Sono Sion is an incredible, future-oriented solar car conceptualized by the German startup Sono Motors. It is a Solar Electric Vehicle (SEV) that can charge itself, thanks to the solar cells integrated into its body, from the hood to the rear of the car.
The Sion is like any regular electric car, but it differs from the crowd of EVs with its integration of highly efficient mono solar cells into the exterior for charging the battery pack while parking in sunlight. The self-sufficient car at a highly affordable price can revolutionize the electric car segment as you will be able to travel short distances with zero carbon emissions.
As per Sono Motors, under optimal sunlight, the SEV can generate up to 1.2kW of solar energy to keep on topping up its built-in 54kWh LiFePO4 battery pack, which simply translates to additionally achieving an extended range of an average of 112 km per week.
Here, we would like to have a detailed look at the Sono Sion solar car, which is to enter into the phase of mass production in 2023. Sooner it will be available to solar car fans in Europe and across the world. The expected price of the solar car is €29900 ($29065).
Sono Sion Solar Car at a Glance
- 112 km (up to 245 km Max) Extended Range a Week with Solar.
- Highly Efficient Mono Solar Cells Integrated into the Entire Body.
- 120kW (163 h.p) Motor with a 40km/h Speed and 270 Nm Torque.
- 54kWh LiFePO4 Battery Pack with Liquid Cooling System.
- 0 to 80% Charging in 35 Minutes from an EV Charging Station.
- A Total Range of 305 Kms as Per the WLTP Standard.
- Portable Power Storage to Run Appliances up to 3.7kW.
- Home Power Source with the Sono Wallbox DC Power Station.
- Sono App for Car Sharing, Ride Pooling, and Power Sharing.
Table of Contents
Sono Sion – Solar Integration
The Sono Motors engineers have embedded solar cells into the car’s body through a patented injection molding technology, which makes the solar panels replace the car’s body panels with a special polymer coating in the production stage, making the body panels resistant to physical impacts and shattering.
The innovative injection molding technology has helped the car designer do away with bulky solar panels that have glass, back sheets, metal frames, and junction boxes. That is how the solar cells stay blended into the car’s body exactly like the paint on a vehicle’s body.
The glass of the panels is replaced by transparent thermoplastic, while non-transparent thermoplastic replaces metal frames, back sheets, and junction boxes. This seamless integration makes solar panels not heavier than regular car body panels, which means the car is never overloaded with PV panels.
Check Out the Sono Sion Solar Car Here.
Portable Power Backup System
The Sion solar car features bidirectional charging technology, which makes the car double as a portable power source on the move. The car has got a household power plug that you can use to connect regular electronic appliances up to a capacity of 3.7kWh.
Using a Type 2 plug, the car can deliver even more power up to 11kW.
That is how you can drive in Sion into camping or worksite and connect your outdoor equipment as well as power tools to its outlet for on-the-go power.
Having solar panels over the car, you can access unlimited green power and you will no longer need to take a solar power station into the wild if you have a Sion.
The Sono Wallbox for Home Power
Apart from being a source of portable power, the Sono solar car can also act as a home storage system when used with the Sono Wallbox.
The bidirectional power hub lets you convert the car into a power plant, which can power your household appliances from the car’s source of self-sufficient power.
The Sono Wallbox has a charging and discharging rate of up to 11 kW and it has Ethernet and WLAN for connectivity. You can mount the charging station on a wall and easily link it to the home power supply.
As per Sono Motors, it could avail the Wallbox at a largely cheaper price in comparison to the other DC charging stations on the market.
Moreover, thanks to the Sion’s large battery pack, you can have 10 times better energy storage for your home than many dedicated home storage systems. Overall, you get a cool way to power your home with sustainable energy as long as you park the car in the sunlight.
Sono App
The Sono car will roll out with an all-in-one mobile app, which will come out to be much useful to fulfill many goals, such as car sharing, ride pooling, and power sharing.
The app will also act as a digital key for the car and you can read real-time data on the car, including the car charging details, battery status, and much other important information.
Sono Sion Price and Release Date
Sono Motors is to move to the mass production of the solar car in 2023.
The company is currently taking pre-orders for the car, which will initially be launched in Europe. The price of the car is €29900 ($29065). We will update the latest news about the car here. Stay tuned.
Sono Sion Solar Car Alternatives
With the Sion solar car going to evolve as one of the cheapest solar cars as claimed by its manufacturer, we would like to check out some of the alternative solar electric cars you can consider buying to drive to your destinations in a green and eco-friendly way.
Sono Sion Vs Lightyear 0
When it comes to the Sion solar car alternatives, the Dutch startup Lightyear is one of the first options to have a glance at. The brand’s much-touted Lightyear 0 is a brilliant 5-seater car that can take you to long distances powered by sunlight.
The Lightyear solar car integrates a massive 60kWh battery pack with a practical range of over 1000 km between two charging moments and a highway range of 560 km.
The roof-mounted solar panels can provide the car with an extra daily range of 70 km and the annual solar yield is up to 1100 km.
Aside from the solar cells on the roof, you can charge the car from regular EV charging stations at a speed of 200km/h and a regular household plug at a rate of 32 km/h. Meanwhile, via the fast charger, you can achieve 520km/h.
This car can get to 100 km/h speed in just 10 seconds.
The body panels are built with reclaimed carbon fiber and the interior is designed from naturally sourced materials. It has a boot space of 640L and a 12L center console.
The Lightyear 0 car costs around €250,000 (USD $24,3000). Well, compared to its price, Sono Sion is indeed super cheaper at €29900.
Sono Sion Vs Aptera Solar Car
Aptera solar car is another cool alternative to Sono Sion. It is from the USA startup Aptera Motors.
This is a three-wheeled, two-seater electric car with a unique design and an incredibly aerodynamic and lightweight body, which resembles a dolphin’s belly.
That is how the Aptera solar car weighs 65% less compared to other solar electric vehicles.
Unlike Sion and Lightyear 0, Aptera comes with different battery options. You can choose from 23kWh, 41kWh, 60kWh, and 100kWh options, which respectively have a range of 250, 400, 600, and 1000 miles.
Aptera features a Never Charge technology that can offer your car an extra range of 40 miles per day on solar power. The car is equipped with 700 watts of solar panels on the roof, hood, and dashboard.
The car can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. Aptera Motors sells this solar car in a price range of $25,900 to $47,000 for various battery options.
Final Thoughts
That has been our take on the energy-harvesting electric car from Sono Sion. This is more than a car or mobility solution. By utilizing its huge 54kWh LFP battery pack, you can employ it as a reliable source of portable as well as home power.
If you buy an EcoFlow Power Kit or a Zendure SuperBase V, you solely get a home backup system, but with the Sion, you can satisfy multiple energy requirements, including a self-sufficient electric car. Share your thoughts about the solar car in the comments below.
Vahid Vee is a full-time blogger who is highly passionate about off-grid and sustainable power systems and is an expert at researching and exploring new topics, checking facts, and presenting things in simple language. As an avid observer of the global off-grid power and battery market, he is really excited to share with you the latest trends, fresh products, and other developments in the markets. #Contact Email @ veevahid@gmail.com – LinkedIn – Full blog profile.
