Nissan to offer zero-emissions e-NV200 commercial van in 2014

We all know that if there's one thing that delivery trucks like to do (UPS trucks excepted), it's to idle loudly in front of your home or office while filling the air with exhaust fumes as their drivers fill out paperwork on one of those metal pads. Scientific opinion around the world is split as to why delivery truck drivers do this, but one generally accepted explanation put forth by a group of Swiss scientists is that delivery truck drivers don't pay for their own fuel, and need to keep the radio on to listen to sports while filling out invoices.

Well, Nissan is about to change all that, at least when it comes to eliminating the exhaust fumes generated by light commercial vehicles, with the introduction of the Nissan e-NV200 Zero Emission Van in the near future. So at least when these vans will be idling for hours at a time in front of your building while their drivers fill out paperwork they'll be making a noise no louder than the futuristic electric hum of the cars in the 1997 film "Gattaca."

Nissan has been working with several large commercial fleets since 2011 in developing the e-NV200 Zero Emission Van, which is scheduled to launch next year. This will be a pure-electric commercial van, created with goals like CO2 reduction and noise reduction in mind, using all of Nissan's electric powertrain know-how. The NV200 has already become a solid hit since its introduction to the North American market, and electric powertrain technology is rapidly becoming usable and economical for commercial vehicles. With the e-NV200, Nissan has worked to achieve smooth acceleration and quietness of operation in developing the van, which will be Nissan's second zero-emissions production vehicle (after the Leaf, of course) when production starts up next year.

Hideto Murakami, corporate vice president of Nissan said the following recently: "The e-NV200 will offer all the spaciousness, versatility and practicality of a traditional diesel or gas-powered compact van, but with zero CO2 or other pollutant emissions at the point of use. What's more, it will provide an outstanding driving experience that is unique to EVs. E-NV200 represents a bold and innovative addition to our commercial vehicle range, which is already one of the broadest of any manufacturer."

When it goes on sale next year, Nissan is counting on the fact that the e-NV200 will be allowed into extra-urban environments where other commercial vehicles aren't allowed due to environmental or traffic regulations. Likewise, the e-NV200 may be able to operate in areas where similar vehicles aren't permitted due to noise regulations.

By Jay Ramey