Lightyear One - from solar racer to commercial product

[All Darc]

This Lightyear One's company was started by some students members of the Stella Solar car project, Solar Team Eindhoven. Now there are a new Stella Solar car (4* or 5* version) called Stela Era, whicj won the last World Solar Challenge.

More lightweight and higher range than Lightyear One, since it weights less.
But the inside space and outside look (low height) are a bit less apeal as a family car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX3Rfif2ffI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgy3v45PIVI

[All Darc]

One interesting concept it's about automatic parking (searching for best places for sun light).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoMVylRze_A

But there is a huge mistake in this video, since the 1,22kW solar roof can't in a single day charge 40% of the battery (like shows the video above when the care donates battery's energy and recharge the battery after it), unless the battery capacity it's very low.

And to donate energy from a solar electric car it's not necessarily free, despite be from sun. If the Stela Era was donating just the solar roof output there would be no problem, but in the video it is donating from the battery too.

Think with me, the price for Li-Ion battery it's more expensive than the energy we pay for electricity. For example, if the battery have a lifetime of 1000 cycles, but costs 30.000 dolars (30 dollars per charge cycle), the amount of energy it will store in 1000 cycles cost more than the same amount of energy we woul pay for home charging. So if a electric solar car donates 40% of a battery charge, it have a cost, as it took 40% of a battery cycle.
In the end, if the car donates 40% of a cycle it is donating 40% of 30 dollars, or 12 dollars.

So, the best would be the solar electric car donate que excedent energy (after battery it's 100& charged) just from the solar roof output (and not from battery) to the grid, and the other electric cars needing energy would take it form the grid. This would avoid the charge/discharge that shorter battery's lifetime.

[redpoint5]

Again, nice engineering exercise. I'm sure the skills they gained in the project will be useful in future endeavors.

[oil pan 4]

Wow pay over $100,000 for free drive power.
I will just continue to buy electricity for my $6,000 leaf.
If my leaf lasts 250,000 miles that's 62,500Mwh which will cost me about $6,250.
So excuse me for not jumping on the LY1 band waggon.

[All Darc]

Hey guys, where are the DIY folks to get SunPower efficient solar cells and create a solar electric car in their own garages???


By the why, the windshield have a nice area. Since SUnPower cells are flexible, they could create a sort of slider solar panel using flexible material, to cover the windshield area (from inside) after leave or park the car. The sides surface of the car could have some solar panels too.

Indded, with the HD cameras technology of today, which can even have night view, multi angles and take few energy, they could even drive with the sliding solar panel covering the windshield.

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Wow pay over $100,000 for free drive power.
I will just continue to buy electricity for my $6,000 leaf.
If my leaf lasts 250,000 miles that's 62,500Mwh which will cost me about $6,250.
So excuse me for not jumping on the LY1 band waggon.

[redpoint5]

Most of us are sensible enough not to waste time with solar on a vehicle. Since sunlight isn't dependable, the car has to have alternative means of being charged. Once you have that, it negates the whole purpose of having solar in the first place.

Rooftops or other stationary locations are where it makes sense.

[oil pan 4]

Nissan intentionally made it difficult and kind of inefficient to bring lower voltages up to pack voltage.
I would see at least 300 watts in losses trying to boost the voltage up to charging levels assuming I could start with 170v input power. It's best to plug into 240v AC which goes me about 340v DC which is almost at pack voltage.

[RedDevil]

Lightyear is planning a cheaper version coming in 2023:
https://eindhovennews.com/news/2020/...er-solar-cars/

Aiming at producing 100.000 cars a year for just €50.000 (about $55K).
At least at that price point it would no longer be vastly more expensive than a Model 3 and a solar roof on the house...

[oil pan 4]

No word on the DoA hub motors?

[RedDevil]

First drive impression and lots of nice photos here:
https://electrek.co/2020/01/14/lightyear-one-first-look/