Sono commits to a 'solar-electric' future.

The automotive transformation envisioned by Munich based Sono Motors extends to the production process itself. Working with contract manufacturer NEVS and utilizing an old Saab factory in Sweden, Sono Motors says it will simplify production by offering a single-model Sion without variants. Further, they’ve eliminated the need for steel stamping tools by using polymer tools that Sono Motors says are “1/100th the cost.” And there’s no paint shop, eliminating a step that usually consumes 80 percent of the energy devoted to producing a traditional vehicle, according to Sono Motors COO Thomas Hausch.

With a lithium ion battery supplied by Continental that has a 35- kilowatt-hour capacity, the Sion has a range of 255 kilometers, or roughly 158 miles. That’s augmented by the solar capabilities. Panels are embedded in the roof and sides of the Sion. Exactly how much range they add depends on the fickle nature of sun, season and clouds. On average, the company says motorists can expect 5,800 solar kilometers — roughly 3,600 miles — per year, or just shy of 10 miles per day.