Denis Opudo
Lightyear One Company from Dutch has similarities with Tesla startup. The two are both working out ways to change the automotive industry. They are developing vehicles that do not use petrol. Furthermore, the two have got founders from Pretoria in South Africa. Elon Musk who is the founder of Tesla attended Pretoria Boys High school. The co-founder of Lightyear, Qurein Biewenga attended Hoërskool Waterkloof. Biewenga was born and raised in South Africa. But his family later on relocated to the Netherlands during his last years in high school.
Lightyear was founded by five Eindhoven University of Technology alumni. The five were part of the group that won the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. They won it twice in the last five years using the prototype solar-charged vehicles.
Lightyear has plans of developing a four-wheel-drive luxury sedan. The vehicle which is named Lightyear will operate using the sun. According to Biewenga, the company is coming up with an electric vehicle which is in a position to change itself. The vehicle will be in a position to travel 10,000 kilometers annually in colder countries. It will cover that distance without the need for a wall plug. In countries like SA that are sunny, the car can cover 32,000 kilometers using the sun.
Mashable referred to model as a solar-powered Tesla killer. Mashable is a digital media platform. Lightyear has started to receive orders for the Lightyear One. Production of the cars will kick-start in early 2019. Furthermore, the car will go for a total of €119 000. Lightyear currently has a staff of 40 members. They are all focused on the lightweight and aerodynamics to improve its efficiency.
South Africa provides one of the best markets for the solar power globally. Many places in SA get averagely above 2,500 hours of sunshine annually. The company’s main focus is currently on Europe but aims at going global in future.
