What Happened: Nissan just showed off a pretty wild new idea for its electric cars. They’re calling it the “Ao-Solar Extender,” and it’s basically a solar-powered charger that’s built right into the car.
Why This Is Important: This isn’t just a gimmick; it’s a peek at Nissan’s big-picture plan for a more sustainable future.
Why Should I Care: If you’re an EV owner or just someone who loves eco-friendly tech, this is a huge leap toward a car that truly powers itself.
What’s Next: We’ll get to see this thing in person at the big Tokyo auto show. As for when you can buy one, Nissan hasn’t given a date yet. But they did confirm this whole idea started as an internal company contest and that they are serious about putting it into production. So, you might be seeing these solar-powered cars on the road sooner than you think.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk handed over the first Cybertruck to great fanfare toward the end of 2023, but the two models released at that time didn’t include the most affordable Long Range version priced at $69,990.
Tesla finally started offering the first Long Range version of the outlandish electric pickup in April, but just a few days ago the automaker quietly removed the option from its website.
Electric cars are strongly associated with the latest technology and high performance, partly because of the possibilities electric powertrains create, and partly because their makers are desperate to prove that EVs deserve consideration alongside internal combustion cars. But Nissan has always taken a different approach. Where the Tesla Model S wooed customers with quick acceleration and a big touchscreen, the original Nissan Leaf — which went on sale before the Tesla — was just a basic small car with an affordable price, and without a tailpipe.
The 2026 Nissan Leaf shows that there is still life in that format. It looks radically different inside and out, but the new Leaf is still fundamentally a small EV that won’t break the bank. It launches in S+ form with 303 miles of range and a $31,485 base price. That makes it the least-expensive new EV currently sold in the United States and, according to Nissan, is consistent with the base pricing of the two previous Leaf generations when they launched as 2011 and 2018 models, adjusting for inflation and feature content.
Welcome to Digital Trends’ weekly recap of the revolutionary technology powering, connecting, and now driving next-gen electric vehicles.
“I’m gonna listen to some good music and don’t offer any suggestions! I’ll choose my own,” a peeved Michael Knight tells KITT, his ‘smart’ car, in the very first episode of the iconic series Knight Rider, which aired in September 1982.
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