The first ‘affordable’ solar-powered car will roll off the Lightyear production line in Helmond in 2025. This is possible thanks to an investment of millions by the province of Noord-Brabant and the Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM). The car will cost 30,000 euros and already has more than 10,000 reservations.
A first Lightyear car will already be on the market to a limited extent this autumn. That is the Lightyear 0. About 250,000 euros still have to be deposited for this. The more affordable version of this solar-powered car will be the Lightyear 2, and it will be mass-produced. The Lightyear 2 gets its energy from the sunroof, but also has a battery for driving on dark days.
Fewer charging stations
The investment by the province and BOM fits in with the energy transition. The electricity grid is under pressure. The increasing demand for charging electric vehicles cannot be kept up with. Vehicles that are charged directly by solar energy do not need to be plugged in as often. In addition, Lightyear is working on more efficient vehicles that consume less energy per kilometre, requiring a smaller battery.
In total, Lightyear will invest 81 million euros in the production of cars that drive with sunroofs. The province is investing 7.5 million and the BOM is investing 5 million. The other millions come from investors outside Brabant. With this money, the company wants to accelerate its current growth and take additional steps in its expansion outside of Europe.
Green mobility
The company Lightyear was founded in 2016 by former students of the TU/e in Eindhoven. Martijn van Gruijthuijsen, provincial executive for Economy, Finance, Knowledge and Talent Development is proud. “It is special to see how a company like Lightyear in Brabant can grow from an ambitious start-up to a forerunner in green mobility. We see a bright future for Lightyear and would like to see them grow further in Brabant. Good for Lightyear, the climate, the Netherlands and Brabant.”
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