South Africans are Already Making Reservations for the World’s First Mass Market Solar Car, The Sion
The Sion, a five-seater solar vehicle, has been unveiled by German company Sono Motors. The automaker boasts that with the Sion, the first “solar electric vehicle (SEV) for the masses,” it has led the way in solar-powered mobility.
Comparing the Sion’s final production design to earlier designs reveals significant improvements: both the exterior and interior now have fewer lines and clearer surfaces. The appearance of the Sion has been updated with new headlights, back lights, door handles, a streamlined rear with a new camera and 3D lines, and a redesigned charging cover.
Sono Motors has more than 19,000 active private reservations for the Sion as of July 1st, 2022. According to the group, The Sion would reportedly cost $31,000, or R490,000, with an estimated net sales volume of $416 million, or R7 billion, provided that all reservations result in sales.
Sono said that because the Sion’s exclusive solar technology significantly minimizes the need to charge the vehicle, it is anticipated to be among the lowest total costs of ownership in the medium-sized market.
According to Sono Motors, the company is on track with its objective to expand its business and is collaborating with 19 businesses throughout the globe to integrate its solar technology on a range of vehicle types, including buses, trailers, trucks, and electric transporters.
According to Sono Motors co-founder Jona Christians, we are working with the city of Munich’s public transportation system to help climate protection and a decrease in CO2 emissions in the public transportation sector.
A Quick Look at The Sion Masterpiece
The Sion’s interior is larger, cleaner, and has more storage. The front seats and rear bench are new, as is the steering wheel. New interior surface colors and trim will be available for the Sion.
According to Sono, the Sion’s outer shell, which has 456 integrated solar half-cells, will allow for self-sufficiency on brief travels. The Sion’s 54 kWh LFP battery’s estimated 305 km range is anticipated to be increased by an average of 112 km (up to 245 km) per week thanks to the energy produced by the solar cells, according to the statement.
The vehicle is anticipated to be able to power electronic devices, the home, or other electric vehicles with an output of up to 11kW using bidirectional charging technology.
Laurin Hahn, co-founder of Sono Motors, said that the debut of the Sion in its production design represents a significant step toward realizing its vision for a sustainable world and advancing our goal to cut carbon emissions.
“We are tremendously excited for Sono Motors’ journey towards providing clean, affordable, and accessible solar transportation for the masses. The premieres of the Sion in its production design represent a giant leap forward in realising our vision for a sustainable world, furthering our mission to reduce carbon emissions,” said Laurin Hahn, co-founder of Sono Motors.
“Production of our series-validation fleet and presenting the Sion in its production design is a further step towards delivering on our promise of an affordable solar-electric passenger vehicle.”