#51 (EN): 826, Bidirectional charging, First Crash Test Video
Have a great Sunday. Crowdfunding weeks are like cold feet. You don't really need them. But we have to get through it.
+++ STATE OF AFFAIRS +++
With 826.5 (as of 17:00 yesterday) out of 3,500 Sions, Sono has reached 24% of the campaign goal, in 10 out of 50 days (20%).
Thanks to Mika we have a good overview, thanks again for that. As with the last campaign, we are now in the flat line zone, and if it stays like 2019 we will stay below the target line until well after Christmas. Sono has to do something, it's not going to be a safe bet by itself.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wWyd5dy85SGPzlnAmfPqMD3EVE_94qpsQGbGq6w8AZg/edit?usp=sharing
+++ DISCHARGE +++
There is still an old bet to settle. At the beginning of the advisory board period, I had promised Laurin to fully top my reservation if the Sion charges my Tesla for 60 seconds. The bet is still open, but as close as I've ever come. And I'm looking forward to losing the bet. (Psst: I fully topped up as part of the campaign, but don't tell him).
The new tech video shows a new trial and also some background on charging and discharging. 11 kW AC discharging is a definite unique selling point of the Sion. For all non-Eurpean readers: we don’t do it over two fat wires over here, we use three phase: more complex, less material needed.
The differences are easy:
DC discharging is quite simple from the vehicle's point of view: the wallbox outside the car does everything, the car itself just supplies a thick wire to the battery and monitors. Cheap in the car, expensive in the wallbox. Current prices for CCS wallboxes between 6,000 and 12,000 € (e.g.: EVTec Bidi with CCS). This makes it uneconomical.
With AC: The vehicle does everything, the wallbox only provides the signals and monitors. Inexpensive wallbox (e.g.: openWB Bidi, for 2,200 €), in the car the on-board charger must be able to do more than just charge.
The test at Sono was eagerly awaited, but at 8kW was the end. The 11kW are within reach.
Why did it “fail”: Protection systems prevented to do more. A few seconds might have worked, but there was a reason I bet a minute and not just a few seconds. You want to see a stable flow of electrons.
Will there be another test? For sure. I hope it won't be long until then.
There have already been suggestions to bring more equipment to the next test than just my Tesla. I didn't want to do that, so it wouldn't seem like this was a lab test. I could build a cable from Sion to red CEE for the next time - but I'm afraid Tilmann will kick me out if I show this :-)
The video is already online:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqSrTHAhxxE
+++ T&Cs | 75/100 MIO. +++
What is still bothering us is the change in the T&C regarding the minimum amount required for the campaign to be successful. 100 million or 75 million?
Brief summary for all new readers: there are two versions of the Terms and Conditions around:
first one (number 13) stipulates that the money is collected at 3500 sions, public communications mentions 100 million
another (number 14) states the campaign is successful at 75 million
In both cases the campaign can be extended for a good month.
Our (editorial crew) point of view: The 100 million should be fixed and, if possible, come mainly from the community, because then it means less dependence on other outside capital.
+++ FINANCIAL SITUATION +++
Sono Motors responds to criticism and has given its website its own "Financial Transparency" page. The link came via newsletter. There is a lot of good information here, resilient figures, financial statements back to 2020 and more information on the current campaign.
Although transparency and finances at Sono Motors have felt more like fire and water in the past, this step is very commendable. You can also see that from summer onwards, another 80 million will be needed for the second half of the year, which Sono wants to raise on the capital market.
The entire project is risky and at a critical point (again).
https://sonomotors.com/en/financial-transparency/
+++ CRASH UND NOCH VIEL MEHR+++
The tests for the series validation are progressing. On the Sono homepage under the Sprint Reports have accumulated some videos of the series tests.
Two first crash videos also the vibrating track and much more.
Crash and Safety at work
The back
+++ EUROPATOUR / SHOWROOM / BERTRANDT TOURS +++
The Sion is now touring in Hamburg, then in Amsterdam and then in Oberhausen "between the years". In the new year it continues in Frankfurt.
Great question about this this week in the Bubble from Tom Lucas, thanks for that :-)
Where are the prototypes. what are their names and what is their purpose? We have generated a small spreadsheet to show this. Please join in if you see one and comment:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13qRfwVPhwB8XzaHni2lX9X36Fj7yFcttUV6VEhddcN8/edit#gid=0
The Sion can still be visited in Munich, although the roadshow with the marketing vehicles is underway.
The vehicle in the showroom is a test vehicle of the latest generation. Sono points out that the on-site test vehicle is not on par with the two tour vehicles in all components. Appointments are still available today, Sunday!
https://sonomotors.as.me/showroom
In addition to the tour dates in various cities and the showroom at headquarters, Bertrandt is offering the opportunity to visit their workshop for the Sion's production validation vehicles.
When? December 21 & 28
Where. Bertrandt Engineering Office, Frankfurter Ring 17, 80807 Munich, Germany.
As of now, there are still appointments available on 21.12: 17:00 and 17:30
More information can be found via the link to eventbrite, please register!
https://www.eventbrite.de/e/sono-motors-x-bertrandt-tour-tickets-483148318627
+++ HEADLINES +++
Sono Motors made it into "Heute Journal" on December 16. The report was basically positive with the conclusion that it's all about money. Brings range. From 17:10 begins the introduction to the topic ECB and interest rate hike, from min. 18:20 it goes off with Sono and CFO Torsten Kiedel.
https://www.zdf.de/.../heute-journal-vom-15-dezember-2022…
Golem takes a close look at the Sion, examining everything again. The author feels the progress, his enthusiasm is not as high as with AMS, but he has already driven the SVC2, the surprise moment was not quite as big, good report.
https://www.golem.de/news/krise-bei-sono-motors-das-moos-reicht-nicht-aus-2212-170434.html
Interesting report from the USA. NBC News
Save who can:
https://www.zeit.de/mobilitaet/2022-12/sono-motors-solarauto-sion-elektromobilitaet-crowdfunding
+++ PRESS +++
The press response remains high. It remains to be seen how this will translate into reservations.
A solar car at any price (paywall)
Tagesspiegel: Asked for an advance payment
https://background.tagesspiegel.de/newsletter/28V4HcVU99WrK7byJt9WEp
Founder discloses his salary:
Critical but worth watching report by Steve & Julian on the current situation of Sono Motors, it's already from last week. Sono is covered right at the beginning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJC34CZFDWI&t=1650s
+++ DETEKTOR +++
"Driving Sion is like 'Using a Swiss Army knife instead of a Gucci handbag,' at least according to Thomas Hausch of Sono Motors. But whether the electric car will actually exist is currently uncertain. For at the moment, the Sion project is facing financial failure." Interview/podcast with Thomas Hausch The interview was conducted before the campaign).
The headline pinpoints the flexibility of the Sion: "The multifunctional solar car." The author emphasizes the benefits for the family, otherwise listen in and listen to Hausch.
https://detektor.fm/wissen/fahrzeugbrief-sion
+++ FUN FACT +++
There was a big upset in Business Insider last week. According to the article, VW wants more money from the government. Read correctly! The brand boss is furious because, in the group's view, the EU is doing too little for the auto industry and is demanding billions more in subsidies. Regardless of the fact that the corporations are currently making considerable profits.
Considering that corporations with billions in profits are successfully grabbing subsidies and we have to use private money to support our start-up for a sustainable and innovative project, you don't know whether to laugh or cry.
The article is worth reading.
Stay healthy, in a good mood and positive
Sebastian, Wolfgang, Astrid & Andreas