#1 (EN): Community Book, Tech-Day, Remember the TIME
Happy New Year! The first unofficial Sono News on January 1, the year starts with good wishes! 2022 was a year for the bin: Ukraine war, inflation, postponement at Sono .But the foundations for a good 2023 were laid in 2022, Corona pandemic is largely over, and if the campaign works out and the finance department at Sono delivers, we'll be on the verge of a series launch at Valmet in late 2023, hopefully. Alternatively, everything may fail.
+++ COMMUNITY PDF +++
Thank you for the numerous submissions to the "Community Book". I think we've laid the foundation for something great. As promised, the first issue is out today. There are still typos in it, and I'm sure there will be contributions from one or the other. Therefore, I would like to extend the editorial deadline until January 10, so if anyone would like to become a co-author, please send an e-mail to
Download here:
PDF | EPUB (für Tablets) | Kindle | Apple iBooks | Nook (für meine Barnes & Noble peeps)
Pro tip for Amazon Kindle owners: under "Settings" you will find a personal email address on your Kindle. If you email the Kindle file to this email address, the PDF and cover will appear on your Kindle. Without any fees!
Community Buch Ausgabe 1
The blank pages are intentional, you need that when this is printed as a book.
+++ TECH DAY +++
On Friday, 13.01.2023 is the big "Tech Day" at Sono. I actually have to work, January is completely overbooked at my own company, but I have to go. Bidi-Tillmann, Solar-Christian, Manager-Maschi-Markus and many others will be there. There will be lectures, live demos and shop talk. I'll take the Tesla along as a precaution in case there is a new attempt to crack the 11kW over 60 seconds.
If at least 15 kids show up, I'll set up a community booth and we'll craft something with motor/generator, solar and lights. If anyone plans to come with kids, please let me know.
Here's the free registration: 13.01.2023, Waldmeisterstraße in Munich, 13:00 to 19:00
+++ COUNTER +++
The counter stands at 1,265 Sions worth around 38 million. Not a sure-fire success, but more or less on target compared with the last campaign. The wallbox campaign has given another boost. Many have expressed concern that Sono is overdoing it, and giving too much rebate.
Please don't consider Sunday's column an advertisement for that either. We want to cover Sono here, in good times and bad - so the campaign is a big issue. Only participate in it if it's a good fit. Do not take on too much. Currently, we as admins in the Facebook fan group don't have the impression that this is happening so far, and it should stay that way.
+++ WINTER TESTING +++
There's an 11-second clip on Twitter showing the Sion doing braking and ABS winter testing in Michigan.
https://twitter.com/SonoMotors/status/1608427378270957568
+++ CELEBRATE 360° +++
In summer there was the "Celebrate the Sun" event with the presentation of the SVC3. Somewhere on a hard drive someone apparently found some video footage - there are some creative drone shots from the event: "Celebrate 360":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82GeuNifrgY
+++ WHOOPI DRIVES ELECTRIC +++
While cleaning up the hard drives, another video surfaced: Whoopi Goldberg actually drove the prototype herself in the US. Here's the proof:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3ffOzda8jY
+++ TIME MAGAZINE +++
Sono recalls that the Sion made it into Time magazine as an innovation of 2022.
Sono on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SonoMotors/status/1608839845870465024?t=Gfe08_95IxIOrKptddw7Pg&s=19
Original-Link:
https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2022/6226989/sono-motors-sion/
+++ DRIVE THE LIGHTNING +++
Drive The Lightning. Already two weeks old - slipped through our fingers somehow. English report about the campaign:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uEoIr5xe52Y
+++ SONO POINTS +++
The value of a Sono point is difficult to quantify, as it is currently purely theoretical. You only get the points if the Sion hits the streets, you have redeemed your order, and then Sono also sells the founders' shares or makes profits that lead to dividends. A lot of "ifs."
What the bottom line is - the founders are not in it for the money. And there is a basis that Sono could also belong to "all of us" at some point.
Info on the points can be found here: https://sonomotors.com/de/profit-sharing/
+++ BERTRANDT TOUR +++
There are tours several times a week of the Bertrandt halls where the prototypes are built. Danilo leads the way. If you don't have the opportunity to come to Munich, you can take part in a virtual tour here. Part 1 is online:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xGGpWoSnRU
+++ OBERHAUSEN +++
Besides Asti's live Facebook post, there is a nice report from the 3ev blog. The author is a skeptic, but reports pleasantly neutral about the event.
The topic of trailer coupling was asked a lot. There were also Dutch people there, experts on everything with trailers. Markus concretized at the evening event that Sono is aiming for 750 kg towing capacity and that it won't be a ton either. It is important to raise the issue again and again and to put pressure on it. Allegedly, there will be information about this in January. Dear Sonos: Agree with the supplier and tell us whether braked or unbraked.
https://3ve-blog.de/sono-motors-crowdfunding-rettung-sion/
+++ ROBIN TV +++
Robin always was one of the Sono supporters, also asks critical questions. As a result of the most recent interview, a good feeling remains. Important in these exciting times - and a good sign regarding the credibility and clear compass of the founders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xfaEQ8xBkI
+++ PRESS +++
Car dealership Magazine: Sono Motors: Over 1,000 full down payments for solar car Sion
Built from compromises: SION from Sono Motors on a big money tour
Noah went to Oberhausen especially to see for himself. A critical article, in some points I would also disagree professionally, but I find it a nice constructive way of criticism.
https://www.elektroauto-news.net/2022/gebaut-aus-kompromissen-sion-sono-motors
Sono Motors strengthens position in solar mobility sector
The article starts with all the bingo words the marketing arsenal has to offer, but then in the middle you find a source that has been wafting through the rumor mill since the earnings call: "In the solar business, we have received an order from one of the world's largest passenger car OEMs," says Jona Christians, CEO and co-founder of Sono Motors.
https://www.hanser-automotive.de/a/news/sono-motors-staerkt-position-im-bereich--3264120
Spiegel: Sono Sion: A dream threatens to burst
The Next Web: It’s not easy being green: How mobility will change in 2023
https://thenextweb.com/news/how-mobility-will-change-in-2023
Blick: The end for the Sion solar car
24Auto: Rescue campaign for the Sion: Sono Motors announces small success
Stern: Hope for the community
https://www.stern.de/auto/hoffen-auf-die-gemeinschaft-33052382.html
+++ FUN FACT +++
A Canadian used his Ford F-150 Lightning (with single-phase power, like the Schuko socket in the front of the Sion) as an emergency battery for his house for almost two days - and still had plenty of capacity in storage afterwards. Need is there, and Sono can then 3-phase, which means that all circuits in the house could be supplied, via wallbox and HEMS.
https://t3n.de/news/stromausfall-elektroauto-versorgt-haus-energie-44-stunden-1524052/
Have a great week, have a great year, stay healthy.
Sebastian, Astrid