Sono Motors launches test phase for its solar-powered e-car

The Munich-based start-up is building a test fleet to test its Sion solar car. Series production of the vehicle could start as early as next year.

Sono Motors is building a test fleet to test the Sion solar electric car. The fleet will consist of 16 complete vehicles and 21 test vehicles. The company is being supported in production by Thyssenkrupp Automotive Body Solutions and Bertrandt. If the practical tests of the car are successful, series production of the vehicle could start as early as next year.

According to Sono Motors, the test cars will undergo practical tests in various climate zones in Europe and the USA and will also be exposed to extreme weather conditions.

For Jona Christians, CEO and founder of Sono Motors, the journey from initial concept to test vehicle is the result of the hard work of hundreds of engineers. "The start of the series testing phase is another step on our way to climate-friendly mobility of the future," he says.

There will be 458 integrated solar half-cells on the outside of the vehicle. The solar technology will increase the vehicle's range to up to 110 kilometers more per week. This makes it possible to charge the car up to four times less than conventional e-cars. The Sion is expected to cost 28,500 euros gross. According to Sono Motors, it already has around 16,800 prepaid reservations for the car. The start-up plans to present the final design of the Sion to the public in summer 2022.

Christians founded the start-up together with Laurin Hahn and Navina Pernsteiner in 2016. The company's mission is to make mobility independent of oil and equip every vehicle with solar cells. The company's own solar technology is not only suitable for cars, but also for buses, trains and boats.