Technology company Continental is working with German solar mobility OEM Sono Motors on the development of the Sion self-charging electric car, which is to be produced in Finland in the second half of 2023.
Continental Engineering Services (CES), the technology company’s in-house development service provider, has made available an extensive portfolio of products and tailor-made developments for Sono Motors. Current series-validation vehicles, for instance, will be equipped with an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) and will be provided with software for the torque management, climate control and the energy, charging and thermal management of the powertrain.
A future-proof ADAS feature is planned to be standard in every Sion, which is expected to retail for approximately €25,000 net. Prospectively, the ADAS will not only make driving the Sion safer and more comfortable, but will also ensure that the Sion complies with the upcoming stricter European Union road safety regulations (GSR).
The cooperation enables Sono Motors to increase efficiency in its development of the Sion, which has the potential to become the world’s first affordable SEV, by using existing modern technologies. Sono Motors currently plans to start production of the Sion in the second half of 2023.
In addition, Continental has been working with Sono Motors since 2018 on the Sion’s 120 kW electric motor, the pre-series vehicle control unit, the body control module and the airbag control unit. The Sion is special in that its 456 solar half-cells integrated into the body enable the vehicle to charge its battery with sunlight.
The energy generated by the solar cells is expected to extend the estimated 305 km range of the Sion’s 54 kWh LFP battery by an average of 112 km/70 mi (up to 245 km/152 mi) per week. Commuters in German metropolitan areas will have to charge their Sion up to four times less than conventional electric cars of the same vehicle class with a similar battery size. The battery will allow for a maximum charging capacity of up to 75 kW (DC) and 11 kW (AC).
