Sono Sion

[Benjamin Nead]

Hi folks . . .

Here's another interesting electric car that might or might not ever come to fruition. It's called the Sono Scion.

No, not the Japanese film director (I'm not familiar with his work, but when I typed."sono sion" into Google, it flipped the order of the words and he was the first thing to come up. With a bit of a chuckle, I just had to make note of it) . . .

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0814469/

. . . but, in fact, a remarkably i-MiEVish-looking electric car being crowd sourced . . .

https://www.sonomotors.com/sion/

So, we've got a few optimistic young people who think they can manufacture an electric car for a few hundred thousand dollars and raise money online to fund it. Part of me is rooting for them and loving them dearly for trying. The other part of me simply has me rolling my eyes like the cynical old man that I am, muttering about how they don't have a chance in Hell of pulling it off. But I like it.

Monocrystaline solar panels on the roof and side panels? Check!

Mail away for cheap replacement parts? Check!

Moss (as in the stuff you find growing on rocks in nature) cabin air filter? Check!

List price between $13200 and $17600 (depending on the 14.4kW or 30kW battery, respectively 75 to 155 miles range)? Check!

I think they're predicting it will be here by 2018 . . . just about the time the i-MiEV will probably be gone. I'm not holding my breath, but certainly watching

 

[Phximiev]

Well, that's cool. Wonder if it's of a TABBY design?

 

[Phximiev]

Some updates:

https://www.sonomotors.com/en/update-nr_1/

https://www.sonomotors.com/en/we-made-it/

 

[PV1]

Very cool.

3 seats up front is reminiscent of the bench seats that used to be found in station wagons. I'm glad to see that design element come back.

Is 50 kW enough to tow 2,800 lbs.?

 

[Phximiev]

Note the Sono Sion plug in the Fully Charged news update here: http://myimiev.com/forum/search.php?keywords=Two+videos+today&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

 

[Phximiev]

InsideEV's take on the Sono Sion:

http://insideevs.com/sono-sion-solarcar-for-everyone-electric-vehicle-project-funded-on-indiegogo/

 

[Phximiev]

https://youtu.be/dxDlS1wBo9c

 

[Don]

I do like the concept - It's almost as 'cute' as the iMiEV. There are a couple changes I would suggest though

On the iMiEV I *think* one obvious priority was to extend the front axle as far forward as possible and the rear axle as far aft as possible, thereby making the wheelbase as long as possible - This aids greatly in ride quality, handling and high speed stability, plus it also makes it much easier getting in and out of the rear seats. The designers of the Sono Sion could take a lesson from Mitsu in this regard

Also on the iMiEV, the windshield comes back about as far as the steering wheel, which made it a HUGE piece of glass - It's nearly so long that driving it in a sunny climate can be a problem due to the excessive solar radiation into the laps of the front seat passengers - We put a wide strip of solar blocking tint across the top of the windshield on both our cars to combat this. On the Sono Sion, the windshield comes back at least a foot aft of the steering wheel. I can only imagine the solar radiation coming into the cockpit of this car. Not a problem I guess if you live where the car doesn't see much sun, but I'm guessing they hope this car sees LOTS of direct sunlight. They would have had another 2 or 3 square feet of prime solar generating area, not to mention lots less heat radiated into the car if they had shortened that windshield by as much as possible

Don

 

[Phximiev]

Solar car post, including the Sono:

http://www.myelectriccarforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=389&p=1512#p1512

 

[Phximiev]

Some updates:

https://www.sonomotors.com/en/test-drives-and-next-steps/

https://www.sonomotors.com/en/integrated-carsharing/

 

[Phximiev]

An update on the Sono Sion:

https://www.sonomotors.com/en/integrated-carsharing/

 

[Phximiev]

Update: https://www.sonomotors.com/en/design-update-and-a-thank-you-gift/

 

[JoeS]

Benjamin said it best:

...Part of me is rooting for them and loving them dearly for trying. The other part of me simply has me rolling my eyes like the cynical old man that I am, muttering about how they don't have a chance in Hell of pulling it off. But I like it...

Locking themselves into features and specifications AND a very low price... (sigh) :| I dunno if any of the design team actually drives electric, as their proposed gauge display doesn't even show regeneration. I would think that at this point in history one-pedal driving would finally be accepted, and distinguish EV's from ICE vehicles. I would also hope they'd go for rear wheel skirts and maybe work a bit more on the aerodynamics of the thing.... but then, they're the ones designing it, and I wish them all the best.

 

[Phximiev]

A release: https://youtu.be/Z8BgWhAH2e4

 

[Phximiev]

I tried to watch the release live stream just now, but it was in German:

Perhaps an English update/translation will be forthcoming.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sMMhO5kbVg&feature=em-lss

 

[Phximiev]

Sono charging : https://youtu.be/r7uF_CcBeNs

 

[Phximiev]

Sono sharing: https://youtu.be/zTxtqUwUDLU

 

[Phximiev]

Ride sharing: https://youtu.be/4JlToRYT5-Y

 

[Phximiev]

5,000 pre-orders for production: https://youtu.be/JVLvmbEvW50

http://insideevs.com/sono-sion-unveiled-worlds-first-production-solar-car/

 

[NeilBlanchard]

Here are some images of the current version of this car:

Actual photos: