Nissan e-NV200: electric power no compromise to practicality

Verdict:  Comfortable, quiet and electric power doesn’t compromise practicality or versatility

The interior of the Nissan e-NV200 is refined and feels sturdy.

Business Vans Verdict:

The verdict on the e-NV200 is almost completely black and white, with few shades of grey.

If you can’t live with the limited range between charges of today’s electric vehicles, then the e-NV200, however attractive, is not for you.

If, though, your vans belong to the 35 per cent of those in Europe  that never cover more than 120km (about 75 miles) in a day, the e-NV200 is extremely attractive.

The main advantages in use are the very quiet drive-train (a back-to-back comparison drive with the diesel was very instructive here) and excellent low-end torque for easy town driving, which should mean getting through long days at the wheel in a far less frazzled state.

The biggest plus, though, are the potential financial savings. Tot up all the tax breaks and the promise of cheaper servicing, and the e-NV200 starts to nose ahead of its diesel sister.

Add in the advantage of exemption from the London Congestion Charge and over the life of the van, Nissan reckons the savings can enter five-figure territory, which should be enough to make even the most EV-sceptic van buyer stop and think.