site

[@pietersiahaija4698]

" ... "

[@mnnglss_xstnc]

2:05 Lmao tail light edges don’t align, that looks baaaaad

[@AbhishekYadav-lw7eh]

Tesla truck will be soalr soon.

[@Lal_tech1]

Future car light-year will beat Tesla

[@chriscraven33]

It was a good idea to have Europeans to access this car because Americans aren't buying it. Simple things like power windows that work after three years, tires every 3,000 miles, battery replacement cost or overhauled because of a short, water leaks after driving over few inches of water, fires, charging station, insurance, this car, does not have, what car buyers want,,, trust,,,,put it in a AMERICAN stock car race against us,,,you want it to sell like an American made car, its got to live up to an American made car.

[@blahdelablah]

How do you know what issues this car has? Have you read about issues with water leaks?

[@djgate]

You seem to be uninformed just look at American car history, there have been some real bummers ,and if you think they all are so great how come we don't see them in the wider world?

[@chriscraven33]

Not world wide because the world CHARGES TO HAVE products come into their country, not because it's a good product or bad product but a product that was/is arranged between country leaders so that they get a cut of the profits.@@djgate

[@umitkmbl]

They have decided to cancel the production of this really expensive model !

[@20023230]

Aaaaaand it is over. Broke, insolvent and production of the type 0 has halted. Very said but this is what you get if you let your tech specialist without business experience lead your business. Designing a good product is something different than large scale production.

[@일번-q5s]

가격이 아이구야.

[@Up40kito]

Solar sheet sticker

[@kinggalarianmoltresv3720]

Sell this car in Malaysia

[@kash-tz1ee]

That horn of the car is not right … not buying this car 🚗 lol

[@242feder]

Love the concept, however it looks like a crappy citroen zx

[@jerryascione]

Impractical. Solar is not there yet. 37 miles a day won’t suit a majority of the work force in most developed countries

[@joeltejadareyes]

A very good idea, but an ugly design.

[@s0012823]

And it's gone...

[@fpapadopou]

All of these Dutch people are probably quite rich, given that they paid 250 000 euros for a Lightyear 0. Still, impressive vehicle, albeit very ugly.

[@kckfen]

Too bad the company has file in bankruptcy..

[@TheWintrader]

failliet

[@prltqdf9]

This is great. The car is ugly as heck, though.

[@mahatmagaand]

Bankrupt. Already.