Fitting the pocket of buyers looking for something between a car and a two-wheeler is the Squad, a pocket-sized two-seater EV with a solar roof. Both founders of the car are former Lightyear employees and thus carry with them a lot of experience in the segment. With a relatively basic design and comparatively austere interior, the founders, in designing Squad, had in mind an affordable solar-powered vehicle for everyone.
Squad: Physical specifications
Though the car reaches a top speed of not more than 45km/h, it seems plenty for city streets. In addition to accommodating two passengers, the car carries precisely 68 litres of luggage space, enough for someone wishing to do basic shopping. Given these features, and the fact that the car comes in a pint-size that can park in any space, the vehicle is thoughtfully designed for city roads rather than camping trips.
What offers a unique look to the car are the large windows, chic wheels, and an exposed full roll cage. The latter would ensure the safety of passengers in the unlikely event of an accident. The doors fitted on the car are removable.
Squad: Solar features
The car features a roof-mounted solar panel that can offer up to 12.4 miles (20 km) of range. Squad Mobility considers this significant as, according to the company, a city car owner in the European Union, on average, rides roughly 12 km per day. As a full-cast sun cannot be guaranteed at all hours of the day, the car comes with swappable battery packs. These can be dislodged for charging at home. Taking these battery packs into account, the Squad has at its disposal another 62 miles (100 km) of range. Features that fit the bill for a car that is perfectly suited for basic shopping, school errands, security services and food deliveries.
The teeny dimensions and insignificant weight of the car qualifies it into the L6e class in the EU that offers the luxury of driving the vehicle without a driving license, where even teenagers as young as 14 can ply the car on roads. A solar panel, cheap insurance and the freedom to ride without a license are features that fit the bill for a car that is suited for basic shopping, school errands, security services and food deliveries. Squad would launch next year for a base price of €6,250 before VAT.
