Solar-powered vehicle designs revealed: Sion solar-electric passenger car and Solar Bus Kit for public transit networks, unveiled by our organization.
The German-based organization, Sono Motors, is on a mission to revolutionize mobility by making every vehicle solar. One of their groundbreaking projects is the Sion, an affordable solar electric vehicle (SEV) concept, and the Solar Bus Kit, a B2B retrofit solution for sustainable mobility in commercial transport.
The Sion: Affordable and Solar-Powered
The Sion is designed to integrate solar panels into its bodywork, extending driving range and promoting sustainability. Solar panels are incorporated across the roof, hood, and sides, generating extra electricity for the battery to increase range modestly and assist auxiliary systems. With an electric motor powered by a battery pack, the vehicle enables typical urban and suburban mobility with zero tailpipe emissions.
The solar cells contribute up to around 30 km (18 miles) of additional daily range under good sunlight conditions, supplementing the electric range which typically exceeds 250 km (155 miles) on a full battery charge. Positioned as a more affordable electric vehicle with solar capability compared to high-end models, the Sion targets cost-conscious buyers interested in sustainability.
The Solar Bus Kit: A Step Toward a Fossil Fuel-Free Future
The Solar Bus Kit is optimized for common 12-meter public transport bus types on the European market, including Mercedes-Benz Citaro and MAN Lion's City. This B2B retrofit solution allows subsystems like the HVAC to be partially powered by renewable energy, thereby saving fuel, CO2, and costs. Depending on the use case, size, and type of solar integration, the organization's lightweight and adaptable solution allows customers in the transportation industry to cut costs and emissions throughout their fleets.
The Solar Bus Kit can save up to 1,500 liters of diesel and up to 4 tonnes of CO2 per bus per year. Sono Motors is partnering with 19 companies globally, including MAN Truck & Bus and CHEREAU, to implement its Sono Solar Technology on a variety of vehicle architectures.
Production and Development
As of mid-2025, the Sion has not reached full commercial production, with development and financing challenges delaying widespread availability. However, Sono Motors plans to produce the Sion via contract manufacturing in Finland starting in the second half of 2023, with partner Valmet Automotive having extensive expertise in manufacturing for high-tech OEMs. After a ramp-up period, the partners aim to produce approximately 257,000 Sion vehicles within seven years.
The Solar Bus Kit was unveiled in June 2022, with more details to be announced during IAA Transportation in September. Jona Christians, co-founder and CEO of the organization, stated that the Solar Bus Kit represents a milestone on the path toward a world without fossil fuels.
Community and Support
Sono Motors held its first "Celebrate the Sun" Community event on July 25, 2022, with over 1,500 guests. As of July 1, 2022, the organization had over 19,000 active private reservations for the Sion, with an average down-payment of €2,225 and equivalent net sales volume of about €415 million.
In conclusion, the Sono Motors Sion and Solar Bus Kit represent pioneering efforts in solar electric vehicles aimed at affordability and sustainability. Although production delays have occurred, the ongoing development and partnerships demonstrate a commitment to creating a more sustainable future for transportation.
- Science and technology collaboration is essential for Sono Motors' mission to revolutionize mobility, as they develop solar-powered vehicles such as the Sion and the Solar Bus Kit.
- Recognizing the potential of renewable energy in combating climate change, Sono Motors offers the Solar Bus Kit to commercial transport industries, enabling them to reduce fossil fuel usage, lower CO2 emissions, and trim costs.
- To support their vision of a fossil fuel-free future, Sono Motors engages in financing and partnerships with industries, such as Valmet Automotive for the production of the Sion, and global companies like MAN Truck & Bus and CHEREAU for implementing solar technology across various vehicle architectures.
