Jack Loughran Fri 24 Oct 2025
Collected at: https://eandt.theiet.org/2025/10/24/nissan-tests-extendable-solar-roof-cut-evs-reliance-plug-charging
Nissan has unveiled an electric car with an extendable solar roof that allows it recharge on the road without plugging in.
Named the Ao-Solar Extender, the system has been installed on Japan’s top-selling EV – the Nissan Sakura – and can generate enough solar electricity in a year to power up to 2,900km of driving.
The roof-mounted panel can charge the vehicle both while driving and when parked, but when stationary it extends to get more sun coverage and improve charging speeds. When extended, the power generation potential increases to approximately 500W while also creating shade that helps keep the interior cool. In its retracted state, the panel can generate about 300W in ideal conditions, or 80W during the darkest, rainiest days.
Nissan
Based on the size of the battery and the panel’s output, it should take anywhere from eight to 13 days to achieve a full charge, depending on conditions. Considering that, the solar panels are more useful to top up the battery than to go long distances on solar energy alone.
The development team said it hoped the panel would allow users to reduce their reliance on charging infrastructure. Nissan said that an analysis of driving data from Sakura owners showed that many primarily travel short distances for errands and school runs, suggesting that solar-generated power could “nearly eliminate the need” for grid-based charging for a significant portion of owners.
The Ao-Solar Extender system is being prepared for future commercial launch although no date has been given as yet.
While other car makers have dabbled with solar-powered vehicles in the past, none have reached mass-market success.
Toyota, another Japanese manufacturer, unveiled the prototype Prius PHV in 2019, although it never entered mass production, and could generate the same power generation as the Ao-Solar Extender.
In 2022, Dutch car manufacturer Lightyear briefly began producing the Lightyear 0 – a solar-electric car kitted with panels across the boot and roof of the vehicle. However, its high €250,000 (£218,000) price point meant it only had niche appeal and only about a dozen cars were made before production ended.
Leave a Reply