With the Nissan e-NV200 electric van in its final stages of development, the company said last week it plans to launch the vehicle early next year.
It will become Nissan's second second all-electric vehicle, after the Leaf hatchback that went on sale in December 2010.
The e-NV200, an electric version of the NV200 compact van, was first unveiled as a concept at the 2012 Detroit auto show. Nissan has been testing prototypes with commercial fleets since then.
The e-NV200 is basically an NV200 with the running gear of a Leaf. It has the Leaf’s 80-kilowatt (110 horsepower) electric motor and 24 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, but considerably more cargo space.
Since the e-NV200 is heavier than the Leaf, it will probably have a shorter range.
"The e-NV200 will offer all the spaciousness, versatility and practicality of a traditional diesel or gas-powered compact van, but with zero CO2 or other pollutant emissions at the point of use,” Hideto Murakami, Nissan corporate vice president, said in a statement.
New Yorkers will also recognize the NV200 as the controversial “Taxi of Tomorrow.” The taxi began production this month, and New York’s City Council has expressed interest in electric versions.
MORE: Nissan e-NV200: Driving Nissan's Prototype Electric Minivan
Once e-NV200 production begins next year, Nissan plans to build a second electric commercial vehicle.
The e-NT400, based on the NT400 box truck sold in Europe and Japan, will have an 80-kW electric motor and a range of 87 miles. An integrated quick charger will allow an 80 percent charge in one hour, Nissan says.
No word yet on whether Nissan plans to bring this second plug-in commercial vehicle to the United States.
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