Sion Solar Electric Car (Hatchback): The Complete Electric Car Buying Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The All-Electric Sion Solar Car Hatchback

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News Update (24/02/23): Sono Motors announces the termination of the Sion program. According to the company, “We are extremely saddened that we have terminated the Sion program so close to bringing it to the streets. We are still fully committed to making a real difference in mobility and making every vehicle solar”. The company had received more than 450,000 reservations for the Sion solar electric car. Going forward, the company will focus on its solar B2B business.

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Like the Netherlands based Lightyear solar car start-up, Germany based solar electric car start-up, Sono Motors GmbH is also looking to change e-mobility with the use of solar cells on its self-charging solar electric vehicle (SEV), called the Sion. 

The company was founded in 2016 by Jona Christians and Laurin Hahn with a vision to realise a future free of fossil fuels, with only electric and shared transportation.  Between 2016 and 2017, the Munich based company conducted crowdfunding campaigns and raised EUR 2 million.  It has come a long way since then, and in January 2020, the start-up raised EUR 50 million in 50 days. The company was floated on the US NASQAQ stock exchange on 17th November 2021 (ticker symbol: SEV).

Sono Motors has received over 16,000 reservations for the Sion solar electric vehicle (SEV). Like in the case of other EV startups like Fisker, the Sion will be manufactured via contract manufacturing, with deliveries commencing in first half 2023. Sono is also licensing its solar technology to other automotive manufacturers for application in buses, trucks, camper vans, trains and boats.

The company’s core mission is to ‘Establish large scale smart e-mobility and sharing thereby make a significant contribution to the reduction of global CO2 emissions’.

The all-electric front-wheel drive Sion solar car is equipped with 248 integrated solar cells (monocrystalline silicon cells).  These cells are placed on the hood, fender, sides, roof and rear of the vehicle. At peak performance, the solar cells can generate up to 1.2 kilowatts.  The solar cells are protected by a robust, scratch-resistant polymer. According to the company, the solar cells can add up 112 km additional zero-emission range per week to the car EV battery.

The solar electric car has a 54 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) EV battery.  The electric vehicle includes bidirectional charging. The battery-electric vehicle can be charged via a dedicated charging point (up to 75 kW DC and 11 kW AC).  The EV can be rapid charged up to 80% in 35 minutes using CCS (rapid charging station). An 80% charge provides a 240 km EV range.

As is in the case of all EVs, the remaining 20% takes longer to charge. In the case of the Sion, it take an additional 24 minutes to charge the remainder 20%. On a full charge, the pure electric solar car has a range up to 304 km. Using an 11 kW EV charger, the EV can be fully charged in 5 hours (80% in 4 hours).

The company has focussed the interior on ‘essentials’. These include: ISOFIX child seat attachment, three-point seat belts, power windows, folding rear seat bench, heated seats for driver and front passenger, single-zone automatic climate control and integrated infotainment system with ambient light. The EV is equipped with a 10-inch display. The Sono app allows the user to share energy, share the ride, or share the EV. The company is keen to promote its use as a ‘sharing vehicle’.

Features include, anti-lock braking system, ESP with traction control, electronic power steering, infotainment system with integrated connectivity and mobility services/ goSono systems (powerSharing, rideSharing, carSharing). The EV will come with a standard warranty of 2 years or 100,000 km. However, the company has yet to finalise the terms of the warranty.

The solar green car has a 120 kW motor (163 HP) and capable of a top speed up to 140 km/h. 0-100 km/h in under 9 seconds (torque: 270 Nm). The solar electric car will be manufactured in Europe (Sweden) by NEVS (former SAAB plant) using 100% renewable energy.  Total number of Sion SEVs to be manufactured are 257,000 within 7 years.   

Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!

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PROS	CONS
An affordable solar electric vehicle (SEV) suitable for city driving	Limited interior refinement
Solar cells reduce need for plug-in charging. Also equipped with bidirectional charging	Limited real world performance data (prototype stage)
Cheap to drive on solar zero-emission range	Damage to solar roof could be prohibitively expensive to replace

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The All-Electric Sion Solar Electric Car Hatchback (credit: Sono Motors)

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Vehicle Type:	Hatchback
Engine:	Electric
Available In India:	No

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Variants (1 Option)
Sion (Rs N/A)

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP)
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 54 kWh
Charging:	Up to 75 kW DC charging standard. On-board charger: 11 kW
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (CO2/km)
Battery Warranty:	2 years or 100,000 km (TBC by manufacturer)

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Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):	6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):	3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):	0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):	0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)

• Note 1: SoC: state of charge

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1660
Width (mm):	1830
Length (mm):	4470
Wheelbase (mm):	2830
Turning Circle (m):	11
Cargo Volume (L):	650

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Sion
EV Battery Capacity:	54 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	304 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):	16
Charging:	75 kW DC Charging (on board charger: 11 kW AC)
Top Speed:	140 km/h
0-100 km/h:	9 seconds
Drive:	Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
Max Power (HP):	163
Torque (NM):	279
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Weight (kg):	1,730
Colours:	Black
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G): An Introduction

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V2G is an innovative bidirectional technology that allows the onboard EV battery to be charged and discharged i.e. electrical energy to be exported/ discharged from the onboard EV battery to the grid via a V2G compatible EV charger. It also allows for vital informational flow (data) to the grid. In effect, the V2G technology allows an EV battery to be used as a grid-connected energy storage unit.

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Benefits: V2G
Lower energy costs:	V2G can lower utility costs to include, lowering wholesale and retail energy costs
Improving the grid’s response ability:	V2G can improve the stability of the intra-day supply and demand needs, improving the grids ability to meet the needs of peak demand
Improving power quality:	V2G can improve power quality by controlling voltage and power factors
Increase resilience:	V2G can improve the resilience of the grid and electricity network in significantly adverse conditions
Increase use of renewable energy:	V2G enables an increase in the contribution of renewable energy to the national energy generation mix. The higher the contribution of RE, the greener the power supplied
Reduce cost of EV ownership:	V2G can reduce the cost of EV ownership by enabling EV owners to earn from exporting energy to the grid
Improves national energy security:	V2G can improve the national energy security of a country by reducing dependence on imported energy
Improve environmental impact:	V2G can improve the environmental impact of energy usage and transportation by reducing the dependence on fossil fuels

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