04:24Power of the Sun: German manufacturer unveils Sion solar-powered car
While electric cars might be good news for the planet, waiting for them to charge up - and even just finding a power point - has meant a few false starts for the technology.
The Holy Grail would be a car that can charge itself - and now manufacturer Sono believes it has just that, unveiling the Sion solar-powered electric car at the TechDay show in Munich, as seen on Friday, January 13.
"We have solar cells integrated into the outer skin everywhere, we have a vehicle that charges an average of 112 km per week from the Sun, free of charge," explained Chief Executive of Sono Motors Munich Office Jona Christians. "Under Munich conditions that is 5,800 km a year that come through the sun."
The car can also be charged to around 80 percent capacity in just over half an hour, just in case the Sun isn’t shining too brightly.
Footage shows the bodywork completely covered in solar cells, with visitors taking turns to sit inside. A stripped down model of the chassis also helps explain the inner workings, and there’s even a reason behind its sleek black look.
“The Sion only comes in one colour," Christians continued. "Why? It comes with solar integration, the solar cells are already very dark. That means we integrate this into the black, so it looks better and at the same time if we only have one variant."
The company says it can also use the patented technology on buses, trucks and even ships. It hopes to have the car on the roads by 2024, but fans who can’t wait that long can already sign up for a test drive.
04:24While electric cars might be good news for the planet, waiting for them to charge up - and even just finding a power point - has meant a few false starts for the technology.
The Holy Grail would be a car that can charge itself - and now manufacturer Sono believes it has just that, unveiling the Sion solar-powered electric car at the TechDay show in Munich, as seen on Friday, January 13.
"We have solar cells integrated into the outer skin everywhere, we have a vehicle that charges an average of 112 km per week from the Sun, free of charge," explained Chief Executive of Sono Motors Munich Office Jona Christians. "Under Munich conditions that is 5,800 km a year that come through the sun."
The car can also be charged to around 80 percent capacity in just over half an hour, just in case the Sun isn’t shining too brightly.
Footage shows the bodywork completely covered in solar cells, with visitors taking turns to sit inside. A stripped down model of the chassis also helps explain the inner workings, and there’s even a reason behind its sleek black look.
“The Sion only comes in one colour," Christians continued. "Why? It comes with solar integration, the solar cells are already very dark. That means we integrate this into the black, so it looks better and at the same time if we only have one variant."
The company says it can also use the patented technology on buses, trucks and even ships. It hopes to have the car on the roads by 2024, but fans who can’t wait that long can already sign up for a test drive.