Japanese motor manufacturer Nissan has announced the start of field testing for its new e-NV200 100 percent electric compact van in Saitama City, a city that has also expressed enthusiasm for an increase in the number of electric vehicles (EV’s) on its roads as a step towards improving the city’s air quality. The vehicle will be used as a field testing car for deliveries between Saitama City Hall and various city offices.
Saitama is keen to promote electric vehicles and is linking up with a number of stakeholders through its E-KIZUNA project which commenced in 2009. The project promotes EV’s as a way in which to address climate change and achieve a sustainable low-carbon society. Nissan signed up to the project when it first started and is actively discussing and cooperating with city officials with regard to building a charging infrastructure, creating and promoting demand and developing incentives and community awareness. The initial field testing for the e-NV200 van forms part of this commitment.
The test-bed vehicle will be assessed as it travels through the city conducting regular business. It will be evaluated for environmental-friendliness, usability and economy. The van is based on the NV200 van and the e-NV200 100 percent electric car, the latter having been the subject of field testing since 2011 with tests in Japan being conducted by AEONMALL Corporation and Coca-Cola Central Japan Co., Ltd. In Europe, British Gas has also been testing the vehicle while in Singapore FedEx Express has also included the vehicle in its comprehensive global field testing programme. As and when testing is complete, the e-NV200 commercial vehicle will be the second Nissan EV to be sold globally, following the Nissan LEAF.
As well as developing EVs Nissan is also actively engaged in comprehensive efforts to promote sustainable mobility including the production of lithium-ion batteries and developing the EV charging infrastructure and proprietary speed-charging equipment. The company is Japan’s second-largest automotive company with headquarters in Yokohama.
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