Originally appeared on Automoblog.net

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There was a time when I was frustrated by the auto industry’s lack of interest in creating electric cars. Then upstart Tesla Motors showed me the change didn?t have to come from within the industry. Tesla had an innovative model, knowing they were up against giants.
The plan was essentially to build an expensive electric car to show people that an electric car could be awesome. Then, that money from the more expensive models could create affordable electric cars. So far that plan is working, but the ?affordable? Model 3 is still priced at $35,000 and up.
As relatively affordable as that is, it still prices some people out of the market. Traditional Car Companies
But that?s the business. Building a car company is expensive. However, an innovative group of friends in Munich, Germany created a new electric car. Sono Motors is using Crowdfunding to get things off the ground – their car is called Sion (not Scion). They are taking a page from the over 400,000 pre-orders of the Tesla Model 3, which raised $400 million in a week to fund production. With the Sion, the founders are asking for just over $100 in a non-binding deposit to reserve the car. This funding, which has raised over $200,000 out of the gate, will allow them to begin production of the car.
Photo: Sono Motors
Solar Powered
The exterior of the Sion is covered with solar panels. About 8 square yards of the oute...