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Sono Motors officially sunsets Sion EV, will focus solely on B2B solar tech

Sono solar

German solar technology startup Sono Motors has officially thrown in the towel on its Sion solar passenger EV program following an inspiring but unsuccessful crowdfunding campaign called #SaveSion. The pivot puts the company’s entire focus on its Sono Solar tech business, which has previously found success with third party customers around the world. While Sono should be alright, its abandonment of solar EV development is yet another chapter in a sad tale about how hard it is to scale the technology without billions in funding.

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The future of solar EVs dims: Lightyear is bankrupt, Sion fights for its life, Aptera on the brink

Solar EV

It’s been a real tough month for the few but extremely innovative solar EV companies out here. Having just announced a shifting of its business strategy and a request to suspend all payments to its operating company, Lightyear has officially declared bankruptcy. Sono Motors’ flagship solar EV, the Sion, is staring down a similar barrel, as the startup fights to raise more funds to keep it alive. Meanwhile, Aptera has a production-intent design, but still needs millions of dollars to get it to production.

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Sono Motors launches Hail Mary purchase campaign to keep Sion solar EV alive

Sono Motors

Hours after posting its Q3 2022 results, Sono Motors CEOs and cofounders Jona Christians and Laurin Hahn offered a public statement outlining the financial struggles of its Sion solar EV program, which now teeters on the edge of being scrapped so the company can focus on its revenue-generating B2B solar technology business. Before it gives up however, the Sono team has launched a 50 day campaign called #saveSion which implores its community of reservation holders to commit to a solar EV purchase to help kick off a 12-month journey to get the Sion into production.

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Bosch to handle Sion Solar EV repairs under partnership with Sono Motors

Bosch Sono

Solar EV developer Sono Motors has found a service and repair partner in fellow German company Bosch. The two parties announced that when Sono’s flagship Sion SEV begins deliveries in Europe, owners will be able to have all maintenance and repair services performed under a network of shops within the framework of the Bosch Car Service network.

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Sono Motors is on track to put over 32,000 solar electric vehicles on roads this decade

Sono electric vehicles

Sono Motors is trying its damndest to stay at the top of everyone’s news feed this week. In addition to announcing it has received over 20,000 reservations for its upcoming Sion solar EV, Sono Motors has announced a new partnership for retrofit solar implementation on city buses. Additionally, car subscription platform FINN has upped its previous Sion reservation up to 12,600 units, bringing Sono’s demand for solar electric vehicles up over 32,000 units.

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Sono Motors unveils a new and improved production design of its Sion solar EV

During its inaugural “Celebrate the Sun” community event held in Munich today, Sono Motors debuted the production design of its upcoming Sion solar EV. Not to be outdone, Sono Motors followed up with an additional world premiere, unveiling its new “Solar Bus Kit” that can be retrofitted on existing city buses to help reduce carbon emissions.

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Sono Motors and CHEREAU to codevelop solar refrigerated trailer to be unveiled at IAA 2022

solar refrigerated trailer

Solar electric vehicle startup Sono Motors has announced a purchase contract with European refrigerated trailer expert CHEREAU to codevelop a solar-powered version for fleet trucks and trailers. Together, the companies hope to leverage Sono’s solar technology to reduce both fuel costs and CO2 emissions. The new solar-powered refrigerated vehicle is expected to debut at IAA Transportation 2022 in September.

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Sono Motors and Valmet Automotive sign terms to manufacture Sion SEVs in Finland, but will hike prices again

Sono Valmet

Sono Motors announced it has signed a term sheet with contract manufacturer, Valmet Automotive, to produce the latter’s Sion solar electric vehicle (SEV) in Finland beginning in 2023. Due to increased manufacturing costs and a need for additional funding, the Sion SEV will soon see a second price increase in less than six months.

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Sono Motors now has 15,000 Sion reservations valued at $385 million, SEV price increase to come

Sono Motors reservation

German EV startup Sono Motors has confirmed that it now has 15,000 reservations for its flagship Sion solar electric vehicle (SEV). Accounting for an average down payment of $3,300, Sono Motors is currently valuing its total orders at $385 million from consumers throughout Europe. The company also shared details of an imminent price increase to its Sion SEV.

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Volta Trucks partners with Sibros to bring real-time OTA data to its Zero fleet

Volta Sibros

Volta Trucks and Sibros have partnered up to integrate the latter’s holistic data platform system for fleets into the upcoming 16-ton Volta Zero electric truck. By utilizing Sibros’ proprietary system complete with Over-The-Air (OTA) capabilities, Volta Trucks plans to optimize it fleet asset health, reduce EV downtime, and lower overall service costs.

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Sono Motors introduces its own bidirectional home charger

Sono Motors charger

By once again acknowledging the collective voice of its reservation holder community, Sono Motors has introduced its own bidirectional wallbox AC charger for home charging, vehicle-to-grid (V2G), and vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging. All are at a more affordable price. The German SEV automaker is calling its new charger the first bidirectional AC wallbox on the market.

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Sono Motors selects Sibros to provide software and OTA updates for upcoming Sion SEVs

Sono Motors OTA updates

Sibros, a company specializing in deeply connected software and over-the-air (OTA) updates, has announced a collaboration with Sono Motors. As part of the deal, Sibros’ Deep Connected Platform (DCP) will manage the OTA software updates, data collection, and diagnostics across the entire fleet of Sono Motors’ upcoming Sion Solar Electric Vehicle (SEV).

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Sono Motors works with MAN to integrate solar panels into vans

Sono Motors MAN

Sono Motors has announced it has signed a letter of intent with MAN Truck & Bus to explore integration of Sono’s solar technology into MAN’s eTGE electric transporter van. The companies will begin with three separate applications surrounding the eTGE, including air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. If proven successful, this combination could serve other purposes for both commercial and consumer applications.

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Electric vehicle spotlight (EVS): Sono Motors

Sono Motors

Welcome back to another EVS. We hope you haven’t missed us too terribly. Our spotlight this go-around is on Sono Motors based out of Germany. This EV startup has developed a solar electric vehicle (SEV) called the Sion that can add up to an additional 150 miles of range per week by harnessing the power of the sun. In addition to SEVs, Sono Motors has built its entire company around clean mobility, sustainability, and affordability.

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Sono Motors will build solar-powered Sion EV at SAAB’s former Sweden factory

Sono Motors, a German EV startup, announced today that it will build the crowdfunded solar-powered Sion EV at a manufacturing facility formerly owned by SAAB in Trollhättan, Sweden.  The plant is owned by National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), a holding company which acquired most of SAAB’s assets after its bankruptcy.

Sono has contracted NEVS to produce 260,000 vehicles in an eight-year period, beginning in the second half of 2020, and plans to use 100% renewable energy to power its factory.  The car will launch at a cost of 25,500 Euros (~$28,900).


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First look at working prototypes of Sono Motors’ solar and battery-powered electric car

Considering the reputation of crowdfunding and also the state of the EV startup scene, which hasn’t delivered in a while, it’s pleasantly surprising to see some actual progress with a new electric car concept.

After a successful crowdfunding effort, German startup Sono Motors has unveiled the Sion, a battery-electric car partly powered by solar power with onboard solar cells, earlier this year. Now we get a first look at their working prototypes for the ambitious project.
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