Rewind a few years to the vibrant 2019. Electric cars were teetering on the edge of widespread acceptance, and among them was the Lightyear 1, a stylish prototype sedan from the Finnish startup Lightyear. In addition to conventional charging options, it boasted the ability to harness solar energy through an array of solar panels. Then, 2020 arrived, and the world took a tumultuous turn. The Lightyear 1 prototype evolved into the Lightyear 0 production model, priced at $250,000, but production abruptly ceased in 2023 just before Lightyear's parent company, Atlas Technologies, filed for bankruptcy. Yet, the original car persists, and we were astonished to see it listed on Troostwijk Auctions in the Netherlands a few days ago. As of our update on September 10, the bidding stood at 13,500 euros, roughly $14,900. The auction concludes at the end of September, leaving ample time for the price to escalate.
What does the winning bidder acquire? The car, identified as chassis number 1, is reportedly fully operational with a top speed of 160 km/h (100 mph) and a WLTP range of 388 miles powered by a 60.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack. These specifications mirror those Lightyear initially promoted when announcing the Lightyear 0. The car also claims an estimated 11,000 kilometers (6,835 miles) of solar-charged driving. In theory, if you reside in a sunny locale, you could commute daily without needing a plug-in charger for months. A brief visit to Lightyear's website reveals the company is now focused on solar charging technologies for vehicles. The Lightyear 0 and the proposed Lightyear 2, envisioned as a more affordable rival to the Tesla Model 3, are now distant memories. As far as we can ascertain, the car up for auction might be the sole surviving example of its kind.
