There are a variety of technical measures to increase energy efficiency. In addition to pure electric and hydrogen fuel automobiles, new solar cars are also being developed. Sono Motors, a Munich-based solar car developer, displayed several designs for its Sion solar electric vehicle. This only entails small modifications to the body shape and interior design; there are no changes in technical specifications. Production is expected to begin in the second half of 2023.
Sion is an affordable and reliable SEV for the masses that Sono Motors was founded in a Munich garage and developed into a pioneer in solar mobility with the Sion, an accessible and dependable SEV for the people. Sono’s market positioning, coupled with its proprietary Sono Solar solar technology, allows it to perfectly capture the transition toward a more sustainable future while also taking advantage of its disruptive technology and low price points. Make a meaningful personal contribution to sustainable transportation by doing so.
The Sion’s final production design made significant improvements over prior concepts, such as fewer lines and sharper surfaces on the outside and inside. The improved exterior design of the Sion includes new headlights and taillights, a new bottom edge design, new door handles, a streamlined rear with new cameras and 3D lines, and a new charging cover. The Sion will also have additional color options for interior components.
The body shell of the family-friendly Sion will consist of 456 seamlessly integrated solar half cells, allowing it to be self-sufficient on short trips. Sion’s 54 kWh LFP battery has an estimated range of 305 kilometers, and the energy generated by the solar cells is expected to add an average of 112 kilometers per week (up to 245 kilometers). Commuters in German metropolitan areas will have to charge the Sion in four times less charging time than a conventional electric car of the same model with a similar battery size. The battery will allow up to a maximum charging capacity of 75 kW (DC) and 11 kW (AC). Two-way charging technology complements the car’s solar energy integration and aims to turn the Sion into a sustainable wheeled power plant that is expected to be able to power electronics,
Sono Motors is currently building its fleet of series validation vehicles in Munich, close to the company’s headquarters, in preparation for the Sion testing program that has already begun. Over the next few months, this generation of vehicles will undergo no-compromise real-world testing in extreme conditions in Europe and the United States, including series validation, certification, crash testing, testing in different climates, optimizing solar technology and protection , as well as improved driving dynamics on test tracks and public roads.
As of July 1, 2022, Sono Motors had more than 19,000 active private reservations for the Sion, with an average down payment of €2,225, assuming all bookings result in a sale, equivalent net sales of approximately €415 million. With an expected net selling price of just 25,126 euros, the Sion is expected to have one of the lowest TCO (total cost of ownership) among mid-size cars, as proprietary solar technology greatly reduces the need for vehicle charging.
Taking an asset-light approach, the firm intends to begin manufacturing through contract manufacturing in Finland in the second half of 2023, removing the need for it to create its own manufacturing plants. Valmet Automotive is a partner of Sono Motors with substantial experience working with high-tech OEMs. The partners anticipate achieving output of around 257,000 Sions within seven years after a ramp-up phase.
Solar Bus Kits: B2B Retrofit Solutions for Sustainable Mobility in Commercial Transportation. The Solar Bus Kit is a versatile and simple solution optimized for the most common 12-meter public transport bus types on the European market, including the Mercedes-Benz Citaro and MAN Lion City. Sono Motors will provide a complete and efficient retrofit solution for bus fleet operators who urgently need to reduce diesel consumption and CO2 emissions to meet their sustainability goals.
Solar bus kits allow subsystems such as HVAC to be partially powered by renewable energy, saving fuel, CO2 and costs. From a peak installation of approximately 1.4 kW of solar panels with a total area of approximately 8 square meters, the kit can save up to 1,500 litres of diesel and up to 4 tonnes of CO2 per bus per year. The potential payback period for bus fleet operators is around 3-4 years, depending on the number of days of operation and fuel prices. Sono Motors will reveal more details during the IAA in September.
“Our solar technology already contributes to climate protection and CO2 reduction across numerous partners. In Munich, for example, we are working with the city’s public transport company to support the city’s clean air goals. Such collaborations This project demonstrates the potential of our technology in transportation,” said Jona Christians, co-founder and CEO of Sono Motors. “We are proud to celebrate the launch of our new solar product, the ‘Solar Bus Kit’, which will really push our mission of turning every vehicle into a solar car to the next level. The new Solar Bus Kit allows us to pass Strengthening our solar business by maximizing the scalability of our technology in a huge market: the public and private bus fleet sector. It also represents a milestone on our path towards a world free of fossil fuels.”
Sono Motors’ business diversification plan is progressing well and is now delivering customized solar solutions to a number of B2B customers. As of today, the Munich-based solar mobility specialist is working with 19 companies worldwide, including MAN Truck & Bus and CHEREAU, to implement its Sono Solar on various vehicle architectures including buses, trailers, trucks and electric transporters technology. Depending on the use case, size and type of solar integration, Sono Motors’ lightweight and adaptable solutions enable customers in the transportation industry to reduce costs and emissions across their entire fleet.
