Sono Motors is a German automaker that differentiates itself from other EV makers by incorporating solar panels in its vehicles The company's upcoming EV, the Zion, has received more than 13,000 pre-orders and has sold $331 million

This news comes from MarketWatch, which claims that an IPO is imminent The Zion is still in the prototype stage, but the car is so attractive that pre-orders are pouring in

As of now, the EV is slated to launch in Europe in 2023; Sono Motors has tweeted about a possible Canadian launch, but unfortunately the company has not announced plans for a US launch

What sets the Zion apart from the Tesla Model 3 and Ford Mustang Mach E is the solar panels covering the body The solar panels alone can add 69 miles after a week of baking in the sun This may not sound like much, but for those who tend to only go grocery shopping for short periods of time, it could eliminate the need to plug into Zion

The only EV currently on the market with solar panels is Hyundai's Ioniq 5 However, the solar panels are only installed on the roof, which could result in an annual range of 1,242 miles

Apart from the solar panels, the Zion is equipped with a 54 kWh battery that can be charged using conventional methods A fully charged battery can give the Zion a range of 190 miles, not bad for a compact car that is expected to cost $30,000

A $3,000 deposit is required to reserve a Zion Still, Sonomotors has a long way to go to compete with Tesla and its enthusiasts

Currently, according to Electrek, more than 1 million pre-orders have been collected for the Tesla Cybertruck alone They are also hoping that Zion buyers will not receive death threats from hardcore Tesla fans, as at least one Mustang Mach E owner has received