Please note: The Nissan e-NV200 Evalia electric van is no longer available for sale. It has been replaced by the Nissan Towstar electric.
Our test of the Nissan e-NV200 What to make of the 100 % electric van? This is the bestseller among electric vans: it has just been exceed 10,000 orders ! And it's easy to see why! La Nissan Leaf is the best-selling electric car in the world, with its hatchback, 5 seats and a autonomy very reasonable for its category.
Based on the NV200 van, it meets the demand from professionals for electric 100% city and suburban travel. Does the e-NV200 have what it takes to become the king of electric vans? That's what we'll be testing today.
Better late than never
The Nissan e-NV200 in its 40 kWh configuration is the missing link in the range, which until 2017 had a 22 kWh configuration.
Equipped with a battery the LCV is capable of a range of up to 200 km, according to the new WLTP standard.
Our test of the Nissan e-NV200exclusively in town shows us that 200 kilometres are achievable and corresponds perfectly to professional use where it is rare to exceed 100 km/day.
Thanks to the direct drive and instant torque of the electric motor, the e-NV200 is easier to drive than the diesel NV200, and you benefit from lower running costs thanks to an electric charge that's more affordable than diesel.
A running cost of €2/100 km
The electric NV200 is 160 mm longer than the diesel version, thanks in large part to a lengthened front section, resulting in improved pedestrian safety. This is useful in a van with such a quiet powertrain, although there is also an on-board sound generator that makes noise at speeds below 50 km/h. The new nose gets the charge point under the blue chrome badge, new LED strips in the lights and 15-inch alloy wheels.
The main benefit of buying an electric van will be running costs - the e-NV200 is likely to save owners a lot of money. Nissan reckons on €2/100km (compared with €11/100km for a thermal vehicle).
For a compact van, the e-NV200 offers plenty of load space: like the NV200 diesel, it has 4.2 cubic metres of volume in the rear, with a load compartment measuring 2.04 metres. With an optional folding passenger seat that extends to 2.8 metres and a width of 1.22 metres at its narrowest point, the load compartment can hold two pallets.
However, as with any electric vehicle, the range could deter buyers. Although the 200-kilometre range is more than sufficient for LCV journeys, it's unlikely that this model will be used for long journeys in a single trip.
More limited on the motorway, the e-NV200's top speed is 122 km/h and will be reduced to 96 km/h when the battery is very low to optimise the vehicle's range.
It takes 6 hours to fully recharge the vehicle using a domestic charging point, or around 16 hours using a domestic socket. Fast charging enables the vehicle to be recharged from 0 to 80% in 40 minutes from a domestic socket. fast terminal and is perfect for charging and discharging at a stop with a charge point. Charging is carried out using Type 2 and Type 3 adapters. CHadeMO for fast charging.
All e-NV200 vans have six load-securing points in the floor, and the bulkhead is available in several forms, including tubular, all-steel and with a window. The five-seater Combi has folding rear seats, but these cannot be removed and reduce load space.
The e-NV200 includes hill-start assist, a reversing camera and a beeping sound when reversing, to make it easier to get around town and avoid bumps and scratches.
The interior of the e-NV200 is much the same as that of the NV200. However, it takes a few key features from the Nissan Leaf that enhance its shape.
We're a little disappointed by the quality of the plastics, but the e-NV200 uses the gloss black centre console from the Leaf, which incorporates satellite navigation, air conditioning and radio. The steering wheel and instrument display are also taken from the Leaf. Equipment includes Bluetooth, USB, reversing camera, air conditioning, heated seats and a heated steering wheel.
The gear selector is fairly compact, but there could be more space around the driver given the size of the cab. Headroom is good, however.
Our video test of the Nissan e-NV200
Similar to its sibling, the Nissan Leaf and its technology, it is the result of the experience acquired by the brand since 2011. The electric motor produces 254 Nm of torque, enabling the van to remain agile.
The e-NV200 excels at city driving, thanks to the electric motor's instant response and unique gear ratio. It couldn't be easier to drive in a city traffic jam.
The e-NV200 beats its combustion-powered sibling in payload, at 770kg, and although the batteries are stored in the floor, the load height is just 524mm. Access is easy, with a sliding door on each side, plus the option of double doors at the rear or a tailgate lift.
On faster roads, however, the e-NV200 can feel out of its comfort zone, with some rather unpleasant rocking when there's no load at the back. There's a fair amount of body roll when cornering, but it's more fun to drive than the NV200 diesel thanks to the high-torque electric motor and light steering.
The e-NV200 is more fun to drive than the classic NV200 thanks to its new engine, but the Ford Transit Connect still outperforms it in terms of driving pleasure.
Nissan e-NV200 trim levels and prices
Some models are available with a system called Carwings, which allows the driver to start the air conditioning before entering it using a smartphone app. The app also allows you to start and stop charging, and monitor battery levels.
Priced at €37,788, the Nissan e-NV200 has a lot going for it in the French LCV market. In addition to the €7,000 environmental bonus, as a professional you can benefit from a number of grants (an extra €6,000 in the Ile de France region, for example), which will enable the e-NV200 to approach the fateful €25,000 mark.
