In our previous blog post, we focused on five affordable electric cars. What these vehicles had in common was that they are coming to market in 2020 and each has a purchase price below €25,000.
A car that is also coming out next year, but just falls above this limit, is the Sono Sion. That name might sound exotic, but it is a pure-bred German. If the name doesn't ring a bell, that's not surprising. The Sion is in fact the first car from the start-up Sono Motors.
‘Solar-powered vehicle
The first Sono Sion is expected to roll off the production line in the second half of 2020. You can actually pre-order it now. What's special about this car isn't so much its 225 km range, but that the battery is partly powered by solar panels. These panels cover 7.5 m2 and are not only on the roof and bonnet, but are fitted all around the car. By bringing the car to market next year, the Sono Sion beats the Lightyear One, which is also equipped with solar panels, but will only appear in mid-2021.
Solar panel profits limited
Although innovative, the solar panels do not significantly increase the car's range. Under ideal conditions, the panels add 34 km, but on an average day, the gain is only 10 km.
Made in Sweden
The Sono Sion has been in the making for about seven years. Mid-2018, the required number of pre-orders of 5000 units was reached, after which it was decided to put the car into production. This will happen during 2020. The car will be produced in Sweden, in the former SAAB factory. A total of 10,000 units have already been ordered, and the manufacturer expects to sell 260,000 units in eight years.
Buy, rent or lease your battery pack
The chance of seeing a Sono Sion driving on Dutch roads at the end of next year is significant. The manufacturer sees the Netherlands as an important sales market and has also opted for a smart pricing strategy. The ‘basic’ car, without a battery pack, costs €16,000. You can purchase the battery pack for an additional €9,500, bringing the purchase price of the Sono Sion to €25,500. However, you can also rent or lease the power source, making the purchase a lot less of a strain on your wallet.
A wolf in sheep's clothing
The performance of the Sono Sion is also quite impressive. Thanks to an output of 163 hp and an immediately available torque of 290 Nm, this five-seater, which certainly doesn't look fast, sprints from 0 to 100 in nine seconds. For comparison, the Volkswagen e-Golf takes a good half second longer.
Do you see yourself driving around in the Sono Sion? Or are you limiting yourself to solar panels on your house roof for the time being?
