Laurin Hahn, CEO & Co-Founder, Sono Motors, has shared some new details about the Sono Sion. In an interview with blog.crowddesk.de recently, Hahn said that the trial production of the Sono Sion solar car will begin in September 2021. Series production is scheduled to commence in 2022. Speaking to bloomberg.com recently, Hahn said that the Sono Sion will be available in only solar-cell black colour.
Thanks to a body made purely of solar panels, standing out in the crowd of electric cars or electric car startups won’t be a concern. The body of the Sono Sion has 248 solar cells integrated into it, making it the first car to do so as most solar-powered cars or solar-assisted cars have cells on the roof or the hood, case in point, the Lightyear One. In the Sion, the solar cells are placed all around the body so that some of the cells will always be in the direct path of the sunlight during the day. The Sion can run an additional 34 km per day (5800 km a year) with the help of solar cells.
The main source of power for the Sion is a 35 kWh battery pack that offers a range of up to 255 km (WLTP) in a single charge. Its front wheels are driven by a 120 kW/270 Nm electric motor and the car can reach 100 km/h in 9 seconds and a top speed of 140 km/h. The battery can be charged to full capacity in 13 hours with a 3.7 kW household charger and to 80 per cent in 30 minutes with a 50 kW DC fast charger. Other features of the Sion include 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, front heated seats, ambient lighting, cruise control, driver, passenger & side airbags, rear parking assistance and more. Two years/100,000 km warranty comes standard.
Sono Motors has raised over 53 million euros through crowdfunding. It plans to manufacture a total of 260,000 Sion electric cars over a period of eight years at the Trollhättan plant in Sweden, where Saabs were produced before the brand went bankrupt. Sion is said to be having over 13,000 reservations and has priced at the car at 25,500 Euros (INR 21.25 lakh). Initially, the car will be available to customers in the European Union.
| Sion Specifications | Figures |
| Length | 4,290 mm |
| Width | 1,830 mm |
| Height | 1,670 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,770 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 165 mm |
| Track width front | 1,580 mm |
| Track width rear | 1,580 mm |
| Trunk opening height | 700 mm |
| Sion Technical Details | Figures |
| Steering Turning circle (m) | <11 m |
| Suspension | MacPherson struts |
| Maximum speed | 140 km/h |
| 0–100 km/h | < 9 seconds |
| Electricity consumption | ≈ 14 kWh/100 km |
| Range (WLTP) | 255 km |
| Unladen weight ready to drive | approx. 1,400 kg |
| Maximum authorized mass | approx. 1,950 kg |
| Cargo | approx. 465 kg |
| Charge | 50 kW (CCS) + up to 11 kW (Type 2) |
| Discharge | 11 kW (Type 2) + 3.7 kW (SchuKo) |
| Drive configuration | Front wheel drive |
| Motor | Three-phase synchronous motor |
| Transmission | Single-speed |
| Operating voltage | 278–400 volts |
| Power | 120 kW |
| Torque | 270 Nm |
| Recuperation | 50 kW |
| Battery | 35 kWh |
| Sion Features | Included features |
| Exterior | Tire repair kit (12 volt compressor and tire sealant) • Exterior mirrors same color as body • LED headlights • Windshield wipers with intermittent operation • Full-surface solar integration to generate additional range through the sun • All-weather tires/tire size (205/60R16) • Steel wheels/16 inches/anthracite |
| Interior | • ISOFIX children’s seat connectors • Three point seat belt • Electric windows • Folding rear seat backs, divided (60/40) • Front seat heating • Single zone automatic climate control • Integrated breSono system with ambient lighting |
| Electronics | • Charging plug under hood with separate cover, charging capacity automatically adjusted • Charging capacity up to 50 kW DC and up to 11 kW AC • Central locking • Range optimized using brake energy regeneration • Instrument cluster with econometer, body computer module, external temperature display • Infotainment system with integrated connectivity, 10 inch display, USB connection and Bluetooth • USB (2x Type C) and cup holders located in center console • Cruise control • Four speakers in the front of the car • Mobility services/goSono systems: powerSharing, rideSharing, carSharing |
| Safety | • Anti-lock braking system • ESP with traction control • Electronic power steering • Driver, passenger and side airbags • Passenger airbags can be deactivated • Seat occupant detection • Rear parking assistance |
