Nissan’s pint-sized Mini Sakura EV just got a serious upgrade. The compact kei car that’s been zipping around Japanese streets since 2022 now features a prototype solar roof extension revealed at the Japan Mobility Show 2025. It’s called the Ao-Solar Extender. Fancy name for what’s fundamentally a sun-powered hat.
The new solar setup isn’t messing around. It combines a fixed 300W photovoltaic module with an extendable 200W panel, bringing total generation capacity to 500W. That’s right – the roof actually extends. Because apparently regular solar panels weren’t cool enough.
Nissan’s solar magic trick: a 500W roof that unfolds like origami for your car’s daily sun smoothie.
In practical terms, this solar addition could add about 3,000 km of driving range annually under ideal conditions. Not bad for a car already squeezing 180 km from its modest 20 kWh battery. The whole solar assembly weighs around 30 kg – something engineers are apparently still “working on.” Translation: it’s heavy.
The Mini Sakura itself remains the tiny urban warrior it’s always been. Just 3,395 mm long and 1,475 mm wide, with enough juice in its electric motor to hit 130 km/h. Not exactly track-ready, but perfect for traversing narrow Japanese streets.
The 47 kW motor delivers 195 Nm of torque – enough pep to feel zippy without scaring grandma. Nissan kept the rest of the package intact. Four seats, 107 liters of luggage space, and a tight 4.8-meter turning radius.
It still takes 8 hours for a full charge or 40 minutes to reach 80% with quick charging. The car also features e-Pedal Step technology that enables smooth deceleration and energy recovery through regenerative braking. The system could benefit from increasingly efficient solar panels, which are part of a renewable energy market projected to reach $607.8 billion by 2030. The solar system was developed after an internal idea contest in 2021 that sought innovative solutions for sustainable transportation. Priced between 2.3 and 2.9 million yen, this solar-topped wonder continues to dominate Japan’s kei EV market. It’s been the top-seller for three straight years.
The solar roof extension simply doubles down on its eco-credentials while adding some tech bragging rights. Let’s be honest – it’s still a microcar with limited range. But now it’s a microcar that harnesses the power of the sun. And that’s something.
References
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfhpzxGn8Ak
- https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/nissan-unveils-all-new-all-electric-minivehicle-in-japan
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gR2nbHv-d0
- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/10/27/nissan-presents-mini-electric-vehicle-with-expandable-solar-roof/
- https://www.nissan-global.com/EN/INNOVATION/DESIGN/DESIGNWORKS/SAKURA/
- https://www.auto-data.net/en/nissan-sakura-20-kwh-64hp-bev-45889
