Nissan rolled out Ariya solar panel concept for the International Clean Energy Day on January 26th.
The Ariya concept features 3.8 square meter polymer and glass-based solar panels covering the hood, roof and rear window. There are a total of 480 cells that can generate a peak output of 700 W or up to 4 kWh per day.
According to Nissan, the solar panels can achieve a range of up to 23 km in a day under ideal conditions. According to the automaker’s calculations, the Ariya Solar Panel Concept will achieve an additional range of 10.2 km per day in London, a city not known for its clear skies.
In cities with sunnier climates, the number of additional kilometers increases, with Barcelona averaging 17.6 km per day, New Delhi 18.9 km per day and Dubai 21.2 km per day.
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The concept was developed by Nissan’s product planning team in Dubai and the powertrain department in Barcelona. The solar modules come from the Dutch company Lightyear.
Between 2022 and 2023, Lightyear produced a super-aerodynamic sedan – priced at 250,000 euros (A$430,000) – equipped with solar panels that could give a range of up to 70 km per day, assuming it was a sunny summer day in southern Spain.
It’s unknown how much the Ariya concept’s 700W setup would cost if it were available as an option.
Should Nissan decide to put the Ariya solar concept or something similar into production, it won’t be the first show-ready car to feature integrated solar panels.
The Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid is available overseas with a solar roof option, which adds US$610 (A$880) to the price in the US. The Prius solar roof is capable of generating a maximum of 185W or up to 2.2kWh per day, which equates to an additional range of around 10km.
Other manufacturers have dabbled in solar panels in the past, including Mazda, which featured a solar-powered ventilation system in the 1991 Jaguar-inspired Mazda 929 as well as the later Eunos 800/Mazda Millenia. Since these cars had no electrical power whatsoever, the solar panels simply powered the fans to expel the hot air while the car was parked.
MORE: Explore the Nissan Ariya showroom
