e-NV200: Real World Testing

2014/06/11

 e-NV200: Real World Testing

An integral part of e-NV200's development has been a series of real-world trials, placing the vehicle in the hands of customers

• Prototype and pre-production models in pilot trials
• Second-by-second data logging feedback to Nissan HQ
• Trials considered an ‘overwhelming positive experience'
• Fleet orders follow successful extended test at British Gas

Like all new Nissan vehicles, e-NV200 has undergone extensive testing both in the laboratory, on test tracks and in the field before being passed for production. Unlike most Nissan vehicles, however, prototype and pre-production models have also been involved in a series of trial tests in the hands of potential customers, including extensive testing British Gas that resulted in a significant vehicle order.

These trials, which have taken place in a number of cities in Japan and Europe over the past three years, have seen the vehicles joining existing fleets over test periods ranging from two to eight months.

As well as testing e-NV200's suitability for specific roles, the trial programme was designed to provide real-world feedback to Nissan so that improvements and enhancements could be incorporated into production models.

One of the first organisations to take delivery of a prototype model was the Japan Post Office - the e-NV200 was used for delivery and collection duties in Nissan's home city of Yokohama in 2011.

Later that year, another prototype was loaned to FedEx and British Gas in London for appraisal, with further companies joining the programme in 2012.

As a result of that feedback more extensive programmes were devised. The largest was a UK nationwide pilot programme which saw British Gas running 28 pre-production vans for between six and eight months over the winter of 2013/2014.

British Gas currently runs a fleet of 16,500 vehicles, 13,000 of which are vans. It is the company's intention that 10 percent of its total commercial fleet will be 100 percent electric by 2017.

The trial programme was such a success that British Gas has now placed an order for 100 e-NV200 vehicles, 50 of which will be delivered immediately with the second half or the order in place by the end of the year.

Colin Marriott, head of fleet at British Gas, said: "The trial has been an overwhelmingly positive experience. Even though we were using pre-production vehicles and the parts infrastructure was not yet in place, we had absolutely no problems at all despite covering more than 70,000 miles in total.

"Well, there was one problem: the drivers were very reluctant to hand their e-NV200s back at the end of the trial."

Working with Hitachi Capital Commercial Vehicle Solutions, which managed the fleet operation, and Gateshead College, which worked with Fleet Master to operate a driver-training programme, British Gas were investigating the suitability of e-NV200 in specific areas of its fleet operations.

"We already have a number of NV200 vehicles on our fleet so we knew the base vehicles fitted our requirements, so we were able to concentrate on the EV aspect of the van.

"We specifically chose to run the test over the winter months to see how the cold weather conditions would affect the operation of the vehicle," said Marriott.

The 28 vehicles were operated by home-based, rather than depot-based, engineers, and all had chargers installed at their homes so they could recharge over night.

Positives were immediately apparent. "From the moment they got behind the wheel all the drivers commented on how easy it was to drive. The training programme concentrated on showing them how to get the most out of the vehicle, how to extract the best possible range and how to charge the vehicle safely and effectively," said Marriott.

For example, drivers were encouraged to save energy by using the heated driver's seat and steering wheel for point of contact warmth, rather than heat the entire cabin and impact on range.

Steve Cummings, a British Gas support engineer from South Wear in the UK, confirmed how popular the pioneering EV van was with the chosen testers.

"It was a dream to drive and as quiet as a mouse. Easy to drive, too, though as I'd never driven an automatic before I found I had to concentrate more on using just two pedals than on the fact it was an electric vehicle."

Another feature coming in for specific praise included the ‘remarkable' hill start system, a standard feature on all e-NV200s.

"Using with a fully laden vehicle in the depths of winter, we calculated our safe range at 112 km (70 miles). With most of our drivers covering 48 km (30 miles) a day, this range was perfectly adequate," added Marriott.

The drivers weren't the only people at British Gas to love the vehicle. Apart from zero tailpipe emissions, the company accountants appreciated the notably lower running costs.

"We have an immensely sophisticated Total Cost of Ownership model which can accurately predict the running cost benefits of e-NV200, despite its higher capital cost. As well as significant savings in fuel costs, our predictions suggest that servicing costs alone will be 75 percent that of running an equivalent diesel model," said Marriott.

"Servicing costs are lower because there are fewer moving parts, while EV-specific features like regenerative braking also helps lower costs.  For example, brake pad wear currently accounts for around 25 percent of all servicing costs on a conventional van, but e-NV200's regenerative braking requires less use of the brakes so this figure reduces dramatically."

While no physical changes have been proposed for the vehicles following the trial period, British Gas has made some specification demands for its new fleet.

"We are a very safety conscious company and all our e-NV200s will have the reversing camera option" said Marriott

Direct feedback was also provided by on board data logging systems, which relayed second-by-second information to Nissan, providing real time detail on driving styles, charging procedures and operating range.

Said Marriott: "We have tested every commercial EV on the market, and have chosen e-NV200 for our fleet due to the suitability of NV200 for our work, coupled with Nissan's undoubted EV knowhow as proven by Nissan LEAF."