The all-new Nissan MICRA is stepping into the electric era with a sense of humour, heritage, and serious practical intelligence. At its core lies Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, a feature that quietly reshapes how drivers can interact with their car beyond the road. It is no longer just a means of transport, but a mobile power source capable of energising everyday life in unexpected ways.
This capability was recently demonstrated at the SMMT Test Day in the UK, where Nissan turned a routine industry showcase into something far more memorable. Journalists arriving at UTAC Millbrook Proving Ground were greeted not only with the promise of test drives in the 100% electric MICRA, but also with the aroma of freshly made snacks powered directly by the car itself. In a playful twist on convention, Nissan used V2L to run a customised appliance dubbed the ‘MICRA-wave’, a Mount Fuji-themed microwave-inspired creation that echoed design cues found in the vehicle’s centre console and boot detailing.
From this experiment came the now-famous ‘MICRA-chips’, served to hungry media guests while they waited to experience the car on track. The moment was more than a novelty. It was a live demonstration of how the MICRA’s main battery can support real-world convenience. With a simple adapter available through Nissan dealers, drivers can plug into a standard UK three-pin socket and draw usable power from the vehicle itself.
That energy opens up a wide spectrum of practical applications. A laptop on a remote work trip, a paddleboard pump at the coast, campsite lighting deep in the countryside, a morning kettle before the world wakes up, or even a portable fridge keeping ice cream intact on a summer drive. The MICRA becomes less of a static machine and more of a roaming energy companion, quietly expanding the boundaries of where daily life can comfortably happen.
Underpinning this versatility is a carefully engineered electric drivetrain. The new MICRA is available with two battery options, starting with a 40kWh Engage model offering up to 196 miles of WLTP range, priced from £21,495 including the Electric Car Grant. Above it sits the 52kWh Advance model, capable of up to 257 miles, starting from £23,245 including the grant. Both variants are designed to balance affordability with genuine long-distance usability.
Charging performance has also been tuned for real-world speed. With a 100kW DC fast charger on the larger battery and 80kW on the smaller unit, the MICRA can recharge from 15% to 80% in around 30 minutes. A standard heat pump is fitted across the range, alongside battery heating and cooling systems that help maintain efficiency across varying climates and usage patterns.
What makes this latest generation particularly striking is how it blends innovation with legacy. The MICRA nameplate has been part of Nissan’s story for more than 40 years, evolving through five previous generations and earning a reputation for approachable, dependable mobility. The sixth-generation model may now be fully electric and technologically advanced, but it still carries that same spirit of accessibility and everyday usefulness.
In many ways, it remains exactly what it has always been, a compact car designed to fit seamlessly into daily life. Only now, it can also power it. A chip off the old block, reimagined for an electric future where your car might just be as useful parked as it is in motion.
