A new solar-powered car for the city named The Squad is to be launched by an Amsterdam-based startup. The electric two-seater can run for a day using only the power from the solar panel on its roof. A swappable battery is available if extra power is needed.
The car is due to begin production in late 2022 and will be priced at around £5000. The two co-founders previously worked at Lightyear, a startup making a solar-powered electric car for the luxury market. The car has a top speed of 28 mph and can generate enough energy in a day outside to drive around 12 miles, more than it takes to run a typical errand. (In the U.S., nearly half of all car trips in cities are shorter than 3 miles, and 20% are shorter than 1 mile.) Having solar power makes the car easier to use since it doesn’t need frequent charging, and helps reduce demand on the local grid. But the portable battery in the car can also be taken out and charged indoors.
