Lightyear 0 is the most aerodynamic production car in the world, verified wind tunnel test
Lightyear claims that wind tunnel testing has proven that the Lightyear 0 is the most aerodynamic production car in the world.
Testing conducted at the FKFS wind tunnel in Stuttgart, Germany, under the WLTP protocol confirmed a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.175 for solar-powered electric vehicles, Lightyear said Thursday in a statement. newspapers.
That number puts Lightyear 0 first Lucid Air, Tesla Model WILLand Mercedes-Benz EQS, all at 0.20 to 0.21. However, each is much larger than the Lightyear 0, and will likely be produced in larger numbers. Lightyear says it only plans to sell 150 cars (about $260,000 each), with a “big displacement” model to follow.
Lightyear 0
Still, Lightyear’s claim is an impressive achievement for a low-production vehicle.
The Mercedes EQXX only get 0.17, but it’s not production bound. The concept is a showcase of ideas to improve electric vehicle efficiency and has covered a practical 746-mile range from Stuttgart to Silverstone, England on a single charge – with enough power to spare for one number of laps won.
Launched in 2013, Volkswagen XL1 achieved 0.189 Cd. The slim coupe with a plug-in hybrid diesel powertrain seemed like a good idea in the days before the VW emissions scandal, and in fact it is. Produced in very limited quantities. Only 200 units will be sold out of 250 cars expected exclusively for the European market, where the Lightyear 0 will also be available.
Lightyear 0
The production General Motors EV1 had a Cd of 0.195, but that was achieved with a rather impractical two-door body. The EV1 is also not a large displacement vehicle. GM built 1,117 cars and leased them to customers in California and several other locations. Most were recalled and destroyed after California changed its zero-emissions vehicle law, allowing the EV1 to be recalled without penalty.
The EV1, XL1, EQXX and now the Lightyear 0 have shown that shearing traction requires a completely different shape than conventional cars. Does that make sedans obsolete? At the very least, designers and engineers are trying to create a three-box sedan with top aerodynamic design. face some tough challenges.
