Solar-powered Sion coming soon

Munich-based Sono Motors expects to launch prototypes of its matt black solar-cell covered urban hatchback in Europe later this year and start producing them by the end of 2021.

The “solar assisted” car will be made through Chinese-controlled Swedish company National Electric Vehicle (NEVS) at the Trolhättan plant in Sweden which previously produced Saabs, Green Car Reports says.

Production and first deliveries are expected to start in early 2022, Sono aiming to produce 260,000 Sions in eight years, it adds.

The project has been mainly crowdfunded, recently gaining US$58 million.

Sono is working with Finland’s Valoe Oyj for solar components, Germany’s ElringKlinger for the battery systems, and Continental for drive components, but is doing much of the development work on its own.

The Sion will have 248 solar cells embedded in polymer panels all over it, able to take full advantage of the sun to power it up to about 33km daily, the water-cooled 35kWh battery to provide about 257km range.