My new car can go 410 miles on the energy of one gallon of petrol; unmodified!

[RedDevil]

There's value in the concept.
While at this cost point a regular Tesla and a large home based solar array makes more sense (*) in most scenarios, the relative independence (even if you get stranded with nowhere to charge, you just need to wait and eventually you can move on) has strong appeal.

Even if you never need it. But that's a given. So many 4x4's never leave the pavement. We live by illusions. Even if your use case for the LightYear One turns out to be an illusion, it is a good one.
We (the truck, MPV, muscle car commuters) need better illusions...

(*) as an afterthought, a second hand Mirage, energy-usage focused home improvements and an even larger solar array for the same money makes even more sense. But less fun?

[freebeard]

The biggest problem I see is that you'd have to leave it out in the weather.

[oil pan 4]

Buying an electric car isn't going to save the world.
If any one is really interested in saving the world then they should be riding a bicycle.

[Daschicken]

Originally Posted by teknomage2012

NOPE
There are things in life more important than just money and ROI. Like the ability of my grandchildren to breath in a world not fighting over centralized oil resources!

Bean counters make me sick!

I think I read an article suggesting buying a cheaper electric car plus solar panels for the house etc. would be better use of the money. I can understand the bean counter part though.

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Buying an electric car isn't going to save the world.
If any one is really interested in saving the world then they should be riding a velomobile.

Fixed.

[freebeard]

Fixed.

Compromise on Arcimoto FUV?


https://techxplore.com/news/2019-07-...tric-cars.html

Reports noted the solar cells were extremely efficient. According to The Drive, the solar Sharp-made solar cells are of the triple-junction compound type, sporting a conversion efficiency of 34 percent, and occasionally more.

Etherington: "The new system will provide up to 44.5 km (27.7 miles) of additional range per day while parked and soaking up sun, and can add up to 56.3 km (35 miles) of power to both the driving system and the auxiliary power battery on board, which runs the AC, navigation and more."

All in all, Elektrek offered its take on the news:

"As we always like to point out with these solar car efforts, a car's roof is not the most ideal place to install solar cells. They would most likely be more efficient installed on the rooftop of a home and then, you can use the power to charge your vehicle. However, there's something appealing about your vehicle producing its own energy and it is starting to get more attractive with the specs Toyota is talking about now."

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by teknomage2012

My new car can go 410 miles on the energy of one gallon of petrol; unmodified!

It has no transmission or driveline to require regular maintenance every ~200,000 miles.

All wheel drive with vector traction control.

Aerodynamics rule it's design with factory rear wheel cover spats, smooth lines, swept built in kamback, and ultralight weight construction.

https://lightyear.one/lightyear-one/

That’s nice for a 1/64th scale model.

Given that all-electric cars aren’t “clean” in any reasonable sense of using that word; and then the bean-counting financials which have to account for the pesky military’s, etc, needed for production where materials are imported.

Maybe it will scale up.

.

[oil pan 4]

Oh 34% efficient cells?
They probably cost 10x as much as 24% efficient cells.
Solar cells can go all the way up to nearly 50% last time I checked.
The light year thing probably also uses unusually higher efficiency, super expensive, funky element containing, planet destroying, radioactive waste byproduct solar cells too.

[litesong]

Originally Posted by teknomage2012

Bean counters make me sick!

Bean counters killed 3 astronauts in 1967 & seven in 1986.

[cowmeat]

That's like 12 miles per kwh.
The best I can do in my leaf is about 5.5 miles per kwh.
Electric motor cycles usually don't break 10 miles per kwh.
It would have to average 5kw at 60 mph to make 12 miles per kwh. That's less than 7hp. It doesn't look anywhere near that aerodynamic.
So when it doesn't get 400mpge don't be surprised, or if it only can approach 400mpge at 20mph with no heat or A/C just remember we told you so.

I agree - I don't think a real world car and driver will average within 100 mpge of that claim, it seems more likely they'll see maybe half of that. I drive an EV every day, and although the Lightyear One is lighter and more aerodynamic than mine, it's not that much lighter or aerodynamic, and I can only occasionally baby my Volt above 200 mpge, trying hard in perfect driving conditions

That being said, it's still pretty cool. Heck, I still have my place in line for an Elio!

[Lemmy]

I'm just wondering how much petrol I could buy for £130,000.

Or maybe I should buy a 30k Leaf, charge at home on my 5kW solar, and buy a seaside home with the £100,000 I've saved.

The answer to a question few had even been asking...