Nissan's Ao-Solar Extender makes Sakura a self-charging EV
Nissan previews Ao-Solar Extender on Sakura at Japan Mobility Show 2025
Nissan's Ao-Solar Extender makes Sakura a self-charging EV
At Japan Mobility Show 2025, Nissan debuts the Sakura with the Ao-Solar Extender, a rooftop system adding up to 3,000 km of solar-powered driving on the go.
2025-10-22T07:53:02+03:00
2025-10-22T07:53:02+03:00
2025-10-22T07:53:02+03:00
Nissan says it will unveil a prototype at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 this month that’s equipped with an onboard system harvesting energy from the sun.The setup, called Ao-Solar Extender, will be fitted to Japan’s best-selling electric car, the Nissan Sakura. Developed in-house, the solar array is meant to cut reliance on the grid and make life with an EV easier by streamlining charging. According to the development team’s estimates, it can produce enough solar energy to cover up to 3,000 kilometers of driving. The idea comes across as a practical answer to everyday charging hassles rather than a flashy experiment.Mounted on the roof, the Ao-Solar Extender can charge the car both on the move and when parked. When stationary, an additional panel slides out from its compartment, expanding the solar surface and boosting energy generation to around 500 watts. That retractable section also throws shade and helps block sunlight through the windshield, lowering cabin temperatures and trimming the energy needed for air conditioning—a small, thoughtful touch that owners are likely to appreciate every day.Trip data for Sakura owners shows many primarily make short errands and school runs, which suggests solar power could almost remove the need to plug in for a substantial share of drivers. For that audience, rooftop charging feels less like a novelty and more like quiet, built-in convenience.
Nissan, Ao-Solar Extender, Nissan Sakura, solar charging, rooftop solar, EV, electric car, prototype, Japan Mobility Show 2025, self-charging EV, 3,000 km, retractable panel, grid-free charging
2025
Michael Powers
news
Nissan previews Ao-Solar Extender on Sakura at Japan Mobility Show 2025
At Japan Mobility Show 2025, Nissan debuts the Sakura with the Ao-Solar Extender, a rooftop system adding up to 3,000 km of solar-powered driving on the go.
Michael Powers, Editor
Nissan says it will unveil a prototype at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 this month that’s equipped with an onboard system harvesting energy from the sun.
The setup, called Ao-Solar Extender, will be fitted to Japan’s best-selling electric car, the Nissan Sakura. Developed in-house, the solar array is meant to cut reliance on the grid and make life with an EV easier by streamlining charging. According to the development team’s estimates, it can produce enough solar energy to cover up to 3,000 kilometers of driving. The idea comes across as a practical answer to everyday charging hassles rather than a flashy experiment.
Mounted on the roof, the Ao-Solar Extender can charge the car both on the move and when parked. When stationary, an additional panel slides out from its compartment, expanding the solar surface and boosting energy generation to around 500 watts. That retractable section also throws shade and helps block sunlight through the windshield, lowering cabin temperatures and trimming the energy needed for air conditioning—a small, thoughtful touch that owners are likely to appreciate every day.
Trip data for Sakura owners shows many primarily make short errands and school runs, which suggests solar power could almost remove the need to plug in for a substantial share of drivers. For that audience, rooftop charging feels less like a novelty and more like quiet, built-in convenience.
