The Nissan e-NV200 7-seater still leaves ample luggage room behind the third row of seats. Both rows can be folded out of the way.

Growing demand has prompted Nissan to bring forward the launch of the latest variant of its popular e-NV200 electric van, a 7-seater people carrier or minibus model.

Nissan Europe’s director of electric vehicles, Jean-Pierre Diernaz explains the introduction, commenting:

“We have always planned to offer a higher-seating capacity version of the Nissan e-NV200. Marketplace demand has meant we have moved this introduction forward by several months to satisfy this need.

Nissan has had requests from taxi companies, VIP transfer services, hotels and private motorists who are interested in buying this uniquely flexible and capable vehicle.”

The seven seat version of the e-NV200 is configured with two seats in the front, three in the middle and two in the rear. Both the second and third rows can be folded to allow for larger quantities of luggage to be carried, making the new variant a hugely flexible vehicle for commercial or private use.

The second row rolls forward and the third row folds to the sides to open up an enormous 2.94 cubic metres of cargo capacity, which is enough to transport three bicycles with the wheels in place, unique in this class. With all three rows in place, the luggage capacity is 443 litres under the tonneau cover, and up to an impressive 870 litres when measured to the roof line, allowing the possibility to carry seven people and a large volume of luggage.

To increase passenger comfort the seven seat passenger version comes equipped with additional rear air conditioning to ensure a more even temperature through the cabin, even for those in the third row of seating.

The new model is available with the CHAdeMO quick charging system, which gives the access to the most widely installed rapid charging system in Europe today with over 1,500 accessible points. The quick charging option allows businesses or drivers to extend journeys or do multiple short journeys in a day with a quick top up. Already, users of the e-NV200 like Taxi Electric in the Netherlands and C&C Taxis in the UK have installed their own quick chargers to increase utilisation and flexibility.

The van and five seat versions of the e-NV200 were launched last summer and have already met with a very positive reception with orders from taxi companies across Europe in addition to large fleets like DHL Express in Italy, and APM, part of the Maersk group.

Nissan has launched its e-NV200 electric van, which the firm claims offers a 106 mile range, a top speed of 76mph and fuel costs as low as 25% those of a diesel-fuelled van.

The Nissan e-NV200 electric van

These claims should be more realistic usual, too, as the e-NV200 has been one of the most widely-trialled vehicles of recent years, thanks to trials with a number of large fleet operators.

At least one trial customer, British Gas, has already placed a 100-van order, suggesting that the e-NV200 does live up to expectations.

For my money, Nissan could sell a lot more e-NV200 vans than LEAFs, thanks to the more predictable and repeatable usage cycles of vans, many of which travel less than 60 miles a day on a fixed route, every day for years, returning each night to off-road parking in a secure yard, where they can be easily and safely charged.

Compare that to the average private car usage scenario: vans have the edge, and as I’ve mentioned many times before, I believe vans, not cars, will be the first vehicles to achieve commerical success in the electric vehicle marketplace. Indeed, I’d go so far as to say the the e-NV200 could be the van that tips the balance.

What about the van?

I digress. Getting back to the e-NV200, the van itself is based on Nissan’s NV200 diesel-powered van, while the e-NV200’s drivetrain comes from the Nissan LEAF, the firm’s electric car offering.

The view under the bonnet — far fewer oily mechanical bits than usual. Plus it’s almost silent.

However, it isn’t just mash-up of two existing vehicles — 30% of the e-NV200’s parts are unique to the model, and the chassis, interior, battery pack and regenerative braking system have all be altered from their original (NV200 or LEAF) specifications.

The e-NV200 has a cargo volume of 4.2 cubic metres and can carry two Euro pallets.

The Nissan e-NV200 can carry two Euro pallets in its 4.2 cubic metre load compartment.

Scheduled maintenance costs are expected to be 40% lower, thanks in part to the lack of engine oil, engine belts and conventional gear box and clutch.

Although the e-NV200 van will be built at Nissan’s plant in Barcelona, the UK — a major European manufacturing base for Nissan — will get some of the action, as Nissan’s battery plant in Sunderland will produce the van’s lithium-ion battery cells.

Inside the cab, it’s almost like a normal van — just a few control differences. Ideal for van drivers switching between vehicles.

The battery can be recharged overnight in 8 hours using a domestic 16-amp single-phase 3.3 kW charger, or in just four hours if the optional 6.6kW/32-amp charger is fitted and a suitable supply is used.

