Nissan, FedEx to test electric e-NV200 van in Washington, D.C.

Nissan and FedEx Express have announced the start of a test program that will see the all-electric e-NV200 van put to use in real-world conditions as part of the delivery company’s fleet in Washington, D.C.

The tests, which mirror similar studies that have taken place in Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and Brazil, are intended to help determine if the e-NV200 is up to the task of serving as a greener alternative to traditional U.S. delivery vehicles.

The e-NV200 utilizes a variant of Nissan Leaf‘s electric drivetrain that provides an estimated range of up to 73 miles. Charging can be accomplished with either 120V or 240V electrical outlets, and a quick charge port can restore 80 percent of battery capacity in roughly 30 minutes.

Drivetrain aside, the e-NV200 is essentially identical to the standard NV200, a Ford Transit Connect-fighting small van that launched in the U.S. last spring.

“We’re eager to work with FedEx and other companies to put the e-NV200 through its paces to continue to build awareness of the capability of electric vehicles and to evaluate how well it meets the needs of the commercial consumer,” Erik Gottfried, Nissan director of Electric Vehicle Sales and Marketing, said in a statement. “We’d also like to explore clever uses of EVs in work environments where carbon emissions of gas-powered vehicles make them impractical or impossible to use.”

Nissan has committed to eventually launching a taxi version of the e-NV200 for New York City, where its gas-powered sibling is currently utilized as a cab, but general retail sales are still up in the air.

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