Lightyear, a startup company that built a sun-powered vehicle known simply as 0 (Zero), has just tested it in a wind tunnel in Germany to determine its drag performance. The WLTP-rated ratio turned out to be as low as 0.175, making the solar car the most aerodynamically shaped production car in the world.
The previous record holder is the Mercedes-Benz EQS, with a ratio as low as 0.2. Lightyear believes that for an EV, it is crucial to find a balance between downforce and drag. The drag ratio directly influences driving range: for the Lightyear 0, the claimed figure is 625 kilometers (388 miles).
The main selling point of the vehicle is that it comes equipped with a total of 5 square meters (54 square feet) of solar panels lining its entire roof and hood surfaces. As a result, it produces large amounts of free solar energy that may completely eliminate the need for charging for some owners. The company claims many customers in Europe can drive it for months on end before charging becomes necessary.
As an early adopter of the tech, the Zero is by no means cheap, starting from €250,000.