Other renewables

Nissan Announces e-NV200 As It Plans For More Electric Vehicles

Nissan Motor Co. it’s investing 100 million euros ($127 million) at a plant in Barcelona making electric vehicles, creating 700 jobs.

Production of the e-NV200 model starts next year and becomes the second fully electric vehicle produced at the plant, according to an e-mailed statement today from Nissan. Nissan also produces the Leaf electric car and aims to be the biggest producer of light commercial vehicles by 2016.

“The new model will offer all the spaciousness, versatility and practicality of a traditionally powered compact van, but with zero CO2 emissions,” Andy Palmer, executive vice president for Nissan, said in the statement today.

The new model is based on the existing NV200 van in production, which has sold about 100,000 units. The jobs will be both at the Nissan plant and with local suppliers. The concept for the e–VN200 had been first shown January at the Detroit Motor Show, and Nissan’s confirmation today says it will be built in Barcelona.

Nissan is sinking €41 million ($51.5 million) into the project estimated to create 700 jobs for Nissan and Spanish suppliers.

More than just a light-duty commercial vehicle, the e-NV200 will also be equipped as a family hauler, and Nissan heralded its second EV as a groundbreaking endeavor toward its goal of taking over 10 percent of the auto market by 2020.

"e-NV200 represents a genuine breakthrough in commercial vehicles and further underlines Nissan’s leadership within the electric vehicle segment, said Andy Palmer, Nissan Executive Vice President. "The new model will offer all the spaciousness, versatility and practicality of a traditionally powered compact van, but with zero CO2 emission at the point of use and provides outstanding driving experience that is unique to EV’s. "Crucially, it will also offer class-leading running and maintenance costs which makes it an exceptionally attractive proposition to both businesses and families."

Nissan says the e-NV200 will deliver a driving range similar to the Nissan LEAF on which it is based, along with similar performance, “with best in class running and maintenance costs.”

www.nissan.es