Remember The $250K Lightyear EV? The First One Is For Sale

The primary Lightyear constructed is now up for public sale.
First proven in 2019 because the Lightyear 1, the Lightyear 0 was to be the manufacturing model.
It was canceled in 2023 after Lightyear’s working firm filed for chapter.

Step again in time a couple of years to the roaring teenagers—2019 to be precise. Electrical automobiles had been on the cusp of mainstream recognition and amongst them was the Lightyear 1, a modern prototype sedan from the Finland-based upstart Lightyear. Together with normal charging capabilities, it may draw energy from the solar because of a plethora of photo voltaic panels. Then got here 2020 and nicely, you recognize what the world’s been like ever since.

The Lightyear 1 prototype turned the Lightyear 0 manufacturing automobile with a $250,000 sticker worth, then manufacturing abruptly led to 2023 shortly earlier than Lightyear’s working firm, Atlas Applied sciences, filed for chapter. Nonetheless, the unique automobile nonetheless exists and you’ll think about our shock when it confirmed up on Troostwijk Auctions within the Netherlands only a few days in the past. As of our publish on September 10, the bidding stands at 13,500 euros, which equates to roughly $14,900. The public sale closes on the finish of September so there’s nonetheless loads of time for the value to climb greater.

Troostwijk Auctions

What’s going to the profitable bidder get? The automobile is listed as chassis no 1, apparently absolutely purposeful with a high pace of 160 km/h (100 mph) and a WLTP vary of 388 miles from a 60.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack. If that sounds acquainted, it is the identical figures Lightyear promoted when manufacturing of the Lightyear 0 was introduced. That goes for the estimated 11,000 kilometers (6,835 miles) of solar-charged driving captured by means of the panels. In idea, offered you reside in a pleasant, sunny location, one may do a median every day commute while not having a plug-in charger for months.

A fast go to to Lightyear’s web site (sure it nonetheless exists) reveals the corporate is now engaged on photo voltaic charging applied sciences for cars. The Lightyear 0 and the proposed Lightyear 2—a significantly cheaper automobile envisioned to tackle the Tesla Mannequin 3—are lengthy gone. So far as we are able to inform, the automobile up for public sale right here might be the one instance of its variety on this planet.