LIGHT SPEED

The Lightyear One may have a name that sounds like the title of a Netflix blink-and-you-missit-sci-fi B-movie but the team behind it believe that the solar technology that powers the sporty-looking car is a realistic alternative to plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles in the market.

Boasting a range of 725km – even at night where it is powered purely by batteries – the vehicle is the first long range solar car produced. Five square metres of solar panels are placed across the roof and they provide 75% of the vehicle’s total energy needs, meaning even heavy users need only charge from the grid once a month.

The Lightyear team is a mix of young talent and experience from the automotive industry, including former employees of Tesla, Audi, McLaren and Ferrari. Collectively they are ripping up the EV blueprint to create a unique vehicle architecture and technology which has been developed with high efficiency in mind. In effect, this means, Lightyear One consumes only 83 Wh/km which they estimate is in a range of two to three times less energy than any other EV on the market today. They claim the car has the lowest charging frequency yet created which means 7,000 to 20,000 kilometres of “free, effortless and clean” solar range every year.

Lightyear was founded in 2016 by alumni of Solar Team Eindhoven, which had won the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in 2013, 2015 and 2017. The 3,000km race across the Australian Outback from Darwin to Adelaide tests the limits of automotive technology, materials and solar-powered mobility.

“During the competition you drive against other solar powered-vehicles but combustion powered cars as well,” recalls Lex Hoefsloot, CEO, Lightyear. “But most of them have to stop to tank while solar cars can keep driving, so it is a nice demonstration of what electric driving can be. This isn’t just about sustainability but also convenience.”

He continues: “We started the company in 2016 because we realised that there is so much potential in this concept.”

With the creation of the company, came interest from investors and awards; helping to advance the one-time student project onto the cusp of being a force in the automotive industry. Hoefsloot believes that the car can fill in where electric cars fall short: he says that tackling the challenges of range anxiety and the lack of charging options can convert electric vehicle sceptics into true believers. The soon to be commercially launched vehicle also solves a long-time design flaw in solar vehicles: namely you can fit more than one person in them.

It is a challenge that Hoefsloot says that they have faced up to since the early days of racing: “As you know, solar powered cars are normally for one person. These cars are extremely light, so 150 kilos and add one person to that,” he says. “The occupant is the first thing you think about and the second is the tyres as they are the main contact you have with the ground. It is not only about comfort and grip, but it is also for efficiency because if you can select the right tyre you can reduce the energy consumption.

The tyres supplied by Bridgestone are designed for extremely low rolling resistance – the difference in endurance and weight has helped Lightyear go on to further racing success.

He continues: “If you can reduce the energy consumption, you can build a car with less batteries to get the same range. The car can be lighter and the powertrain can be lighter.”

Right from the start of Solar Team Eindhoven to Lightyear One, Hoefsloot explains they have worked with Bridgestone to get the right balance of metal and rubber.

“The tyres for solar powered vehicles were closer to bicycle tyres than they were to car tyres. Back then we had the challenge that we had to build a solar car in basically nine months while designing from scratch. We had no time to find a partner for tyres.”

“When we started in 2012, we didn’t expect we could even have a shot at winning the Solar Challenge, so we were super happy

that we managed it in the end. And from that level of learning - we made a lot of mistakes – we learned a lot about how tyres can really contribute to building a great car.”

Despite their tyre problems, the team subsequently continued its winning streak over the next few years with the turning point from talented amateurs to industry disrupters coming at one of the awards ceremonies and a nervy meeting with head of the Solar Challenge’s sponsors.

“We heard that the CEO of Bridgestone wanted to talk with us. I was a student anymore but it was still very close, so having the privilege (to meet him) was extraordinary…,” he pauses to remember being nervous about his Japanese etiquette. “I was a bit afraid I was doing things wrong but in the end we managed. And we still have a partnership, so I think we were ok!”

He adds that Bridgestone was probably the missing link for the company.

“We found that Bridgestone had very good tyres that would suit our needs. These were extremely low rolling resistance tyres, and that really helped us to win that competition that year.”

Taking his point further, Hoefsloot says that the tyres had become so intrinsic to the design of Lightyear One, that the car has been design for the tyres and not the other way around.

“It may sound strange, but most development is like that. The Bridgestone partnership has taken us to the point where we can present Lightyear One in its full form.”

Emilio Tiberio, COO and CTO, Bridgestone EMIA, calls the two firms relationships as unique as well as exciting as they ready Lightyear One for launch.

“This is a fantastic story. The reason why Bridgestone has been sponsoring for many years is to promote sustainable mobility. A second is to get in touch with young engineers and, I would say even more, to get in touch with young innovators. They are futurists, they know where they will push the next technology envelope.”

Bridgestone developed customengineered Turanza Eco tyres for Lightyear One, combining its revolutionary lightweight

Lightyear One is an ultra energy efficient long range solar car and will be available later this year for purchase at a cost of $220,000.

Lightyear’s CEO Lex Hoefsloot, says he wants to take on the preconceptions of electric vehicles head on.

“At any birthday party, you would will be talking about electric cars and why people are not driving them. Then you mostly get to two or three core arguments. One is that they don’t provide enough range. The second one is charging. So if there are not enough charging points, I can’t charge my car. Thirdly it is about affordability.

“There are plenty of people that are happy with the kind of range and charging that is out there today, but there are a lot of those that still need to be convinced. So we’re very focused on those three basics of building a great electric car. And if you look at these three points, that means basically building cars with a small battery because batteries are expensive and getting from that small battery a large range. And the only way to do that is efficiency from the car. If you can find that efficiency you can implement a solar power and get enough power from the sun every day.”

ENLITEN and ologic technologies for the very first time. The technologies reduce weight through the use of fewer raw materials throughout the manufacturing process, while cutting rolling resistance through innovative tread, larger diameters, high inflation pressures and slim design.

The very low rolling resistance of the tyres also means Lightyear One can benefit from a lighter battery. As a result, the Turanza Eco tyres are designed to boost range when compared to alternative Bridgestone EV-specific tyres, equivalent to more than a 90kg reduction in weight. In addition to helping Lightyear One to travel further between charges, the tyre’s silica dispersion has been improved by applying a new mixing technology, there is a 3.6kg (around 10%) overall reduction in the tyre’s weight per vehicle , without any compromise on wear mileage and grip.

For the first time, the Turanza Eco tyres also bear the new Bridgestone EV Marking on the sidewalls.

The Bridgestone EV Marking is applied to tyres that are tailor-made for electric vehicles and indicates the tyres underwent a rigorous testing process to receive approval from car manufacturers.

As a result, these tyres support the unique features of electric vehicles and meet the car manufacturer requirements for battery range, vehicle control and tyre wear life. Bridgestone also utilised its Virtual Tyre Development technology which enables accurate modelling of a tyre’s performance without having to physically produce and test it, saving up to 40,000 kilometres in real-life outdoor and fleet testing. It can also cut product development time and outdoor and fleet tyre tests by up to 50%.

“Lightyear have impressed with their approach to sustainable mobility ever since we saw the team take on the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, and so we’re excited to play a part in the Lightyear One project. Bridgestone is committed to a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 and 100% sustainable materials by 2050 and strategic partnerships are fundamental to achieving these goals.”

If you can reduce the energy consumption, you can build a car with less batteries to get the same range.