Lightyear’s mission is to provide clean mobility for everyone, everywhere. Founded in 2016 in the Netherlands, Lightyear develops products featuring its drivetrain and solar technology to overcome the most important barriers preventing consumers from buying an electric car. Founded by former solar car racers, the company uses ultra-efficiency as a tool to improve all the core metrics of an electric car.
Already more than half of consumers today would consider buying an electric vehicle as their next vehicle but they still face barriers related to charging and range anxiety, perceived high costs and environmental concerns about the lifetime CO2 emissions of EVs. The first car on this platform is the long range solar car Lightyear exclusive series. The car will be a five seater, four door crossover coupe which charges itself by seamlessly integrated solar cells in its roof and hood.
Lightyear One
- In-wheel motors with ultra efficient power electronics — To reduce weight, Lightyear One is powered by four in-wheel motors instead of one or two central motors with more than 90% weighted efficiency on the WLTP cycle.
- Achieving the lowest possible weight of the car - at least 33% less compared to conventional e-vehicles. This is achieved by omitting heavy weighing gearboxes, drive shafts and central motors, constructing the body and chassis from lightweight materials such as aluminium carbon fibre while maintaining rigorous safety standards. Less powerful motors and batteries are needed to deliver the similar driving performance as a conventional electric car. Result: an even larger weight reduction due to lighter motor and batteries.
- World class proved aerodynamic performance — A complete first prototype of Lightyear One has realised an ultra-low aerodynamic drag coefficient of below 0.20 (competitor’s best is 0.24).
- Optimised thermal system — The thermal system is developed such that it requires the minimal amount of energy, without compromising the energy consumption of the car, which is influenced by the weight of the thermal system, the power consumption of the pumps, valves, compressors, etc, and above all by the air intake in the front which significantly influences aerodynamic performance.
- Smart storing of energy by a battery management system — Lightyear One has a range of 725 kilometres purely from its batteries, with its 60 kWh battery capacity, it is the best range/battery in the market. Therefore, Lightyear One has an even larger driving range than most petrol fuelled cars, without emitting CO2.
Automotive solar roof
- Ultra efficient automotive-grade solar roof — Lightyear develops glass, double-curved, automotive grade solar arrays that are more efficient than any other
silicon based solar array in the market. Automotive solar roof integration, as a stand-alone product, will be commercialised by the Lightyear Group.
- Automotive-grade solar conversion electronics— Lightyear develops conversion electronics specified for automotive applications and optimized for shadow handling and multi-string layouts
Lightyear One
Achieving the lowest possible weight of the car - at least 33% less compared to conventional e-vehicles.
• Less powerful motors and batteries are needed to deliver the
similar driving performance as a conventional electric car
• Result: an even larger weight reduction due to lighter motor and
less batteries
• Aluminium carbon fibre composites
• Omitting heavy weighing gearboxes, drive shafts and central motors
• Constructing the body and chassis from lightweight materials such as aluminium carbon fibre
• At least 33% lower weight car compared to conventional similar size electric-vehicles
• CSI: world leading automotive engineering, Germany
• GranStudio: leading automotive design firm, Italy
• Weight of the car: 1250 kg
• Constructing the car from lightweight materials
• While maintaining rigorous safety standards
For further information click on: A car built to perform on energy efficiency
Development partners for LY01 vehicle
• Functional safety competency
• Application of solar roof technology on vehicle roof surfaces
• Experience in development electro-mobility in rapid pace
Contact details
www.lightyear.one
5708 JZ Helmond
The Netherlands
