{{Short description|Solar-electric car}} {{use dmy dates|date=June 2019}} {{Infobox automobile | name = Lightyear 0 | image = Lightyear One Motorworld Munich 1X7A0060.jpg | caption = Lightyear One at Motorworld Munich in 2021 | type = Solar car | designer = Lowie Vermeersch at Granstudio<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.granstudio.com/lightyear-one |title=Lightyear One (2019) – Designing a super efficient family car that charges under the sun. |publisher=GranStudio |location=Turin |access-date=29 September 2019 |archive-date=29 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929032317/https://www.granstudio.com/lightyear-one |url-status=dead }}</ref> | manufacturer = Lightyear | assembly = Uusikaupunki, Finland (Valmet Automotive) | production = 2022–2023<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.carscoops.com/2023/01/lightyear-0-production-suspended-as-company-decides-to-focus-on-more-affordable-2/|title=Lightyear 0 Production Suspended As Company Decides To Focus On More Affordable 2|date=24 January 2023|website=Carscoops}}</ref> | class = Executive car (E) | layout = wheel hub motor, four-wheel-drive | body_style = 5-door Liftback | engine = 4 electric engines in the wheels | electric_range = {{convert|388|miles|km|order=flip|round=5|abbr=in}} (WLTP) | weight = ~ {{convert|1575|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} | length = 5,057 mm<ref name=specs>{{cite web |url=https://lightyear.one/lightyear-one/ |title=Lightyear One {{!}} The electric car that charges itself with sunlight |publisher=Lightyear |location=Netherlands |access-date=3 August 2020 |archive-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603135316/https://lightyear.one/lightyear-one/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> | width = 1,898 mm<ref name=specs/> | height = 1,426 mm<ref name=specs/> | variants with their own articles = <!-- variants OF the topic type --> | battery = 60 kWh | powerout = 130 kW (170 bhp) }}
The '''Lightyear 0''' (formerly the '''Lightyear One''') was an all-solar-electric car by the Dutch car manufacturer Lightyear. Production was originally scheduled to start in 2021, with a starting price of {{euro|250,000}} incl. VAT. The first units were delivered in December 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lightyear 0 Solar EV Enters Production At A Rate Of One Per Week |url=https://insideevs.com/news/626100/lightyear-0-solar-ev-enters-production-at-rate-one-per-week/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=InsideEVs |language=en}}</ref> In January 2023, Lightyear announced that it was halting production of the 0 model, and that Atlas Technologies B.V., the subsidiary responsible for the manufacture of the Lightyear 0, would be allowed to go bankrupt. After a restart and new investments, the company initially announced plans to focus on a more affordable model, the Lightyear 2, but this follow-up model ultimately never reached production.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Koreaanse miljoenen voor autobouwer Lightyear: ‘We gaan hier een staalfabriek bouwen’ |url=https://www.quotenet.nl/financien/investeren/a44856957/zuid-korea-sunbo-investeert-in-lightyear/ |access-date=2023-09-02|website=Quotenet |language=nl}}</ref>
==Overview== [[File:Lightyear one Fully Charged Europe 2022 6.jpg|thumb|left|Lightyear One at Fully Charged Europe 2022]] The Lightyear 0 is a large fastback, with the bonnet, roof, and boot clad covered with {{convert|5|m2|ft2|0|abbr=on}} of solar cells, producing a WLTP range of {{convert|388|miles|km|order=flip|round=5|abbr=in}}. The Lightyear company claims the 782 solar cells across the car can add {{convert|43.5|miles|km|order=flip|round=5|abbr=in}} of range per day during summer.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Lightyear One is a long-range solar-powered EV |url=https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/lightyear-one-long-range-solar-powered-ev |first=Greg |last=Potts |work=Top Gear |location=UK |date=26 June 2019 |access-date=26 June 2019}}</ref><ref name=venturebeat/> The aerodynamics of the vehicle were stated to produce a record-low {{cd|long=yes|link=car|0.175}}.
