{"id":431031,"date":"2022-12-29T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-29T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovationorigins.com\/?p=431031"},"modified":"2022-12-29T13:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-12-29T12:00:00","slug":"failing-now-would-hurt-a-lot-more-sono-motors-is-on-a-mission-to-save-its-solar-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/failing-now-would-hurt-a-lot-more-sono-motors-is-on-a-mission-to-save-its-solar-car\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Failing now would hurt a lot more’ \u2013 Sono Motors is on a mission to save its solar car"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In an exhibition hall located just outside of Amsterdam, a black car is the center of attention of everyone. Visitors take pictures, scrutinize every little detail, sit in the driver\u2019s seat and make themselves comfortable for an imaginary journey. It is not a car like a lot of others, it has solar panels embedded in its body. Each visitor is finally getting to see the car in real life, each one excited and curious about it, after waiting for years to feel, touch, or simply lay eyes on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why we write on this topic:<\/summary>

Sono Motors’ dream of an affordable solar car might never become reality. What is going on? <\/p><\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n

Just like any other member of the exhibition staff, Jona Christians is wearing a black hoodie. A couple of visitors approach him to interrogate him about the vehicle. As he answers all the pair’s inquisitive questions, he reveals that he himself is the co-founder of Sono Motors<\/a>. Surprised by the answer, the pair compliments him on the work accomplished and immediately asks – and then poses – for a selfie with Christians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saving Sion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sono Motors<\/a> has been working for ten years on a solar-powered car with an affordable price tag of \u20ac30,000 – the Sion<\/a>. Over 21,000 people have already made a reservation, but they might never get to drive one. The company is lacking funds to start the production process. On 8 December, it launched a fifty days-long #savesion<\/strong> campaign. The target is to raise \u20ac100 million to be able to move onto the pre-production stage, then hopes to attract more private capital. If the company fails to reach this sum, the project Sion will be shut down. The focus would then be on the other company\u2019s business line, solar modules for integration into vehicles. This would mean laying off seventy percent of the employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 26 December, Sono announced that it had received over a thousand full deposits for the car. If they do not reach their goal by the end of these fifty days, they may decide to extend it for another forty more days. Sono Motors plans to ramp up vehicle production in 2024 \u2013 hoping to complete the campaign successfully and secure other funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sono is touring Europe in orde to show the car to those who have already reserved one and those who might be interested in ordering one. Zaandam, the Netherlands, was one of the checkpoints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A marathon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Christians is on a mission to save the car he\u2019s been working on for the past ten years. Sono\u2019s CEO listens to every bit of feedback from the visitors who get to have a good look at it, from extra room for legs to new colors. He \u2013 and the whole team \u2013 are putting all their energies into running the last miles of a ten-year-long marathon. \u201cWe have reached he 37th kilometer, the finish line is close,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the concerns, Sono\u2019s co-founder stresses the many messages of support that the company receives every day. Seeing the enthusiasm of people in real life is a greater boost for him. \u201cIt\u2019s motivating, these are the reason why we can\u2019t give up. You feel the pressure on your shoulders, but then seeing the people\u2019s excitement about our project pushes us forward,\u201d he states with a sense of pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sono
\u00a9 Sono Motors<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Jona Christians<\/h3>

Co-founder at Sono Motors<\/h4>

In 2016, he founded Sono Motors together with Laurin Hahn and Navina Pernsteiner. His main areas of expertise lie in product and innovation strategy.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

