To improve their range of action, electric cars pay great attention to solar energy , although it is still something that has had very little implementation at the moment. We know it directly with the Lightyear 0, the first solar car that makes a serious commitment in this field, and which has now attracted attention for its new technology for its motor that is incorporated in the wheels. The result? Completely improve the power of the car.
The Lightyear 0 and its innovative electric motor
As you know, an electric car uses a motor and batteries that store energy, but our knowledge rarely goes beyond that. What we also know is that an electric vehicle requires very little maintenance thanks to the fact that its engine lacks elements such as a cooling system with a radiator and liquids, moving parts that must be lubricated or filters that must be replaced periodically.
However, there is much more to it. And we see that with such interesting proposals as the one that focuses attention on Lightyear’s car and its model 0 , an electrified vehicle with solar panels that responds to one of the most popular technological techniques on the market.
And we do not say it for anything other than what is found in its mechanics. We refer to the incorporation of its motor that is placed in the wheels , the same one that offers an even greater use of the energy of our vehicle. Thus, this has made Lightyear 0 catalog as the most efficient car in the world thanks to this innovation.
This technology makes it the most efficient in the world
Described by the brand itself as the first production-ready solar car, this Lightyear 0 is an evolution of the One, (who broke the record of 1,000 km of autonomy with solar panels) both in terms of design, technology and performance. Its bodywork, for example, is made from reused carbon fiber .
According to Lightyear, your vehicle can be driven for weeks or even months without needing to be charged, since the car can travel up to 70 km per day and up to 11,000 km per year with the energy it obtains through its photovoltaic panels.
But what wins integers is in its engine; These are in-wheel motors that are based on a modified version of the one already designed and patented by Elaphe, achieving an efficiency of 97% , which makes the most of the vehicle’s energy.
This type of engine stands out for taking advantage of the space under the floor of the passenger compartment to have more lithium-ion cells and thus achieve more autonomy. It is also interesting to lower the center of gravity , positioning the extra weight of the motors on each wheel. The energy efficiency is higher because it moves the wheel directly, without transferring its movement through, for example, a differential.
A revolutionary electric
The results of this are so promising that the manufacturer has decided to incorporate it on all four wheels, and for which it will begin serial production to reach the market at the beginning of 2023 at the latest. The car, which will be manufactured in 946 units and which It has a starting price of 250,000 euros and has been described as the most competent electric car on the market, with lower consumption values than any other zero emission car.
For its part, the brand explains that, once charged, thanks to the energy collected by the panels and taking into account standard use, it would not be necessary to recharge it for two months , while the figure could reach up to seven months in the case of very sunny countries.
In keeping with its zero-emission nature, Lightyear has incorporated vegan and eco-friendly materials into the car interior, including plant-based leather, fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles, and rattan palm wood elements.
