Symbio To Introduce Modified Nissan e-NV200 Van With Fuel-Cell Range Extender (Target: European Taxi Market)
A modified version of the all-electric Nissan e-NV200 van, one outfitted with a 15 kW (net) fuel-cell range extender, will reportedly be introduced in the near future for the European taxi market. The company doing the modification and offering the van is Symbio.
The plug-in hybrid vehicle, which was unveiled by Symbio at the FC Expo 2017 in Tokyo, will reportedly provide “at least” 500 kilometers of range.
The selling point of the idea is that it will reportedly provide taxi drivers a similar total cost of ownership as that available with hybrids, though without the use of an internal combustion engine. This is important since some cities — such as London, England — are seemingly gearing up to ban internal combustion engine vehicles from their city centers at some point in the coming decades.
The e-NV200 + fuel cells is supposed to be available for serial production starting in September 2018. Naturally, Symbio will take your money if you want to place a preorder. You’re advised to contact the company if interested.
The CEO of Symbio, Fabio Ferrari, commented: “To respect the company’s commitment towards a more sustainable environment and a better air quality in urban areas, we have explored a new market segment — duty vehicles. With this integration to Nissan 5-7 seat EVs, taxis can contribute to the improvement of air quality without any change to their daily activities.”
The modified, range-extended Nissan e-NV200 vans will reportedly be capable of refuelling with hydrogen in 3 minutes or so (3.8 kg hydrogen at 700 bar) — assuming you have convenient stations for such refuelling. With regard to the battery packs, capacities between 24 kilowatt-hours (kWh) and 36 kWh will apparently be available.
As it stands, there are a few hundred Symbio-modified Renault Kangoo ZE Maxi light commercial electric vehicles outfitted with fuel-cell range extenders in operation in Europe.
The company also has plans in the works for a bus, waste truck, and larger van (based on the Renault Master ZE) using the same basic plug-in hybrid system.
Images via Symbio
Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
CleanTechnica Holiday Wish Book
Our Latest EVObsession Video
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.