‘Black box’<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Sion is not meant to be a fancy car. Somebody in the exhibition hall called it a \u201cblack box\u201d. \u201cMake it dark blue,\u201d one of the early holders of a reservation suggests. The car aims to be practical, and is targeted at commuters and families. It does not have the sexy design lines of an executive car \u2013 nor the horsepower. Instead it aims to be the car for picking up kids from school, loading the 650-liter-sized trunk with their sports bags, and then after doing some groceries, picking the kids up again all sweaty. \u201cA practical car,\u201d as its maker defines it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sono claims the car can drive up to 305 kilometers on a single charge \u2013 depending on the driving style. The car body features 456 solar cells, integrated into the roof, bonnet, and sides. On a weekly basis, the cells can guarantee an average of 112 kilometers \u2013 with a peak of 245 km per week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, Sion\u2019s battery works as a mobile power bank, thanks to its bidirectional charging technology. Users can set the discharge as they like from the car’s dashboard, and decide how much kWh can be used from the battery. What\u2019s more, Sono designed a home wall station, which means that the car can be charged with the electricity from the house or vice versa.  Drivers can also share their car, some electricity, or a ride through the car\u2019s mobile app. Not to mention that the mobile app for smartphones also replaces conventional keys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"isitors
Visitors having a good look at the car – \u00a9 Innovation Origins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Essential<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The interior of the car features the essentials – in other words, it is “practical” – just like the exterior. Sion\u2019s cockpit has been kept minimal, with recycled plastic elements and a screen where you can browse through infotainment services – including real-time tracking of the solar yield from each cell of the car. Below the screen, a removable module with green Icelandic moss protrudes above the black compartment. Apart from being a design choice, it purifies the inside of the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another indoor hall is where the designated test-driving space is located. When you switch from parking mode to driving mode, the car is ready to go. It feels comfortable to drive. Acceleration is not its best feature, nor is its top speed \u2013 140k km\/h. Those are not the most important factors for a family car, whereas drivability certainly is. Sion gives the impression of being a stable car, which does not need too much pressure on the brake pedal to come to a stop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"a<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"<\/figure>\n
On the left a close-up of the bidirectional charger, and on the right the cockpit. – \u00a9 Sono Motors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mistakes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The car can be driven, it is here. But it may never get to pick up kids from school. In the history of Sono Motors, it is not the first time that this project has been on the brink of collapse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019, the company went through a very similar patch. Back then, they launched a comparable campaign to raise fifty million euro in fifty days – three-quarters of the amount came from holders of reservations for the car. “Failing now would hurt a lot more because we’ve experienced that it is possible to build on our concept,\u201d the co-founder stresses. Sono Motors does not conceal its lack of success in attracting private investment. Despite being listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange and producing the first eighteen prototypes, no private investor – at this stage – has decided to pour hundreds of millions into the company to kick-start production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Christians, underestimating the complexity behind the production of a car is the biggest mistake his company has made. “The more you delve into it, the more things tend to pop up. What’s more, we have always operated on a fine line where financing is concerned, we never had billions of euros in cash reserves. As we say in Germany: we always ‘operated with a hot needle’ [a German idiom for coming up with makeshift solutions, red].”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However difficult, Christians believes that the mission can be successfully completed. Sono recently raised thirty million dollar from US investors. Attracting investment is \u201cdoable\u201d, but for now, the choice was made to ask for support from the community. <\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>
<\/div><\/div>
Sono Motors solar-powered refrigerated trailers to enter the market<\/div>
Sono Motors, the company that aims to revolutionize the future of solar-powered transport, is expanding its solar business by entering the growing refrigerated trailer market. <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Power to the community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The fifty-day campaign is aimed at attracting new reservations for the car and asking current holders of reservations to increase their deposits. The payment methods of users, however, will only be debited after successful completion of the campaign. A Sion car can only be ordered by European customers. Sono recently showcased its car in the United States, which piqued the interest of a lot of people. “I wish we could have done this much earlier,” Christians says with some regret. Bringing the car into production is the goal, expansion overseas will come after that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sono’s community played a crucial role throughout the development process. From voting on the color of Zion to having a say in other decisions, members have had their voices heard – while they have also been the very ones who actually kept and may very well keep the company going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The potential that holders of reservations have is huge. With more than 21,000 reservations, we have more than \u20ac400 million in commitments,” Christians points out. Therefore, relying on these reservations was, for them, the most logical thing to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hope<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rejections, successes, and low points have all been part of Sono Motors\u2019 journey. They all form part of every start-up’s adventure. Christians knows this and wants to keep his hopes up.  \u201cLiving in Germany and getting funding for the company in Munich has been a privilege. We came from nothing, and we could still achieve something. That\u2019s what keeps me motivated and feeling hopeful to show the world that this was all worth something,\u201d he says in conclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the main picture: the Sono Sion driving in the Alps<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In an exhibition hall located just outside of Amsterdam, a black car is the center of attention of everyone. Visitors take pictures, scrutinize every little detail, sit in the driver\u2019s seat and make themselves comfortable for an imaginary journey. It is not a car like a lot of others, it has solar panels embedded in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2084,"featured_media":515829,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26049],"tags":[31166,9656,75411,75413,75415],"location":[6763],"article_type":[43139],"serie":[],"archives":[],"internal_archives":[],"reboot-archive":[],"class_list":["post-431031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mobility","tag-electromobility","tag-mobility-en","tag-solar-cars-2","tag-sono-motors-2","tag-sono-sion","location-netherlands","article_type-features"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":{"subtitle":"Since a couple of weeks, there\u2019s a yellow loading bar on Sono Motors\u2019s website homepage. In order to reach the target - and start pre-production - 3,500 Sion cars must be fully paid for.","text_display_homepage":false},"author_meta":{"display_name":"Mauro Mereu","author_link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/author\/mauro-mereu\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Sono_Motors_Sion_Alps_1.png","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["Mobility<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Mobility<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["electromobility<\/a>","mobility<\/a>","solar cars<\/a>","Sono Motors<\/a>","Sono Sion<\/a>"],"unlinked":["electromobility<\/span>","mobility<\/span>","solar cars<\/span>","Sono Motors<\/span>","Sono Sion<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 3 years ago","modified":"Updated 3 years ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on December 29, 2022","modified":"Updated on December 29, 2022"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on December 29, 2022 1:00 pm","modified":"Updated on December 29, 2022 1:00 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2084"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=431031"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431031\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/515829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=431031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=431031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=431031"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=431031"},{"taxonomy":"article_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_type?post=431031"},{"taxonomy":"serie","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/serie?post=431031"},{"taxonomy":"archives","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/archives?post=431031"},{"taxonomy":"internal_archives","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal_archives?post=431031"},{"taxonomy":"reboot-archive","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reboot-archive?post=431031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}