Details About the Japanese Best Selling Electric Car

What comes to mind when you hear ‘the best-selling electric car’? For sure, you will think about big names like Tesla. However, it is not the case with the Japanese best selling electric car. The best-selling electric car in Japan is a tiny $13,000 Kei car. This car is made by Mitsubishi and Nissan, known as Sakura. This small four-wheeler is 11 ft long and reaches a top speed of 80mph (130kph). Moreover, this car has a range of 112 miles (180 km). 

Unfortunately, these amazing little cars from Japan are subject to tight restrictions in so many countries, for instance in the US. There is a lot more to talk about this tiny car, please continue reading to know everything about this minicar.

All About the Japanese Best-Selling Electric Car

Nissan and Mitsubishi collaborated to build an amazing mini-electric car, and Nissan named it Sakura. This name is crucial for a brand. It is because it means cherry blossom in Japanese, which is an important element in Japanese culture. Also, it signifies rebirth. However, it has been exceptional in the making of electric vehicles. The Japanese market knows how electric vehicles can evolve to suit different markets. Furthermore, Japanese car manufacturers and car buyers have a reputation for being slow to welcome the transition to electric vehicles.  

As we said, Nissan Motors and Mitsubishi combinedly manufactured a mini electric car, called Sakura. Sakura is the Japanese best selling electric car this year. Also, this little car accounts for approximately half of all the electric vehicles sold in the country. They have launched a ‘Kei’ electric vehicle because it suits the everyday needs of Japanese people. Also, it is ideal for the road conditions of Japan. Further, we will discuss the features of this mini electric car, please keep reading.

1- Light Driving

As we said, a ‘Kei’ electric car is perfect for the road conditions and everyday needs of Japanese people. The dimensions of this small and boxy Japanese electric car put them precisely in a category of mini cars, called Kei. In Japanese, Kei means ‘light’, which makes them perfect for driving on the narrow roads of Japan. It has better fuel economy and lower taxes. They are more popular among workers and families who reside outside major cities. In those cities, public transportation is sparse, hence, this car proves to be useful for those people. 

The electric motor of this car gives great speeds and acceleration which surpass other mini cars. Moreover, the Sakura offered a peppy driving experience which is similar to a regular-sized vehicle. Although Sakura has a limited range of 112 miles, it is an Urban vehicle for most customers. This vehicle is needed for short trips in a country with an exceptional transit and train system.

2- Roomy and Well Equipped

The legroom and head of this car are quite impressive. People with extremely tall colleagues have tested it. Moreover, the seats of this car pretty much fill the short car and also leave little room for cargo. The rear bench also splits and folds down if needed. Plus, you can slide it forward if you need more space for cargo. 

Additionally, there is a spacious room under the base for the charge cables. 

Sakura, being one of the most popular cars in Japan, has outstanding interior features. It includes heated steering wheels along with Nissan’s Pro Pilot driver assistance system. Plus, it also possesses a ProPilot Park, an automated parking system. This system controls the following:

Steering

Shifting 

Braking

Parking brakes

All of these prove this car to be invaluable. Particularly, for getting in narrow parking spaces in crowded cities of Japan where every spot is utilized. 

3- Range 

In terms of range, the car manufacturers quote up to 180 on a single charge following the WLC standard. The company said the Sakura takes around 8 hours to recharge the battery to 100% while using 2.9kW AC input. Also, it takes approximately 40 minutes to reach 80% with a 30-kW DC input. Besides, the battery can also be utilized during emergencies as a mobile power source. 

This lithium-ion battery can also provide 24 hours’ worth of electricity to a house. Considering you do not require more than 12kWh per day which is a normal power consumption for average households in Japan. Furthermore, the charging port of this car is placed at the back of it on the right side. It lights up when the lid is open. It does so to make it easier to charge at night times. Being Japanese, the Sakura utilizes the CHAdeMO charging network. Though, this EV car Japan uses type 2 chargers. As we mentioned earlier, standard charging takes around 8 hours while quick charging requires only 40 minutes. 

