Nissan is following through with plans to build its electric van concept, which first debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The e-NV200 will be the Japanese automaker’s second application of electric technology, after the Nissan Leaf. While the reception to the Leaf has been mixed, the NV200 has been a global success for Nissan, which has sold more than 100,000 of the vehicles. The NV200 has also been selected as New York City’s “Taxi of Tomorrow.”
Nissan will produce the e-NV200 at its Spanish plant in Barcelona. European versions of the non-electric NV200 are powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder diesel engine, or a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. American market NV200s will also be running on four-cylinders, but get a bigger 2.0-liter gasoline engine. The electric e-NV200 will receive a powertrain based on the Nissan Leaf’s technology, and is expected to yield a similar range.
Andy Palmer, executive vice president of Nissan, said “e-NV200 represents a genuine breakthrough in commercial vehicles and further underlines Nissan’s leadership within the electric vehicle segment. The new model will offer all the spaciousness, versatility and practicality of a traditionally powered compact van, but with zero CO2 emissions at the point of use and provides outstanding driving experience that is unique to EVs.” Production of the Nissan e-NV200 is expected to begin in 2013.
Source: Nissan
Most Active