Alternatively, a dedicated CHAdeMO DC 50 kW quick charger can recharge the battery to 80 percent capacity in as little as 30 minutes, if the battery still holds some charge, meaning that e-NV200 can be charged while it is being loaded with goods for another delivery, for example.

In my view, it all adds up — especially as the e-NV200 has been priced in the UK to go head-to-head with diesel vans, with prices starting from just under £14,000.

Nissan has announced pricing details for its e-NV200 electric van, which will be available from July in the UK. As I’ve written before, I believe this vehicle could be the tipping point for electric vans, and indeed British Gas has already ordered 100 e-NV200 vans following its extended winter trial of the model.

Prices have been set to start from just £13,393, after the £8,000 government plug-in van grant has been subtracted — meaning that the cost to buyers will be almost exactly the same as a standard diesel-powered van, such as the new Ford Transit Courier, which starts at £13,350.

It’s worth noting that this price applies to the ‘Flex’ purchase option, which means that you buy the vehicle, but lease the batteries, which cost from £61 per month. An outright purchase option for van and batteries is also available, and this puts the van’s starting price at £16,562, again after the government plug-in grant has been subtracted.

Nissan claims that electricity costs will be just 2p per mile, whereas a similar diesel-powered van will cost 12p – 14p per mile in fuel, meaning that the fuel savings from switching to electric are considerable — as long as you don’t need to exceed the e-NV200’s claimed 100-mile range, and have the facilities available to recharge it every night.

Although the additional cost of the batteries — whether leased or purchased — has to be factored into total cost of ownership calculations, so too does the van’s zero-rating for road tax and London Congestion Charge exemption, and in my view, it looks very competitively priced.

The e-NV200 will initially be offered in two trim levels, Acenta and Tekna, and two body styles — a panel van, and a five-seat combi.

The Nissan e-NV200 electric van goes on sale in the UK in June

Nissan’s e-NV200 electric van goes on sale in June.

The company is hoping that it will be the first electric van to break through to the mainstream market, and Nissan has spent a lot of time and effort preparing the ground for this launch.

Large fleet operators have enjoyed a high level of access to the e-NV200, thanks to a number of long-term operational trials aimed at proving the commercial and operational viability of the van.

Companies that have participated in the UK include FedEx and British Gas, which aimed to make a substantial part of its fleet electric by 2015. Further afield, names such as Coca-Cola, DHL, IKEA, EDF and the Japan Post Office have also been involved in trialling the e-NV200 in everyday operational use.

The basics

Nissan says that the electric version of the NV200 has been re-engineered where necessary, to ensure that it is not simply a converted NV200, but a well-designed van in its own right. According to the firm, the e-NV200 has a unique part count of more than 30% — i.e. 30% of its parts are made specially for this model and are not common with the conventional NV200.

The dashboard and controls in the e-NV200 have been designed to be as similar as possible to a conventional van, in order to aid drivers who have to switch between vans regularly.

The e-NV200’s homologated NEDC [official] range of 170km is greater than the average 100km daily driving distance required by more than half of the fleets who use this size van, says Nissan, while its payload and cargo area (4.2 cubic metres) are the same as the standard NV200.

The battery can be recharged overnight using a domestic 16-amp single-phase 3.3 kW supply which reduces to four hours if a 6.6kW/32-amp supply is used. A dedicated CHAdeMO DC 50 kW quick charger can recharge the battery from 0-80 percent in just 30 minutes or less if the battery is already partially charged. More than 1000 public CHAdeMO quick chargers are now installed across Europe, in addition a number of companies have installed their own dedicated quick charging facilities at their home depots or offices.

Will it work?

I have believed for several years that the big opportunity for mainstream adoption of electric vehicles is in the light commercial vehicle sector.

Many vans do less than 60 miles a day and never venture outside the city — the ideal usage scenario for electric vehicles.

Nissan shares this view and has made a big commitment to electric vehicles, in both car form (the LEAF) and through the e-NV200. What’s needed now is for a few major van operators and forward-looking looking SMEs to bite the bullet and commit to operating a significant slice of its fleet on electricity.

I believe this is both possible and increasingly likely, and for my money, Nissan has the best chance of any manufacturer yet of delivering an electric vehicle that gains mainstream acceptance.

Watch this space.