2023 Lightyear 2 Photos, engines & full specs

This car promised to offer months of driving without needing a recharge from any kind of power outlet since its batteries were charged by the mighty Sun.

After launching the Lightyear 0, the automaker put its second product, the 2, behind a wall made from wood beams at the 2023 Consumers and Electronic Show. It also organized an online event where it talked about the future of this EV. But things went south quite fast, and less than a month later, the company that produced it filed for bankruptcy.

Created as an affordable EV with solar panels on its hood, roof, and tailgate, the Lightyear 2 offered an aerodynamic shape that allowed it to run efficiently. Still, unlike the 0, it didn't feature half-covered rear wheels. Its LED headlights from the front fascia were slim and slightly stretched outward. The hatchback shape of the vehicle was needed to create a lower drag coefficient, and the door handles were retractable. Apart from the solar panels, the battery pack could've been recharged from a regular power outlet as well.

The design team created the vehicle with sustainable materials on the interior. It used recycled PETs from plastic bottles and fibers from fast-growing trees. On top of the center stack, the automaker installed a touchscreen for the infotainment system. Since it was created as a family vehicle, it featured a set of bucket seats at the front and a bench for three in the back.

Unfortunately, the automaker filed for bankruptcy, and the Lightyear 2 remained just a project, waiting for some other investor to come and pick it up from where it was left. In February 2023, such an investor appeared, and the hopes for those who enlisted themselves on the waiting list were re-ignited.