BRITISH GAS is piloting 28 Nissan e-NV200 vans throughout the winter to determine the future viability of 100 per cent electric vehicle technology.
Run in collaboration with Hitachi Capital Commercial Vehicle Solutions and Gateshead College, the pilot will see the four strategic partners working together.
Nissan has been globally piloting the e-NV200 for two years ahead of the van going on sale to the public next year. As the UK’s largest ever electric commercial vehicle evaluation to date, the winter test underlines the importance of the relationship between Nissan and British Gas.
The pilot of the Nissan e-NV200s is being conducted nationwide. It is now under way and will continue until April 2014 to assess how the vans perform in winter conditions.
Gateshead College delivered all of the training to the British Gas drivers to ensure they are fully briefed in how to drive and live with the 100 per cent electric Nissan e-NV200.
Close to Nissan’s Sunderland Plant, Gateshead College is Europe’s leading facility for training in LCV development and will ensure drivers are fully able to exploit the Nissan e-NV200.
Available on forecourts next year, the Nissan e-NV200 is a breakthrough zero-emission compact van that promises an dramatic reduction in running costs while also helping the environment by bringing CO2 emissions down to zero at the point of use.
Strategic partners
As British Gas home services engineers operate within a defined zone, the Nissan e-NV200 can easily operate within the company’s daily usage pattern.
Jim Wright, Nissan GB managing director, said: ‘We’re proud to be providing the vehicles and services for the UK’s largest ever electric commercial vehicle pilot in conjunction with our strategic partners.
‘Piloting such a large number of vans with British Gas in advance of the e-NV200 going on sale in 2014, underlines the closeness of our relationship and marks the final stages of the vehicle’s development.’