One Heck of a Partnership: Koenigsegg Invested in Lightyear
The first solar-powered car created by Lightyear just got an investment and partnership boost from luxury megacar company Koenigsegg.
Everyone wants to be first with new sustainable car tech that works. Lightyear has done this by creating the first
solar-powered
vehicle. It is built to hold five and is capable of adventure without worrying about where the nearest charging stations are. With megacar company, Koenigsegg’sinvestment and partnership, a
future of solar-powered vehicles
is assured. Lightyear and their solar-powered tech
Lightyear began in 2016 and is a Netherlands-based company. They aim to show that environmentally friendly mobility is possible and can go far while staying accessible.
The Lightyear 0, the world’s first solar-powered vehicle, premiered on June 9, 2022, and is set to roll out this fall. According to Lightyear, you can drive this car
without needing to stop and charge
for months. How? According to
Lightyear
, solar panels, specifically five square meters of double-curved solar arrays. That’s 16 square feet that can charge while driving or parked outside. So every day, it can charge and add up to 43 miles or 70 kilometers. They also wanted this car to be universally chargeable. This means when it does need to be charged, you can plug your car into “any outlet in the world,” including “the one you used to charge your toaster.”
That outlet you use for your toaster? If you charge your car via it overnight, you can expect to gain 300km or 186 miles of energy overnight at a rate of 32km/h or almost 20 miles per hour.
Koenigsegg Automotive AB megacars
Koenigsegg
is a Swedish automotive company created in 1994 built to create high-performance vehicles. Their current lineup is four megacars, though they have 11 vehicles in their history since they began with their CC Prototype. Their current lineup of limited-run vehicles includes the Gemera, Jesko, Jesko Absolut, and the Regera.
The Gemera is Koenigsegg’s first four-seater car. It’s a hybrid that offers 50 kilometers (31 miles) while using EV alone, though it offers 950 km (590 miles) while in hybrid mode. It has 1700 total horsepower and 300 are expected to be made.
Their Jesko and Jesko Absolut will have a combined 125 built total. The Absolut is inspired by fighter jets and focuses on speed.
The Jesko series has the lightest crankshaft in the world (12.5 kilograms or 27.5 pounds) offering 1600 horsepower. In addition, it includes what
Koenigsegg
calls a “Light Speed Transmission,” which allows the driver to change gears “near light speed.”Their fourth vehicle in their current lineup is the Regera, a megacar with a twin-turbo V8 engine and three electric motors.
The Regera has the smallest production run of their current lineup with only 80 made. This megacar includes a Koenigsegg Direct Drive transmission, 800-volt battery, and 1,500 horsepower.
Koenigsegg’s investment in Lightyear’s future
The partnership between Lightyear and Koenigsegg is expected to assist in Lightyear's second solar-powered vehicle, the Lightyear 2. Lightyear 2 is due out in either 2024 or 2025.
The CEOs seem pumped for this investment and partnership, with Lightyear’s CEO Lex Hoefsloot expressing that it showed “...we are clearly on the right track.” And excitement for the greener future the two companies can create with their combined knowledge.
The CEO and founder of Koenigsegg, Christian Koenigsegg, expressed similar positivity over Lightyear’s technological advancements and how they will help keep both companies ahead of the game.
“Lex and his team have developed transformative technologies, and this partnership with Lightyear will ensure our products remain on the bleeding edge, which is great news for our customers.”
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