Solar car found to be the world’s most aerodynamic production vehicle

Lightyear One, a Denmark-made car that draws much of its power from solar panels, has been officially recognized as the world’s single most aerodynamically shaped production vehicle.

Cars based on alternative power sources tend to have serious range limitations, which prompts their creators to devise sophisticated aerodynamic body shapes for them. After an extensive series of wind tunnel tests in Turin, Italy, it was established that the Lightyear One had an aerodynamic drag of just 0.20. Its long roof, fenders and many other similar features contributed to the result. The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class comes second with the drag coefficient of just 0.22.

The five-seat solar car is still unavailable, but the manufacturer promises to make it highly effective. Among other things, the estimated driving range of 800 kilometers (500 miles) is beyond the reach of most modern EVs.