The latest longer-range Nissan e-NV200 has been unveiled at the CV Show with its makers insisting now is the time for operators to switch to electric – especially in city centres.
Described by Nissan as the UK’s best-selling electric van, the e-NV200 pays no road tax or London congestion charge, and would also be exempt from charges in low and ultra-low emissions zones which cities including Oxford, Newcastle, Sheffield, Southampton, Birmingham and Leeds.
The latest upgrades to the e-NV200 have increased its WLTP combined cycle range by 60% to 124 miles between charges. Nissan points out that this comfortably exceeds the 55 miles that is covered each day by the average van in the UK.
Increasing the range has not impacted the van’s payload capability, which remains at 750kg and with space to accommodate two Euro pallets.
The e-NV200 is on sale in panel van and people carrier variants, at prices starting from £18,599 including the Government’s plug-in grant. Nissan is also introducing bi-directional charging capability, which it is said could help generate extra revenue for van operators by charging the vehicle when energy costs are low, and selling energy back to the grid at peak times.
Cutting costs
According to Nissan Motor GB fleet director Iker Lazzari, van operators should consider switching to electric not just for green reasons, but to cut their costs.
“The rise of online ordering has led to a sharp increase in the number of multi-drop deliveries nationwide, with some 2.5 billion parcels now delivered in the UK annually,” Iker says.
“The petrol and diesel currently used to deliver those parcels are costing more than ever and, with cities taking the steps to improve air quality, the e-NV200 is the perfect choice for those businesses who want to make huge savings on their outgoings and avoid the costly implications of forthcoming emissions legislation changes.”
He quotes the example of London, where some 221,000 vans are currently registered, and where non-Euro-6 compliant vans will soon face a daily £24 charge to operate in some parts of the capital. This would add £5,500 per year to an operator’s costs even before fuel costs are considered.
Ikers also argues that drivers currently using diesel vans on multi-drop routes will also benefit from savings on heavy-wear items such as starter motors and clutches that the e-NV200 does not require, and by not using fuel while ticking over.