The car is all-wheel drive, with four in-wheel electric hub motors powered by a low-mounted battery.<ref name=AutoExpress/> It seats five adults and luggage.<ref name=venturebeat>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/01/19/lightyear-one-hands-on-with-a-solar-powered-car-with-440-mile-range/|title=Lightyear One: Hands-on with a solar-powered car with 440-mile range|date=19 January 2020 |publisher=Venture Beat}}</ref> {{clear left}}
==History== The solar panel design was born out of the Solar Team Eindhoven's solar-powered cars for the World Solar Challenge. Design work on the Lightyear 0 was carried out together with Granstudio in Italy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vijayenthiran |first1=Viknesh |title=Dutch EV startup |url=https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1123770_dutch-ev-startup-channels-the-citroen-ds-with-lightyear-one |work=Motor Authority |location=US |access-date=31 July 2019 |date=25 June 2019}}</ref>
==Price and availability== Announced on 25 June 2019, production was scheduled to start in 2021, mentioning a starting price of {{euro|119,000}} excl. VAT.<ref name=AutoExpress>{{cite news |title=Lightyear unveils long-range solar-electric car |url=https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/107239/lightyear-unveils-long-range-solar-electric-car |first=Luke |last=Wilkinson |work=Auto Express |location=UK |access-date=26 June 2019 |date=25 June 2019 |archive-date=29 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129003759/https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/107239/lightyear-unveils-long-range-solar-electric-car |url-status=dead }}</ref> In September 2021, Lightyear were reported to have raised to bring the vehicle to production, and delivering the first units in 2022, for {{euro|250,000}} excl. VAT.<ref name="electrek">{{Cite web|url=https://electrek.co/2021/09/16/lightyear-raises-110-million-bring-solar-electric-car-market/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917085303/https://electrek.co/2021/09/16/lightyear-raises-110-million-bring-solar-electric-car-market/|archive-date=2021-09-17|title=Lightyear raises $110 million to bring its $170,000 'solar' electric car to market|date=16 September 2021}}</ref> The company announced in December 2022 that production had begun, at a rate of one car per week. Availability was limited to customers in the EU, Switzerland, Norway and the UK.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Lightyear 0 Solar EV Enters Production At A Rate Of One Per Week |url=https://insideevs.com/news/626100/lightyear-0-solar-ev-enters-production-at-rate-one-per-week/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=InsideEVs |language=en}}</ref> However, in January 2023 Lightyear announced that it was halting production of the 0 model, redirecting their efforts towards production of Lightyear 2; Atlas Technologies B.V., the subsidiary responsible for the manufacture of the Lightyear 0, would be allowed to go bankrupt.<ref name="bankruptcy">{{Cite web |title=Lightyear 0 unit goes bust, impact on future car plans unclear |url=https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2023/01/lightyear-0-unit-goes-bust-impact-on-future-car-plans-unclear/ |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=DutchNews.nl |date=26 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lightyear 0 Production On Hold As Company Focuses On Affordable Model |url=https://insideevs.com/news/632703/lightyear-0-production-on-hold/ |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=InsideEVs |language=en}}</ref> {{as of|2023}}, the replacement, ''Lightyear 2'', is slated to be {{USD|40000}} and available in both Europe and North America, and to start production in 2025.{{Update inline|date=February 2026}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url= https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a42408752/lightyear-2-solar-powered-ev-revealed/ |title= Lightyear EV Is Sun Powered, Has a Claimed 500-Mile Range, Will Cost under $40K |author= Eric Stafford |date= 5 January 2023 |magazine= Car and Driver }}</ref>
Only about a dozen cars were made before production ended.<ref>{{cite magazine |url= https://yle.fi/a/74-20014554 |title= Uudenkaupungin autotehdas sai tiedon sähköautotuotannon lopettamisesta vain vuorokausi etukäteen, tehtaalla niellään nyt pettymystä |author= Johanna Lehtola |date= 25 January 2023 |magazine= Yle }}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery> File:Lightyear one Fully Charged Europe 2022 2.jpg|Front view File:Lightyear one Fully Charged Europe 2022 1.jpg|Front and side view File:Lightyear one Fully Charged Europe 2022 5.jpg|Wheel and aerocover File:Lightyear one Fully Charged Europe 2022 3.jpg|Interior view File:Lightyear one Fully Charged Europe 2022 7.jpg|Rear view </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}}
{{Authority control}} {{Automotive industry in the Netherlands}} {{Insolvent EV companies}}
Category:Electric concept cars Category:Solar-powered vehicles Category:Cars introduced in 2019 Category:Automotive industry in the Netherlands Category:Cars of the Netherlands Category:Cars discontinued in 2023