Sono Motors launches Hail Mary purchase campaign to keep Sion solar EV alive
Hours after posting its Q3 2022 results, Sono Motors CEOs and cofounders Jona Christians and Laurin Hahn offered a public statement outlining the financial struggles of its Sion solar EV program, which now teeters on the edge of being scrapped so the company can focus on its revenue-generating B2B solar technology business. Before it gives up however, the Sono team has launched a 50 day campaign called #saveSion which implores its community of reservation holders to commit to a solar EV purchase to help kick off a 12-month journey to get the Sion into production.
Today’s news is particularly disheartening since we have covered Sono Motors for several years now, as it has progressed from garage prototypes to a series validation Sion solar EV which debuted this past summer, complete with its most sleek solar panel technology yet.
To date, Sono has approximately 21,000 direct-to-consumer orders for the Sion, in addition to about 22,000 B2B orders. In six short years, the solar EV company has not only built a production-intent mass-market solar EV but also a community of fans and potential customers across Europe.
Although the company’s B2B solar technology business continues to flourish, the Sion program has stumbled recently, to the point that Sono may have to abandon it altogether in order to survive. But the fight is not over. Sono’s robust reservation book shows there’s a clear appetite for its solar EV, and its cofounders are humbly leaning on that community to help bring the Sion to fruition.
Purchase commitments that include robust down payments from potential customers over the next 50 days could at the very least, give Sono enough time to acquire additional funding to deliver the Sion by 2024.
Today, Sono has launched the #saveSion campaign.
Sono Motors leaves Sion’s fate in hands of its community
Following today’s Q3 financials showing great progress with its B2B solar business, the Sono Motors cofounders released a public statement sharing the recent struggles of the Sion program, relaying a situation in which equity financing has become increasingly challenging:
Sono Motors has achieved important operational and commercial milestones throughout the year. These include signing promising partnerships in our solar business and presenting our first Sion series-validation vehicles. At the same time, financial markets have experienced a negative downturn, with many tech companies losing up to 90+% of their respective market cap, and shares in mobility tech companies have been hit particularly hard. As a result, financing our Sion program through equity has become increasingly challenging and dilutive. Raising money takes much longer than expected, since we failed to explain to investors why the Sion has the potential to become the world’s first affordable solar-electric vehicle and that there is a huge demand for it.
Rather than simply abandon its solar-powered child immediately, Sono is launching one last ditch effort to (partially) solve its current financial dilemma in the form of a campaign it hopes will go viral and bring enough of its reservations to fruition to keep Sion development going.
The start-up explained that its roughly 21K private reservations equate to about 465 million euros, in addition to another 600 million euros in potential revenue from business commitments. Of those approximately 43,000 reservations in its backlog, Sono looks to receive payment on just 3,500 of them over the next 50 days to #saveSion.
In 2019, the start-up launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised over 50 million euros in 50 days, but this latest plea for financial support from its community of solar believers comes at a much different time. Sono Motors is now significantly larger, the Sion is further along, and Sono has a separate solar business pillar it can prioritize. All that said, 3,500 sales of a 25,000 Solar EV remains the target, but will only get Sono so far. Per the release:
Developing a car usually costs up to 1 billion euro. We’ve come close to pre-series with spending less than half of that money. #saveSion is our non-dilutive solution for funding the majority of the Sion program and the first part of a broader funding strategy for the next 12 months, which includes of course the capital markets. We believe we will be able to continue to acquire more funding and continue to pay the remaining machinery, tooling, and production setup to achieve the planned pre-series production in 2023 and make it to SOP in the first quarter of 2024.
Sono is offering those reservation holders who commit to a Sion purchase a discount of up 3,000 euros – the more you put down as a down payment, the more you save on the final price. Those committed customers will only be held to payment if and when the 50-day campaign proves successful.
Should the community funding raise fail, Sono Motors says it will turn its attention entirely to its B2B solar business. The company states its current and expected liquidity should allow for a pivot to solar tech only, so the start-up itself is not in dire straits. However, the fate of the Sion is certainly in peril.
Reservations can currently be made in 27 different European regions, but unfortunately, US consumers cannot join the movement. You can learn more at the #saveSion dedicated page.
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Tesla has been spotted working on what appears to be a mild design update for the Model S and Model X, two vehicle programs that have been in decline.
Model S and Model X have been Tesla’s flagship vehicles for years.
Not so long ago, Tesla aimed to sell 100,000 Model S/X per year. Now, Tesla is not even reporting Model S/X sales anymore, and they were estimated to be below 50,000 units globally in 2024.
