The project began with a simple but ambitious question: What if EVs could charge themselves? This sparked a partnership with Dutch solar‑mobility innovator Lightyear, who supplied the next‑generation panel technology to Nissan’s engineering teams.

While still a concept, Nissan’s Advanced Product Planning team in Dubai and Powertrain Planning team in Barcelona developed this unique Ariya to be road legal.

Starting with the Ariya EV, 3.8 square meters of high-efficiency photovoltaic panels has been integrated into the hood, roof, and tailgate. These polymer and glass-based solar panels convert sunlight into DC power, managed through an advanced controller.

In ideal conditions, the system can deliver up to 23 kilometers of additional range per day, eliminating the need to ever refuel or recharge thereby making a truly off-the-grid vehicle. In real-world conditions, Nissan engineers also showed significant gains too: 10.2 kilometers per day in London, 18.9 kilometers in New Delhi, and 21.2 kilometers per day in Dubai.

When driven 80 kilometers, the added solar panels help the Ariya EV add 0.5 kWh of energy, enough for an additional three kilometers of range.

During its initial long‑distance testing—including a 1,550-kilometer journey between the Netherlands and Barcelona—demonstrated that solar integration could cut annual charging visits for a 6,000-kilometer year commute from 23 to just eight.

Nissan says such performance has powerful implications for regions with limited charging infrastructure. Drivers could enjoy longer intervals between charges, greater autonomy, and lower cost of ownership simply by parking or driving in the sun.