Solar-powered EV Lightyear 0 showcased in the UAE: Netherlands-based firm Lightyear showcased its solar-powered EV Lightyear 0 at the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) last week. SRTIP says Lightyear 0 is the world’s first long-range, production-ready solar electric vehicle. It was first unveiled by the company back in June.

A self-charging EV: Lightyear 0 charges its engine whenever its solar-panel roof absorbs sunlight, potentially allowing owners to drive for months without charging the battery, according to Lightyear. The five-seater has a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour, can cover 625 km on a full charge, and gains up to an additional 70 km of range daily from sunlight, the company notes.

Depending on how much sun it gets: Lightyear 0’s battery range will be dependent on driving habits, location, and season, the company notes. An Amsterdam driver with a 50-km daily commute could rack up 1k km on average between charges in the summer, it estimates.

The EV can also be recharged through normal household wall outlets: The car gets enough energy to cover 32 km in one hour’s worth of charging from a regular 3.7 kW socket.

Sustainable inside out: The car’s exterior is built from recycled carbon fiber, and its interior is made up of plant-based leather, repurposed rattan palm (flowering plants usually found in Asia, Africa and Australia), and recycled PET bottle fabrics.

The Lightyear 0 will retail for EUR 250k a pop (excluding VAT). You can order the car from Lightyear’s website here.

But they’re in limited supply: The Dutch company produced only 500 EVs, CEO of SRTIP Hussain Al Mahmoudi told Khaleeji Times, adding that most of the first batch have already been sold.

More to come: The Dutch firm will also be rolling out a much more affordable model, the Lightyear 2, in 2024 or 2025. The company has yet to officially price the new model, but Al Mahmoudi, estimates it will cost between USD 30-35k.

Regional collaboration: SRTIP is helping Lightyear raise funds from the region to scale production, Al Mahmoudi told the newswire, adding that SRTIP is setting up a research center in Sharjah in partnership with Lightyear to test their solar technology in the UAE.

More eco-friendly cars up SRTIP’s sleeve: A solar-powered automobile that has a 3k kilometer battery range and a hydrogen-powered car will soon be launched in Sharjah, Al Mahmoudi says.