Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and other locations were awash with tiny "kei" trucks, cars and vans. These cities have thin, weaving side roads that would never be able to handle most American SUVs and trucks.

The Nissan Sakura is an all-electric Kei car. It's just 11 feet long and weighs under 2,400 lbs, with a starting price of around $15,000. The Sakura has become Japan's best-selling EV, but Nissan ...