German startup unveils solar-powered family car

German startup, Sono Motors, has unveiled its five-seater solar car, the Sion. The motoring company says it has pioneered solar-powered mobility with the Sion, which it claims is the world’s first “solar electric vehicle (SEV) for the masses”.

In its final production design, the Sion received major enhancements compared to earlier concepts: the exterior and interior now feature fewer lines and clearer surfaces. The Sion’s revamped exterior design includes new headlights and rear lights, a new bottom sideline design, new door handles, a streamlined rear with new camera and 3D lines, and a new charging lid.

Inside, the Sion features a more spacious, cleaner interior with more storage, newly designed front seats and rear bench, and a new steering wheel. The Sion will also offer new colours and trim for interior surfaces.

The outer shell of the Sion consists of 456 integrated solar half-cells and will enable self-sufficiency on short journeys, Sono said. The energy generated by the solar cells is expected to extend the estimated 305 km range of the Sion’s 54 kWh LFP battery by an average of 112 km (up to 245 km) per week, it said.

Using bidirectional charging technology, the car is expected to be able to power electronic devices, the home or other electric cars with an output of up to 11kW.

“We are tremendously excited for Sono Motors’ journey towards providing clean, affordable, and accessible solar transportation for the masses. The premieres of the Sion in its production design represent a giant leap forward in realising our vision for a sustainable world, furthering our mission to reduce carbon emissions,” said Laurin Hahn, co-founder of Sono Motors.

“Production of our series-validation fleet and presenting the Sion in its production design is a further step towards delivering on our promise of an affordable solar-electric passenger vehicle,” Hahn said.