Japan’s Nissan Motor previewed a new battery-powered mini-vehicle prototype fitted with a roof-mounted solar panel, which the automaker plans to fully unveil at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo at the end of October 2025.
The ‘Ao-Solar Extender,” an onboard solar power generation system, has been fitted to the battery-powered Nissan Sakura kei car, which “effortlessly” charges the vehicle’s battery, providing it with additional driving range free of charge.
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Nissan claims the Ao-Solar Extender can provide the Sakura with up to 3,000 km of additional driving range annually, reducing the vehicle’s dependence on the national grid and cutting running costs. When the vehicle is parked, a second roof-mounted solar panel extends forward, maximizing the system’s exposure to the sun’s rays.
Nissan confirmed in a statement that “the roof-mounted Ao-Solar Extender can charge the vehicle both while driving and when parked. The fixed roof-mounted panel can capture solar energy even when the vehicle is in motion. When stationary, an additional panel extends outward from storage, increasing the solar panel surface area and power generation potential to approximately 500 watts.”
The company further explained that “the expanded panel also creates shade and helps block sunlight from entering through the windshield, reducing cabin temperature and lowering the need for air conditioning power consumption. The system has been designed to minimize drag and integrate with the Sakura’s overall appearance.”
