Could an all-electric van work for your business?

The 100% electric Nissan e-NV200’s driving and performance characteristics have drawn positive comments

NISSAN’S all-electric e-NV200 has been given a thumbs-up by leasing firms as well as companies running van fleets after they drove the vehicle during a two-day trip to the manufacturer’s plant in Barcelona.

Representatives from five leasing companies, six major fleet operators and three used value guides recently visited the Barcelona production facility and tested the new e-NV200, a diesel NV200 model and the LEAF.

All delegates reacted positively to the 100% electric van’s driving and performance characteristics, says Nissan, and many were many keen to put the vehicle into immediate use.

The group also met the development team behind the e-NV200 and were able to provide feedback on all aspects of the vehicle, including how they saw it fitting into a fleet strategy.

Nissan also shared its overall vision for electric vehicles including product creation, development and future EV plans.

Nissan’s national LCV sales manager Matthew Dale told Business Vans: “We were blown away with the response and we already have leasing companies and fleet operators who want to trial the vehicle, and some who want to order a fleet of vehicles for urban delivery use.

The Nissan e-NV200’s charging panel

“After driving the vehicle on the two-day trip they could immediately see the business benefit of running electric vans across specific parts of a fleet. Commercial vehicles are working tools and our guests recognised both the savings in fuel costs and reduced emissions offered by the e-NV200,” he said.

Based on the vehicle’s practicality and whole-life costs, used prices for the e-NV200 should be strong, the used-van guide representatives said. They believed there was a definite role for the e-NV200 from a residual value perspective, with a second and third life in the business van secondhand market.

The Barcelona evaluation follows trials with major fleets including British Gas and FedEx in 2012. The e-NV200 is expected to go on sale in 2014.