Limited charging infrastructure may curb the range that electric vehicle (EV) drivers can travel. However, if the sun is shining, this EV can charge itself by means of 3.8 m² of solar panels integrated across the hood, roof and tailgate.

While not intended as a replacement for plug-in charging, the photovoltaic panel-equipped Nissan Ariya can potentially reduce charging frequency, with data showing annual charging visits can be reduced from approximately 23 to 8 charging sessions per year for drivers covering around 6,000 kilometers annually. The charging system supplied by Dutch startup Lightyear can also generate energy while the Ariya is being driven or parked.

The integrated solar panels include high efficiency photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight directly into DC electric power. An optimized power controller boosts overall energy availability and reduces dependency on external charging.

Source: Nissan

Field test covering the 1,000 km between Lightyear's offices in the Netherlands and Barcelona, Spain, confirmed that the EV can generate 0.5 kWh of solar energy during a 2‑hour, 80 km trip, delivering up to 3 km of range with no extra cost or charging time incurred. The solar solution can produce sufficient electricity to provide up to 23 km of additional range under sunny conditions.