The project started in February 2019. In short, the work performed in up to now concerns: the development of the demonstration model, demonstrations of the working model, developing set-up for production and logistics, filing patents for key technologies and perform multiple tests with the Lightyear One to validate its specifics such as wind tunnel, construction, rolling road, safety, quality and weighting tests.
Main results achieved so far: development of demonstration model and its successful public demonstration. The realization of the demonstration model was a crucial milestone in the project. Activities included: further development of core technologies, integration of all components, individual component testing and integration tests.
In Q2 2019 Lightyear organized a major demonstration event. The international unveiling event was held the 25th of June at TheatherHangaar in Katwijk, the Netherlands. Around 800 guests arrived to see the unveiling of the demonstration model of the Lightyear One. Around 55,000 people from around the world watched the unveiling via a livestream on YouTube. The combination of a press conference together with press release resulted in worldwide media traction at over 600 outlets. The total reach is estimated over 2.1 billion people. Many of the important international tech, innovation and automotive channels wrote about Lightyear One e.g. TechCrunch, Business Insider and Top Gear. Also tech papers in South-America, Asia and the UK wrote about the Lightyear One.
Furthermore, in Q2 2019 Lightyear executed studies to detail the concept for the set-up for production and logistics. In Q3 2019, Manufacturing Process Engineering and Production have focused on detailing the optimum layout for the assembly line. Lightyear has been reviewing the concept layout from different angles. The goal is to establish a “Showroom assembly line” that combines an optimum use of the space available, an efficient balanced workflow and a line output that serves the demands. A good logistic in- and outbound process is mandatory to get this realised.
Currently, multiple tests are performed with the demonstration model. The team has tested, among others, the different aerodynamics configurations of Lightyear One. The wind tunnel test confirmed that the Lightyear One is the world’s most aerodynamic production car with an aerodynamic drag of 0.2. With the reduced weight of the car minimising road friction and the streamlined design reducing drag, Lightyear One is equipped to perform at low and high speeds alike. Being 2 times more efficient than regular electric cars, Lightyear One can drive a longer distance without needing to charge.
At last and as a result of, amongst others, the Lightyear initiative, the Dutch government has agreed to create a separate category for solar powered cars that has additional tax incentives, even compared to other electric car.
For an overview of the results of the final period and the total project see appendix: H2020 - Final Report.
