Due to the cell’s low efficiency, heavyweight, and high cost, solar-powered automobiles have long been disregarded and mocked, making electric vehicles the major protagonist. Elon Musk has also indicated that putting solar panels on a car is the least efficient way to do so.
But now that the world is getting viable production-ready models, Elon has changed his mind, adding panels to the future cyber truck, after all, there appear to be some opportunities for reviews that don’t require a plug. The following is a list of the top ten solar cars in the world. Today, we’ll take a quick look at some of the current solar automobiles, so it’s time to be enthusiastic about the automotive industry’s sustainable future.
| Solar Cars in the World | Price (USA) |
|---|---|
| 1. SONO SION | $28,600 |
| 2. Fisker Ocean | $37,499 |
| 3. Lightyear One | $175,000 |
| 4. Tesla Cybertruck | $39,900 |
| 5. Stella Era | ——— |
| 6. Toyota Prius Prime | $28,200 |
| 7. VW ID Buzz Cargo | $40,000 |
| 8. Fiat Centoventi | $27,600 |
| 9. Sunswift Violet | ——— |
| 10. Solarolla VW Bus | $40,000 |
1. SONO SION
When the SION was first unveiled in 2017, it was hailed as the world’s first mass-market solar car, with a price tag of less than 20,000 euros. Since then, the price has steadily escalated, and the company has had to rely on a hazardous crowdfunding campaign to stay afloat. But it’s back on track today, with production at the former Saab site in Sweden poised to resume. The odd hatchback isn’t concerned with looks or performance, instead focuses on making the most of available space. The 35-kilowatt-hour battery can be hired out for 155 kilometres on a single charge. The three-phase electric motor was supplied by Continental and produces 161 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque at highway speeds of up to 87 miles per hour.
2. Fisker Ocean
Henrikh Visker has developed a reputation as a con artist in the UV world after failing with his black and hybrid karma and all-electric emotion sports vehicles. This time, the renowned designer is attempting to break into the electric crossover market, promising to develop the segment’s most affordable long-range model. An 80-kilowatt-hour battery will be installed in the ocean, with a range of up to 300 miles.
Featuring either a single or two motor propulsion system, depending on your needs; both include the latest infotainment technology, an all-vegan interior, and an optional full-length solar roof. Fisker does not specify its capacity or recharging capabilities, but the company says it will increase the crossover’s efficiency and range.
3. Lightyear One
the light from the Netherlands that signals the start-up of a business Here started developing a solar-charging automobile a few years ago, and the company has now revealed the final design. This four-door sedan boasts a sleek and futuristic look thanks to the speed tail-inspired trigger. To save weight and improve efficiency, a led strip runs along the hood and integrates into the headlights. The other is made out of carbon fibre and aluminium parts.
It has next generation solar panels on the roof, hood, and trunk that can add seven and a half miles to the battery charge for every hour of sun exposure. The light here foregoes the standard drivetrain in favour of four and wheel motors, as well as a 450-mile-range battery.
4. Tesla Cybertruck
As previously said, Elon is completely committed to solar, especially since the solar city is a critical component of Tesla. The prototype truck will be the major proponent of the technology, with a solar-paneled tunnel cover as an option. Apart from self-charging, this self-driving truck bed comfort will either replace 15 miles of range each day or serve as a base camp power station if the Tesla is used for overlanding.
The stainless steel behemoth is aiming for great performance with several engine combinations with 1, 2, and 3 motors, the latter of which will be capable of delivering up to 805 horsepower till 14 000 pounds. The cyber beast has a top speed of 500 miles per hour and accelerates at breakneck speed.
5. Stella Era
If we had to sum up the stellar era in a single sentence, we’d say that this family car is the solar energy’s Robin Hood. A vehicle capable of storing so much clean energy that it may be shared directly with other people has not been developed by a Dutch non-profit solar team. The company’s fourth prototype is a four-seater vehicle driven by two unwheeled motors and equipped with exceptionally effective regenerative braking. The powertrain’s technical specs are kept under wraps by the developers. However, depending on the amount of solar exposure, the business claims that the era can go between 560 and nearly 750 miles on a single charge.
6. Toyota Prius Prime
Since 2017, the Japanese version of the Prius Prime has been available with a solar roof as an option. Panasonic created it, but it only provided 3.7 miles of daily range and was seen as more of a trendy novelty than a practical charging method for the automobile at the time. Teora is teaming up with Sharp and Edo this time to produce a new generation of onboard solar battery panels with a 34 percent efficiency.
Even when driving, the car can self-recharge, and when the 1.8-liter four-cylinder combustion engine kicks in, you’ll have access to exceptional 130+ mpg fuel economy and 640 miles of range.
7. VW ID Buzz Cargo
This is the workhorse of the forthcoming VW id family, which is slated to go into production in 2022, and is based on the same platform as the original id bus minivan. It then gets various practical modifications to make it more commercially viable, including a new solar roof that can add 9.3 miles to the battery charge per day and a smart cockpit workplace adjacent to the van.
There are several high-voltage power plugs in the back for running tools. The engine configuration stays the same, with a 204 horsepower motor, rear-wheel drive, and a variety of battery options that allow for a range of up to 340 miles.
8. Fiat Centoventi
The Centoventi was propelled by a network of 125 underfloor batteries, each capable of covering 62 miles on a single charge. The hatchback came in 256 different colour schemes and four different roof configurations, one of which included a solar panel. One that can charge the car while driving or power the ad banner on the tailgate will be available in the spring of 2020. This concept reappeared after we confirmed it for real-world production; however, it’s unclear how close the mass-market version will be to the original, and there are even rumours that the Centoventi will be combined with an all-electric Fiat Panda.
9. Sunswift Violet
Sunswift is a solar racing team founded in 1996 in Australia. They are considered a pioneer in the development of solar cars and a participant in the World Solar Challenge. The company’s first electric vehicle prototype was built in the late 1990s, and since then, it has gone through five generations of changes. Violet, the most recent edition of the race vehicle, was unveiled in 2017. The violet is powered by a small 20-kilowatt-hour battery that allows it to travel up to 620 miles on a single charge in the Australian sun.
10. Solarolla VW Bus
The solar roller business built the camper from the bottom up, with roof-mounted solar panels that can be tilted to maximise sun exposure. The setup generates 1.2 kilowatts of solar energy, but if you choose two solar awnings that pull out on both sides, you can get approximately 3 kilowatts of electricity.
The latest version of the solar rollers is equipped with Tesla Model S battery modules that have a combined capacity of 37.5 kilowatt-hours and can provide up to 100 miles of range on demand. A full kitchen, an upstairs sleeping loft, a couch, and other amenities may be included in the bus.
