Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is teaming up with FedEx Express, the world's largest express transportation company, to conduct field tests for its 100% electric e-NV200 commercial vehicle in Singapore. This road test is part of the comprehensive field testing program announced jointly by the two companies at the Hannover Motor Show (Germany) last fall. The vehicle is scheduled to launch in 2014.
Upon completion in Singapore, the test program will be extended to other countries, such as Brazil and the United States. Prior to the joint announcement, the two companies had also tested the same model in the U.K. and in Japan. The two companies, both of which are strongly committed to improving the environmental impact of their operations, selected Singapore as the first field testing ground in this comprehensive program due to the country's proactive stance in its environmental policies, including countermeasures against air pollution.
During the field test, Nissan will provide FedEx Express with a monitor e-NV200 vehicle for use as a delivery vehicle in the city for one month. After one month, the companies will evaluate the vehicle's potential for the delivery of international air cargo. The results will be reflected in future development of the model.
The 100% electric e-NV200 commercial vehicle, scheduled to launch in 2014, is the second EV (electric vehicle) model to be sold globally, preceded only by the Nissan LEAF. The e-NV200 commercial vehicle establishes Nissan's leadership in the zero-emissions domain even more firmly, and at the same time, contributes significantly toward innovation in the commercial vehicle market. The model offers all of the spaciousness, versatility, and practicality of its base vehicle, the multipurpose commercial van NV200. It also comes with an advanced performance that can only be achieved through the powertrain of the Nissan LEAF. The e-NV200 provides exceptionally smooth acceleration and quietness, driving characteristics that are unique to electric vehicles, while keeping CO2 emissions zero at the point of use. The vehicle also displays great potential for use in various fields of business, with its advanced telematics system and power-supply function in the cargo compartment. Additionally, the model's enviable cost of ownership—a priority for many companies—will be a highly attractive attribute when it competes in the commercial vehicle marketplace.
As a leader in zero-emission mobility, Nissan is developing electric vehicles while engaged in comprehensive efforts to expand the use of electric vehicles and promote sustainable mobility. These initiatives extend from producing lithium ion batteries, recycling and reusing these batteries, to developing the EV charging infrastructure and proprietary speed charging equipment. Furthermore, the Renault-Nissan Alliance has already concluded more than 100 partnerships related to zero emission mobility with national and local governments, and corporations, throughout the world.
