Sono goes on a US tour with the Sion solar e-car
Sono Motors: harnessing the power of the sun...
"The effects of climate change are already being felt around the world. Moving away from fossil fuels has therefore never been more urgent. In a world without fossil fuels, cleaner transportation is a must, and our mission to equip every vehicle with solar cells is just the next logical step," said Laurin Hahn, CEO and co-founder of Sono Motors. "Solar Electric Vehicles are the next step in zero-emission mobility. They allow for more convenience, greater range on a single battery charge and therefore greater independence from the existing charging infrastructure. We're incredibly excited to bring the Sion to the United States for the first time and showcase our vision for the future of solar mobility."
The Sion is now touring coast-to-coast in the US and is scheduled to be presented to the public at the following stops:
- New York City (11 October, NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square; 12 October, 1 Noble Street, Brooklyn).
- Boston (14 October, High Street Place Food Hall)
- Detroit (17 October, The Eastern)
- San Francisco (24-25 October, location TBA)
- San José (26 October, by invitation only)
- Los Angeles (27-28 October, Tuxedo LA).
"The US continues to be an exciting market for us. In addition to our plans to start bringing the Sion to the European market next year, we are actively exploring American partnership opportunities and expanding our portfolio of integrated solar solutions for fleet operators," Hahn continued. "Our solar solutions are designed to enable trucks, buses, trailers and other commercial vehicles to harness the power of the sun to reduce consumption and fossil fuel costs without compromising on, for example, range. Companies across Europe and the US are already using our licensable technology for their fleet vehicles, either as a pilot project or in the ongoing operation. We can't wait to support more fleet operators in America with it."
Since its founding in Munich in 2016, Sono Motors has become a pioneer in solar-powered vehicles. According to the company, the Sion has the potential to become the world's first low-cost SEV. Combined with the company's portfolio of integrated solar technologies, Sono Motors enables both commuters and businesses to harness the power of the sun for their mobility.
The outer skin of the family-friendly Sion is made up of 456 seamlessly integrated solar half-cells, which reduce the number of charging sessions and can even make the car completely self-powered on short journeys. The solar technology extends the Sion's battery range from around 305 km by an average of 112 km per week in typical weather conditions and even up to 241 km per week in optimal weather conditions.
The Sion's 54 kWh LFP battery allows a maximum charging power of up to 75 kW (DC) or 11 kW (AC). Bidirectional charging with up to 11 kW makes the Sion a true "solar power plant": for charging electronic devices and other electric cars or for feeding energy back into private or public grids.