Portland, already a top breeding ground for electric vehicle (EV) sales, is now the proving ground for Nissan’s prototype electric commercial vehicle – the Nissan e-NV200.

Nissan is working in collaboration with Portland General Electric (PGE) on a six-week trial to help determine the viability of an electric commercial vehicle in the U.S. market. PGE has assigned the e-NV200 into its fleet of vehicles with an underground crew, replacing a larger, diesel-powered van. Nissan plans to salt e-NV200 this summer in Europe and later this year in Japan.

“Oregon has been a top five market for Nissan LEAF sales in the U.S. due to proactive policies at the state level to encourage EV adoption, as well as robust charging infrastructure championed by the state and others like PGE,” said Toby Perry, Nissan’s director of EV Marketing in the U.S. “If we determine that e-NV200 fits into the U.S. commercial vehicle market, we expect that Portland would be a leading driver for sales as well.”

This year, Nissan is deploying two e-NV200 prototypes with companies such as PGE and FedEx in top U.S. EV markets including California, Georgia, Oregon and Washington, D.C. to determine how businesses could use an all-electric cargo van to meet their day-to-day requirements. Companies replacing gas-powered vehicles with electric vehicles like e-NV200 could enjoy a substantial reduction in operating costs and vehicle maintenance, while lowering their vehicle emissions footprint, just like owners of the all-electric Nissan LEAF.

“EVs have already demonstrated their value as a sustainable choice for personal use, and fleet electrification is the logical next step,” said Charlie Allcock, director, business development at PGE. “We’re excited to see firsthand the impact the e-NV200 can have on our own fleet and to help other companies understand the potential it represents for them.”