Lightyear 2: a bank orders 10,000 units of the solar car
- Published on 19/01/2023 10:00
- Modified on 28/09/2025 17:05
The BNP Paribas leasing company, Arval, has ordered ten thousand units of the solar electric car Lightyear 2, which is expected to arrive by 2025.
Car rental companies aim to electrify their fleets for two reasons. One is mandatory, as France sets targets for a percentage of renewals to be electric or plug-in hybrid: 10% since 2022, 20% in 2024, etc. The other is lower operating costs compared to gasoline or diesel, as the low cost of charging quickly recovers the investment (high vehicle price, charging stations).
Hertz has made it its flagship initiative by ordering 100,000 Teslas, some of which will power Uber’s VTC services by 2025. Another leasing company, Arval, is also supporting this strategy.
10,000 Lightyear 2 on the roads within 3 years?
Arval, as a reminder, is a subsidiary of the BNP Paribas group. The bank and its subsidiaries are closely interested in ecological transition, and rely on their leasing arm to acquire cleaner vehicles. But Arval is not retrieving the traditional Peugeot e-208, Renault ZOE, or even a Tesla Model 3.
No, it’s the Lightyear 2 that has won the company over. The Dutch manufacturer, very young and having launched its first “0” car at the end of last year, is planning this second “2” model. More affordable at around €40,000 in the base version, this electric sedan recovers solar energy via its bodywork to slowly recharge its batteries, in addition to a traditional battery. A clean, free energy source that could cover several thousand kilometers without charging from a socket, depending on regional sunlight exposure.
21,000 orders for the solar sedan
Arval has ordered 10,000 units of the Lightyear 2, which will join the fleet by 2025 in Europe and globally. “We aim to lease 700,000 electrified vehicles worldwide by 2025,” declares CEO Alain van Groenendale for his overall strategy. This Lightyear 2 car is scheduled to go into production in 2025, and has reportedly received 21,000 orders to date, according to the brand.
This page is translated from the original post "Lightyear 2 : une banque commande 10 000 exemplaires de la voiture solaire" in French.
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