Nissan is consistently looking for ways to maximize renewable energy sources that can be utilized by its electric vehicles. The recent effort made by Nissan is seen in the solar-powered Ariya concept, which makes use of the sun’s energy to generate extra electric vehicle (EV) driving range.
Of note, the concept of using solar power in EVs is not something new with Nissan. Previously, the Japanese automaker revealed the Ao-Solar Extender technology that’s integrated into the Nissan Sakura EV. The said tech makes use of a solar panel, which in turn charges the Sakura EV, and is regarded to generate enough solar electricity to power up to 3,000 km of driving, according to Nissan.
The same solar power concept is applied to the Ariya, but this time around, Nissan makes the tech integration more seamless. See, in the Sakura EV, the solar panel is placed on top of the vehicle’s roof, and it extends forward when the vehicle is parked. This results in having a surfboard-like cargo on top of the Sakura EV.
Now, with the solar‑powered Ariya concept, Nissan made use of rectangular-shaped panels and attached it on the vehicle. Developed by engineers from Nissan’s Advanced Product Planning team in Dubai and the Powertrain Planning team in Barcelona, the solar-powered Ariya concept features 3.8m² of high‑efficiency photovoltaic panels integrated into the hood, roof, and tailgate.
Nissan said that these polymer and glass-based solar panels convert sunlight into DC power, managed through an advanced controller designed to optimize energy use and reduce reliance on external charging infrastructure. The solar panels blend well, especially with the black-colored Nissan Ariya EV. Yes, the overall design integration of the panels is still up for debate, but it’s a good start as compared to having a surfboard-like cargo on top of the EV.
Nissan shared that its real-world testing showed that the solar panels can deliver up to 23 kilometers of additional EV driving range. The car brand added that in cities with high solar exposure, such as Barcelona, the solar panels can generate an average of 17.5 km of additional range.
Nissan added that year‑round averages show the said results globally: 10 km/day in London, 18.8 km/day in New Delhi, and 21 km/day in Dubai. As such, the automaker claims that EV drivers can reduce their charging frequency by up to 65 percent, depending on usage.
Autocar’s Take
The solar-powered Nissan Ariya concept is a testament to the Japanese automaker’s dedication to finding ways to maximize renewable energy. Of note, this is not the first time that Nissan made use of solar panels in giving its electric vehicle (EV) additional driving range, as it already used a similar concept to the Sakura EV. The idea is simple: use sunlight to add extra driving range, which can then lead to reduced trips to a physical EV charging station.
As mentioned earlier, the overall design integration of the solar panels into the Ariya is still up for debate, especially when you consider placing those panels on a white-colored or red-colored Ariya. The panels would then be instantly visible. But then again, having an additional driving range could make EV ownership easier and more efficient.
