SOME of the UK’s top motoring journalists have been getting acquainted with the brand new Nissan e-NV200.
The Japanese company hosted the launch of the 100 per cent LCV in Mercabarna Flor – a flower market located just outside of Spain’s capital city, Barcelona.
The venue was originally selected but later ruled out for the launch of NV200 in 2010 over concerns the vehicle’s low-emission diesel engine would damage flowers on sale. However, the e-NV200 was warmly welcomed this time around thanks to its zero emission powertrain.
The market acted as the launch hub and it was here the writers were able to get behind the
wheel of panel van and combi variants and take part in a raft of fun activities designed to show off the vehicle’s unique attributes.
Test routes consisted of urban routes in and around bustling Barcelona, while coffee stops included the marina – where the journalists could have an ice cream from a cart powered by a Nissan LEAF – and the city centre. The latter proved to be especially fun as the writers had to fill the cargo area with as many inflatable bananas as they could in 20 seconds!
James Scoltock, editor of Automotive Engineer was particularly impressed, telling Nissan Insider: “The e-NV200 electric van is well suited to the urban environment, and should serve commercial vehicle drivers well.
“The motor provides enough torque to make light work of the point-to-point deliveries that the vehicle is inevitably destined for, while the interior is sturdy and the driving position comfortable.”
Meanwhile editor of Car Dealer Magazine, James Batchelor, said: “Nissan has proved it knows how to produce an electric vehicle. ‘The LEAF is very competent and is now the world’s best-selling EV car – and there’s no reason why the e-NV200 shouldn’t deliver as impressively. It’s smooth, well-made and genuinely offers something new in this area of the van market.
“You only have to visit any large city or town in the UK to see that vans clog up the streets. If only a proportion of those were electric, pollution levels would be less worrying. Once again, Nissan is leading the charge to tackle smog and unhealthy air quality.”
Breaking new ground
There was much excitement surrounding the launch from both Nissan executives and the media. The first drives followed quickly from the news that British Gas had ordered 100 units of the groundbreaking van, following a successful pilot.
Engineers trialled 28 e-NV200s over the winter with some claiming they didn’t want to hand them back after the evaluation period.
The e-NV200 is the second electric vehicle launched by Nissan. Three-and-a-half years on from the launch of the LEAF, Nissan’ reputation in the electric vehicle market is unparalleled. Thanks to more than 120,000 global sales, LEAF is the market leader.
e-NV200 combines the groundbreaking technology used in LEAF with Nissan’s multi-award-winning NV200 van and is offered in three bodystyles and a comes with plethora of standard equipment.
Check back on Nissan Insider soon to read exactly what the UK’s motoring journalists think of the new e-NV200