A Dutch company has announced that it will start making the world's first production car fitted with solar panels. The company will have solar panels in its roof, hood(引攀盖) and trunk(后备厢) that recharge the electric battery.
The car will be able to drive around 388 miles without stopping to recharge, and will have an additional range of up to 44 miles a day from the solar panels. For comparison, that's slightly more than the best known electric automobile (374 miles).
Each hour in the sun will add up to six miles of charge to the battery. The solar range will not only give an added drip feed of miles for long journeys but also means you'll spend less time at charging points—or may not even need them at all.
The car has much in common with its previous model that was revealed two years ago, but is able to do more with a smaller battery, says company CEO and co-founder Lex Hoefsloot. "The powertrain(动力总成) is the most efficient in the world, " he claims, adding that the car's shape and four in-wheel motors enable a smaller battery to provide the same range. "That's how we've been able to get to 1, 575 kilograms. If you look at other cars that offer similar range, they're all about 40% heavier. "
The whole concept of the car is based around improving efficiency and cutting charging time. It has a maximum speed of just 100 miles per hour, while its 0 to 100 miles per hour is a slow 10 seconds, something that Hoefsloot admits is down to a focus on range. It's expensive too: One will cost you € 250. 000-slightly more than a luxury sports car. The company hopes to launch a "people's model" by 2025, which will be sold for around €30. 000.