4- Driving Modes

This car has three driving modes. They are Eco, Sport, and Standard. Also, the quick torque makes the Sakura feel robust, even more than its size. This minicar has 14 inches of wheels which might not manage well on North American Highways. This is because North American Highways can swallow every car that passes from these. Apart from this, the Sakura speeds well with the other Japanese traffic. Even on highways, where driving is quite orderly and even fair speed limits are obeyed, this mini car paces well. All of these features make the Sakura Japenese best selling electric car.

5- Tech Features and Interior

The interior of the Japanese best selling electric car, Sakura is chic as well. It comes standard with a 7-inch digital gauge cluster. Us, a 9-inch central touch screen which has wireless Apple CarPlay and navigation. The horizontal dashboard of Sakura provides plenty of storage space. Plus, it also has a centre tray that can fit a wallet or phone. Furthermore, this mini car also has cup holders to grip the beverages firmly. 

The front seats of this car are sofa-like and are upholstered in a luxury fabric that is spread on the dash and door panels. Beige, black, and blue-grey are the colors available for the interior.

6- Exterior of Sakura

Sakura, the Japanese best selling electric car, has a big black-panel ‘grille’ with angular LED lights with an illuminated badge. It also has a blacked-out pillar which gives this car a floating roof look. The amazing four-spoke wheels are made to appear like mizuhiki knots that are seen on packages and gifts. 

Besides, the rear end of this car is cool with a wide light bar that is slatted just like a lattice wall. There are fifteen colors available along with four optional two-tone color schemes. These schemes are encouraged by the feature of bronze accents and seasons. However, pink is considered the best of all. 

Driving the Nissan Sakura

The Nissan Sakura is small, however, it does not feel tippy or overly light. It is because this car is supported by its low centre of gravity. It is surely elegant with a crazy 15 ft turning radius to steer anything you face on the roads of Japan. Once you get in the car and start driving, you almost forget how small these japan top selling cars are because the roads of Japan are always full. They are always filled with Japanese electric bikes, cyclists, and Kei cars on one side of the road and plenty of buses on the other. Big electric vehicles like Tesla and others are not that famous in Japan. Narrow roads and extreme traffic might be the reason behind this.

 This little car does not have one-pedal driving. This car will slow the speed when you lift your foot from the pedal but it will not completely stop the car. You can turn on e-Pedal Step for smooth acceleration to creep and more regenerative braking, but not a complete stop. It seems that customers’ reviews say that they will choose Sakura over one-pedal driving.

Other Valuable Electric Vehicles of Japan

Apart from the best mini-electric vehicles, there are other electric products in Japan.

Japanese Scooters and Motorbikes 

Apart from this little car, Japan has launched many other electric transportation products. As we said, Japan is famous for intense traffic, therefore, Japanese people use electric bikes more than cars. Therefore, Japan is also famous for manufacturing the best japanese electric motorcycle with amazing quality and features. Plus, many amazing best selling electric scooters in Japan make commuting easy for people. Particularly, those who need to cover short distances every day.

Conclusion 

The recent drive of Nissan Sakura is one of the best-selling Japanese electric vehicles. When you look at the car, you might wonder, if this is a car or a toy. Though, this car is exceptional in every aspect. Sakura has shown how mini-electric vehicles help work with the infrastructure instead of hanging up on the problems of charging big-sized heavy electric vehicles. 

The most prominent reason why Sakura is more famous than Tesla, which is the best selling EV in the world, is the streets and traffic of the country. Sakura possesses features which make it one of the best mini-electric vehicles in Japan. Considering the traffic in Japan, there are many electric bikes manufactured in Japan that suit the people of Japan.

Learn about electric cars with the longest range, their features, and more by reading our website blog.

FAQs

1- What is the number 1 selling EV car?

Currently, Tesla dominates the electric vehicle market. 

2-What is Japan’s best selling EV isn’t a Tesla but a $13000 minicar?

Japan’s best selling car is, 11 foot long Nissan Sakura.

3- What is the best-selling kei car in Japan?

The Honda N-BOX is the best selling Kei vehicle in Japan overall.

4- Are EVs popular in Japan?

Yes, they are. A record 88,535 EVs were sold in Japan last year.