Tiny Powerhouse: Nissan Sakura’s Radical Solar Roof Unfolds For Extra Range

Innovation meets practicality in Nissan’s latest EV breakthrough. The Sakura, Japan’s best-selling electric vehicle since 2022, is about to get even better with the AO-Solar Extender—a fancy name for what might be the coolest solar roof in the EV market. Not just another static panel slapped on top of a car. This thing actually moves.

The two-part system is genius. There’s a fixed 300W solar panel that’s always working, plus a 200W panel that extends when parked. Together they pump out up to 500W on sunny days. That’s a lot of juice for a tiny car. The retractable panel even provides shade to the windshield. Less heat, less AC needed. Smart.

Let’s talk numbers. This solar setup produces 300W while driving in sunshine, 80W in rain. That blows Toyota’s Prius Prime solar roof (185W max) out of the water. Nissan claims it’ll add up to 1,864 miles of annual range. Not bad for something that weighs just 30kg.

The Sakura’s diminutive dimensions (3.4m x 1.5m) make it perfect for city driving. Its 80 km/h top speed won’t win any races, but who’s racing in downtown Tokyo anyway? The solar gains actually make sense in urban environments where the car spends time sitting in parking lots or crawling through traffic. The innovative roof design minimizes drag to maintain optimal aerodynamics even when extended. The system is also designed to power accessories simultaneously while reducing cabin temperature. Like geothermal energy’s capacity factor advantage, the solar roof provides reliable energy regardless of the driving conditions.

Built with standard monocrystalline silicon cells, the system isn’t particularly lightweight yet. Nissan’s working on that. The company’s keeping quiet about exactly when you can buy one, though they’re showing off the prototype at the Japan Mobility Show starting October 30, 2025.

For a kei car already known for “sufficient” range, this solar boost could be a game-changer. Zero emissions from the extra charging. Less dependence on the grid. And let’s be honest—it looks cool too. Who said practical couldn’t be radical?