Germany’s Sono Motors has emerged from chapter, however is not discussing the destiny of its Sion solar-assisted EV.
A press launch saying a plan to convey Sono out of chapter didn’t point out the Sion, a small hatchback designed to make use of each physique panel as a photo voltaic panel to spice up vary between fees. As an alternative, the corporate is specializing in photo voltaic kits for industrial autos.
Sono Sion manufacturing mannequin
First proven in 2022, the kits add photo voltaic panels that may present supplementary electrical energy to assist run the local weather management programs on diesel buses, or refrigerated trailers. That is meant to scale back gas consumption by relying much less on a automobile’s diesel engine to generate electrical energy.
After a number of prototypes, the Sion was revealed in manufacturing kind in 2022, with manufacturing deliberate by Valmet in Finland. On the time, Sono claimed the built-in photo voltaic panels may present as much as 152 miles of vary in superb situations, supplementing a 54-kwh battery pack the corporate claimed may present 190 miles of vary from common charging.
Sono Sion manufacturing mannequin
Manufacturing was initially scheduled to begin in late 2023, though Sono was imprecise about plans to convey the Sion to the U.S. In Europe, Sono claimed a base worth as little as $25,000 with incentives. Sono reported as many as 45,000 reservations, in addition to 12,000 claimed pre-orders from automobile subscription agency Finn, and 9,800 “partially paid pre-orders.”
Earlier than manufacturing began, Sono introduced in February 2023 that it will “terminate its Sion passenger automobile program,” efficient instantly, to give attention to its commercial-vehicle photo voltaic options.
The corporate mentioned on the time that it was looking for to promote the Sion program, nevertheless it hasn’t mentioned whether or not a purchaser has been discovered. Inexperienced Automobile Stories has reached out for an replace.
