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 its Sion solar electric car. The fleet is to 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 car's practical tests 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 climates in Europe and the U.S. 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 hard work by hundreds of engineers. "The start of the series testing phase is another step on our path 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. Thus, he says, it is 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 its own information, Sono Motors already has around 16,800 paid reservations for the car. The start-up plans to publicly unveil the final design of the Sion in the summer of 2022.

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