In Q1 2025, Tesla reported 12,881 vehicle deliveries in its “other models” category, which includes Model S, Model X, Cybertruck, and Tesla Semi.
In February, Tesla confirmed that it plans to release a refresh of Model S and Model X later this year.
A few months later, prototypes are starting to be spotted.
The Killowats, who often spot Tesla prototypes in the Bay Area, has shared pictures on X of a few new Model S and Model X prototypes:
The updates are relatively mild, to say the least. The biggest change is the addition of a camera in the front bumper.
Many industry watchers have been highlighting the need for a front bumper camera as a much-needed update to Tesla’s camera array. There are a few blind spots in Tesla’s current camera array, and some are particularly concerned about the ability to detect potholes and other smaller obstacles on the road.
A front bumper camera will help with that.
The blue tape in The Killowatts’ pictures also suggests that Tesla is adding light strips inside the Model S and Model X, similar to what it did with the Model 3 and Model Y over the past year.
There are also slight updates to the front-end and rear diffuser. A Model S Plaid prototype was also spotted on the Nurburgring race track last week with slight camouflage on the front and back bumpers, which would also point to slight updates to the front and rear ends.
Model S and Model X were last updated starting in 2021.
Electrek’s Take
Design-wise, this is as mild as an update gets. Tesla is adding RGB lighting strips to the interior of its vehicles and calling it an update.
The hope here is that there’s more to it under the hood.
Tesla may be working on a powertrain update for the Model S and Model X. I hope they are; otherwise, this is a non-event.
It would mean Tesla is basically giving up on these vehicle programs. They have gone down in sales and production quite a bit and instead of putting the effort of revitalizing the programs, Tesla might be making the decision not to significantly update them in order not to invest too much into what are now low volume programs.
What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below.
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All renewable energy sources, including wind + solar, produced more than a quarter of US electrical generation in Q1 2025 and provided nearly a third of total US electrical generation in March alone, according to US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign.
Solar set a new record in Q1 2025
In EIA’s latest monthly “Electric Power Monthly” report (with data through March 31, 2025), the data confirmed that solar continues to be the fastest-growing source of electricity.
Utility-scale (>1 megawatt (MW)) solar thermal and photovoltaic expanded by 43.9% while “estimated” small-scale (rooftop) solar PV increased by 11.1% during Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024. The combination of utility-scale and small-scale solar increased by 33.7% and was almost 6.8% of total US electrical generation for January to March, up from 5.3% a year earlier. As a consequence, solar-generated electricity surpassed the output of US hydropower plants (5.7%).
In March alone, electrical generation by utility-scale solar increased by 45.6% while that from small-scale systems rose by 13%. Combined, they provided 9.1% of US electrical output during the month.
Wind had a strong first quarter
Wind turbines across the US produced 9.5% more electricity in Q1 2025 than they did a year before.
That output was nearly one-eighth (12.2%) of total US electrical generation and more than double that produced by US hydropower plants.
In March alone, wind-generated electricity increased by 11.1% and provided 14.8% of the US electricity supply.
Wind + solar outproduced coal + nuclear
In Q1 2025, electrical generation by wind plus utility-scale and small-scale solar provided 19% of the US total, up from 17% year-over-year. In just the month of March, solar + wind accounted for 23.9% of U electrical output.
During Q1 2025, wind + solar provided 6.8% more electricity than coal and 6% more than US nuclear power plants. In March alone, the gap increased significantly when solar + wind outproduced coal and nuclear power by 66.5% and 31%, respectively.
Renewables’ electrical output is closing in on natural gas
The mix of all renewables – wind, solar, hydropower, biomass, geothermal – produced 10.5% more electricity in Q1 2025 than they did a year ago (12.5% more in March alone) and provided 26.1% of total US electricity production compared to 24.8% year-over-year.
Electrical generation by all renewables combined in March alone reached a new record and provided 31.9% of total US electrical generation. For the first time, it nipped at the heels of natural gas (34.8%), which saw a drop in electrical output of 8.9%.
For perspective, five years ago (May 2020), the mix of renewables provided 21.9% of total electrical generation while natural gas accounted for 41.9%. A decade ago (May 2015), renewables provided 15.1% of total generation while natural gas provided 30.5%; most of the balance was accounted for by coal (33.5%), and nuclear power provided 19.9%.
The renewables mix has strengthened its position as the second largest source of electrical generation, behind only natural gas, with the gap closing rapidly.
EIA forecast strong growth for renewables
The growth of solar, wind, and other renewables is consistent with several forecasts issued by EIA during the past five months.
