
The past few years have seen a large upswing in electric vehicles from lesser-known companies and startups. One such marque that’s been bubbling under is Lightyear, founded in 2016 by former engineers of the well-decorated Solar Team Eindhoven. The Germany-based brand’s inaugural solar-powered EV will be the Lightyear 0, which was first announced in 2019 and began production last month. However, with a nearly-$300,000 price tag, onlookers were hoping for something a bit more accessible. This is where the Lightyear 2 comes in.
In 2021, before its first car even entered production, plans for the Lightyear 2 were announced. And now, the company has opened up the waitlist on its website, announced some estimated specs, and revealed some teaser images of the vehicle.

Looking to be a major player, if not an archetype, in the solar-powered EV category, Lightyear says the Lightyear 2 will have a driving range of over 500 miles, give drivers the ability to halve their lifetime CO2 emissions compared to standard EVs, and drop their yearly charging time by around 67%. And with power from the sun, the Lightyear 2 can keep rolling even without a charging station.

A major selling point for the Lightyear 2 is its affordability. While no exact number has been decided upon, the company has estimated that it will be priced around or below $40,000. Find out more on Lightyear’s website and put your name on the waitlist.