Electrical Contracting News (ECN) June 2017 | Page 43

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES & EV INFRASTRUCTURE
back into my own car two days later).
The eerie silence that remains even after
starting the vehicle takes some getting
used to, but the fake engine noise function
is particularly useful if you are setting off
in an area with lots of pedestrians. The cab
is comfortable and boasts a commanding
driving position, and the screen in the
centre of the dashboard provides all of your
audio and satnav requirements, as well as
rear vision for reversing.
Charging
The van is well suited to a working life in
the UK’s cities and towns. Fully charged
it has a range of 106 miles. The battery
can be recharged overnight in eight
hours using a domestic 16A single phase
3.3kW charger – perfect if e-NV200 is not
operating around the clock – but this time
reduces to just four hours if the optional
6.6kW/32A charger is fitted and a suitable
supply is used.
Alternatively, a dedicated CHAdeMO
DC 50kW quick charger can recharge the
battery to 80 per cent capacity in as little
as 30 minutes or less if the battery still
holds some charge, meaning that the
e-NV200 can be charged while it is being
loaded with goods for another delivery,
for example. However, as someone who
endures a 60-mile round trip for work
every day, my paranoia over reaching
a charger in time still remains. At one
charging station I visited the charger
wasn’t working and even a phonecall
to the helpline didn’t seem to solve the
problem. This is where fuel powered
vehicles still hold the bragging rights – if
you’re low on fuel you know there will be
a petrol station within the next few miles
and you’ll be able to fill up in just a few
minutes and be set for the next 300 miles
at least.
Load
For a compact van, the e-NV200 offers a
lot of load space: Like the diesel NV200
it has 4.2m 3 of volume in the rear and
a load bay of 2.04m – with the optional
folding passenger seat that extends to
2.8m. Easy access is provided with a
sliding door on each side, plus there’s the
option of double doors at the rear or a
lifting tailgate.
The cab is
comfortable
and boasts a
commanding
driving position.
SPECIAL
FEATURE
Verdict
It certainly won’t suit everyone’s needs –
while it is perfectly capable on faster roads
with a top speed of 76mph, the shorter
range of electric vehicles means it will still
put off buyers that cover more miles during
their working week.
However, I did have a lot of fun in the
e-NV200. For short journeys and zipping
around a city environment this is probably
the easiest van I’ve driven, and the low
running costs will certainly appeal to
small businesses.