VW Westfalia Camper Van Spiritual Successor: Nissan e-NV200 Camper

DalburyE Nissan e-NV200 camper van conversion by Hillside Leisure

If you've had your heart set on a modern interpretation of the old Volkswagen Westphalia camper van, you're in luck.

A British company called Hillside Leisure will offer a camper conversion of the Nissan e-NV200 small electric van.

Called the DalburyE, the electric camper van comes complete with a pop-up roof, gas stove, refrigerator, onboard water tank, and low-voltage LED lighting, according toTransport Evolved.

Based on small or mid-size vans, camper vans are still popular in Europe. They're a step up from camping in a tent, but their small size makes these vans a bit more manageable than a full-size recreational vehicle (RV) or trailer.

Hillside Leisure already offers conversions of the internal-combustion NV200, so modifying its plug-in sibling was fairly straightforward.

DalburyE Nissan e-NV200 camper van conversion by Hillside Leisure

No modifications were made to the electric powertrain, which includes an 80-kilowatt (110 horsepower) electric motor and 24-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, both borrowed from the Nissan Leaf electric car.

Hillside Leisure estimates range at 106 miles per charge--on the optimistic European testing cycle--with a governed top speed of 76 mph.

These are the same figures quoted by Nissan for the U.K. version of the stock e-NV200, but the extra weight of the camping gear will likely blunt performance a bit.

At least many campsites and trailer parks already offer access to electrical outlets, so drivers can charge while they camp, albeit at a slower rate than with a conventional Level 2 charging station.

The e-NV200 is already on sale in Europe and Japan, but Nissan hasn't confirmed whether it will bring the electric van to the U.S.

If it does, a similar conversion could offer buyers a greener alternative to the traditional RV, provided they're willing to move at a slightly slower pace.

Source: Green Car Reports

Nissan e-NV200 Electric Delivery Van Launching Next Year

While Nissan has reportedly invested over a billion dollars into electric vehicles, so far the Nissan Leaf is the only model they’re selling. But come next year, the all-electric Nissan e-NV200 delivery van is set to go into production, and it could have big implications for commercial fleet owners.

The Nissan e-NV200, which debuted at last year’s Detroit Auto Show, is basically a Nissan Leaf with the body of a van. The e-NV200 has the same 110-horsepower electric motor and 24 kWh battery pack, though it is likely less aerodynamic and heavier than the Leaf, which will affect the range. But for local business owners with drivers who never stray far from home, the e-NV200 could drastically cut the costs of doing business, though it probably won’t get much more than 70 miles per charge if you factor in a full payload.

This is the first commercial electric vehicle from Nissan (unless you count the NYC Leaf taxicabs), and its best chance of success is in Europe, where fuel prices are often over $8.00 a gallon. Not only that, but many European governments offer generous tax incentives and grants to buy electric vehicles. That said, this is Nissan’s second delay for e-NV200 production.

Though Nissan Leaf sales have really started to surge, the Japanese automaker could hit a serious sweet spot with commercial EV sales. Though the mass market for commuter EVs hasn’t exactly caught fire, commercial electric vehicles could arrive at a time when gas prices are eeking upwards and concerns about global oil consumption.

Nissan plans to follow up the e-NV200 with the NT400-based box truck with Leaf’s electric motor but 87 miles of range, about 20% more than the Leaf. If the commercial EV market takes off, Nissan will be ready to pounce.

Source: Nissan

Coca-Cola Central Japan to field test Nissan e-NV200 electric van ahead of market launch

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is providing Coca-Cola with the e-NV200, a battery-electric light commercial vehicle, for field testing starting in mid-November.

Coca-Cola’s regional organization, Coca-Cola Central Japan Co., Ltd., will use Nissan’s multipurpose commercial van as regional sales vehicle in Yokohama, evaluating its performance and practical usability against conventional internal-combustion engine vehicles. The van will be recharged only at night when electricity consumption is low. The test will determine if the nightly charge is sufficient to meet user needs during the day. Overall, Nissan is looking for feedback as to e-NV200’s suitability for commercial use.

Nissan has already road tested the e-NV200 this year with several other major companies, including AEON Retail Co., Ltd., FedEx Express and British Gas in Japan and Europe. Nissan is using the feedback from the field testing to refine and enhance the final development of e-NV200, scheduled to launch by fiscal year 2014. The commercial vehicle will be Nissan’s second mass-produced battery-electric vehicle, following the LEAF. The e-NV200 uses the LEAF powertrain.

Nissan FedEx e-NV200 electric concept van delivers in Germany

It looks like Nissan made a special delivery at the Commercial Vehicle International Motor Show in Hanover, Germany, this week: a special concept version of the battery-electric e-NV200 panel van that it's been testing with FedEx since late last year.

The Japanese automaker, whose EV e-NV200 has the same 24-kWh battery and 80-kW motor as theNissan Leaf, started testing the vehicle with FedEx in London last December and expanded that effort to Yokohama, Japan, this past summer.

Nissan says more testing will be done with FedEx in Singapore, Brazil and the U.S. The vehicle will likely include an option that allows it to be 80-percent recharged in 30 minutes using a DC fast charger. More in Nissan's press release below.

Nissan to begin production of e-NV200 electric LCV in FY 2013 at Barcelona

Nissan will begin production of its e-NV200 battery-electric compact van into production at its Barcelona plant in FY 2013, which will become the sole producer of the EV. The new model will be based on the existing NV200 currently produced at the plant.

e-NV200 will become Nissan’s second all-electric vehicle (EV) following the LEAF. The new model, which represents a €100 million investment by Nissan in Spain, is expected to create around 700 new jobs at the plant and throughout its local supplier base.
Nissan says that the addition of the e-NV200 to the Barcelona production slate highlights the growing competitiveness of Nissan’s Spanish industrial operations. Nissan last week allocated a new medium duty truck to the Avila Plant in central Spain.
The current NV200 line up has already sold around 100,000 units, and has been chosen as the next-generation New York City Taxi of Tomorrow. Currently, evaluations of prototype NV200-based electric vehicles are being carried out in Europe. Trials will continue in coming months.