Overview
- Nissan will display a Sakura kei EV fitted with the roof-mounted Ao-Solar Extender at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo later this month.
- The extendable system charges while driving or parked and, according to Nissan, produces up to about 300 W when closed, 500 W when extended, and 80 W in rain.
- Based on the company’s internal measurements, the solar setup could supply roughly 3,000 km of annual driving, potentially reducing or eliminating grid charging for many owners with short daily trips.
- When deployed, the panel shades the windshield to lower cabin temperatures and air-conditioning load, and it can serve as an emergency power source, Nissan says.
- Nissan says the concept originated from a 2021 internal idea contest and is planned for a future commercial launch with timing to be announced; public viewing at Tokyo Big Sight runs Oct. 31 to Nov. 9.