In its “Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory” report issued in late December 2024, EIA forecast 32.5 GW of new utility-scale solar capacity to be added to the grid in 2025, along with 7.7 GW of new wind capacity and 18.2 GW of utility-scale battery storage.
Similarly, in early spring, EIA released its “Annual Energy Outlook 2025” report that explores potential longer-term US energy trends. In it, the agency foresees a nearly 50% increase in installed solar capacity during the Trump administration’s term. Moreover, electrical generation by grid-connected PV solar during that time would more than double from 201.1 billion kilowatt-hours (bKWh) to 420.1 bKWh. Onshore wind generation would rise from 153.4 bKWh to 175.4 bKWh while offshore wind could increase from 0.2 bKWh to 18.7 bKWh.
Finally, in its “Short-Term Energy Outlook” report issued in early May, EIA projected 26.3% growth in solar installations in 2025, increasing from 121 GW of installed capacity at the end of 2024 to 153 GW by the end of this year. It expects another 19.5% growth in cumulative capacity next year, reaching 182 GW by the end of 2026. During that period, actual generation would grow from 0.217 trillion kilowatt-hours (tKWh) to 0.343 tKWh. Wind would expand from 0.453 tKWh to 0.494 tKWh.
“Renewable energy sources, led by solar and wind, are clearly outpacing fossil fuels and nuclear power,” said the SUN DAY Campaign’s executive director, Ken Bossong. “It therefore defies logic that the Trump administration and the Republican Congress would be trying to curtail that growth in favor of dirtier and more expensive technologies.”
Read more: FERC: Solar + wind made up 98% of new US power generating capacity in Q1 2025
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The affordable crossover SUV is due for a facelift, and it already appears to be an improvement. The Niro will arrive with a fresh new look, featuring elements from new Kia EV models, such as the larger EV9. Meanwhile, rumors suggest that Kia may phase out the Niro EV, as the EV3 is now rolling out.
Kia Niro EV is due for a new look
Although the Niro has evolved over the years with new features, longer driving range, and a revamped style, Kia is preparing what looks like some even bigger upgrades.
Kia launched the second-generation Niro in 2022, offering hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and purely electric (EV) powertrains. It also gained more driving range, enhanced features, and a redesigned interior and exterior.
The 2025 Kia Niro EV boasts an EPA-estimated driving range of 253 miles from a 64.8 kWh battery. In Europe, the electric crossover is rated with a WLTP range of 285 miles.
Compared to Kia’s new electric vehicles, such as the EV9 and EV3, the Niro now appears outdated. Kia is about to change that.
The new Kia Niro facelift was recently spotted in Korea, offering us a glimpse of its new look. For one, you can see that both the front and rear ends appear to be overhauled with Kia’s latest design theme.
The video from HealerTV shows the Kia Niro driving by with new headlights, similar to the new Sorento. Despite the camouflage, it is evident that the new model shares a similar front-end design with the current Niro. Most of the changes are expected to be centered around the head and turn lights.
Meanwhile, the rear bumper is getting a complete overhaul. The reverse lights are lower, and the outgoing model features an attached reverse light and turn signal, whereas the new Niro has an attached reflector and turn signal. Like its newer EV models, the Niro refresh will feature vertical rear turn signals.
Although we’ll have to wait to see what the interior looks like, it’s also expected to see a few big upgrades. The new Niro will likely include Kia’s latest ccNC infotainment system. Leaked images hint at a massive 30″ curved display.
According to TheKoreanCarBlog, rumors are circulating that Kia may phase out the electric Niro (e-Niro) with the EV3 now on sale.
Kia’s smaller electric SUV is already a hit in Europe and Korea. The EV3 was Kia’s top-selling electric vehicle in Europe during the first quarter, accounting for 64% of electric car sales. It was also the best-selling retail EV in the UK.
Earlier this month, the EV3 was caught testing in the US, hinting that a North American debut could finally be coming soon.
| EPA-estimated Range | Starting Price | |
| 2025 Kia Niro EV Wind | 253 miles | $39,600 |
| 2025 Kia Niro EV Wave | 253 miles | $44,600 |
Prices will be revealed closer to launch, but the EV3 is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000. In Europe, prices start around 36,000 euros ($40,000).
The current all-electric 2025 Kia Niro remains one of the most affordable electric vehicles (EVs) with prices starting under $40,000.
With new models arriving, the 2025 Kia Niro EV is on clearance with leases starting as low as $169 per month. Ready to check it out for yourself? You can use our link to find deals on the Kia Niro in your area today.
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