Electric car drivers are beset with range anxiety concerns. Even though they rarely travel more than 30 miles from home, there is still that occasional trip to the mountains, the beach, or the lake house. Most of us harbor a secret fantasy that we could wake up one morning, decide to chuck it all, climb in our car, and light out for California where the sun always shines.
Credit: Nissan
Business people see vehicles quite differently. They know in the morning how far those vehicles will travel that day within a few kilometers. They want them to perform reliably and to do so with a minimum of fuel and maintenance costs.
For lots of business owners in the UK, the Nissan e-NV200 is the perfect vehicle for their needs. Sales of the small delivery van, which is based on the LEAF architecture, are up 200% year on year in the UK, according to a Nissan press release.
Paolo D’Ettore, Director LCV Business Unit Nissan Europe, says “The success of e-NV200 truly demonstrates that we have the right product at the right time. The acceleration of fleet electrification — especially in city centers — is a challenge for our customers, so we recognize the need to work with them and provide the optimal ecosystem to support a smooth transition to electric vehicles.
“Thanks to its intelligent design and zero-emissions powertrain, the Nissan e-NV200 is the perfect tool to help businesses maximize their operational success and contribute to a more sustainable future.”
The e-NV200 is especially sought after in London, which imposes stiff financial penalties on gasoline or diesel powered vehicles that want to enter the most congested parts of the city. Operating costs of around 2 pence per kilometer are significantly less than those for conventional vehicles, which helps make the business case for choosing an electric vehicle.
In a survey of more than 500 UK small businesses conducted by Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi recently, 24% said they expect van fleets to be fully electric within a decade. One in three UK van fleet operators said business efficiency is their main motivation when adopting new technologies. 17% said that cost savings were an important factor, according to Automotive World.
Nissan has sold 20,000 e-NV200 electric vans throughout Europe since it was first introduced in 2014. Since the version with a 40 kWh battery was introduced last year, sales have jumped significantly. The e-NV200 is sold in 9 European countries and the UK.
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