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[=” ” ]Update: The federal government now has the Promotion of e-mobility decided, We are therefore updating once again the e-car articles, tests and driving reports. This original article is from the 04. December 2015
Anyone looking for an electric car has already had a very interesting selection: small cars, compact cars, super sports cars and vans share modern drive technology. But what was still missing was a minibus with up to seven seats. However, this year Nissan presented it in the form of a practical e-cube.
Nissan e-NV 200: Families have never been so quiet on the road
Test & driving report of the electric seven-seater
With a conventional diesel or gasoline engine, the “classic brother” of the e-van has been able to move on German roads since 2011. Whereby the success, despite a similar idea, is clearly restrained, especially in comparison with the VW Bully. Okay - that Evalia (that's his name) is a little smaller. Its target group is clearly defined. The 4,56 meter short five- to seven-seater, with its combination of handiness and clever use of space, offers something that currently has no competition. Nevertheless - one can remain skeptical. Even the powertrain taken over from the Nissan Leaf is unlikely to let the numbers explode.
Technical donor: Nissan Leaf
The Japanese can take over the entire drive technology, including the battery, from the Leaf, the transformation to the commercial vehicle series has also already been completed, as the panel van version of the Evalia has recently been running under the more prosaic name e through the country. The Evalia cannot deny that one descends from the e-NV 200 farm animal. It is a rather - positive than easy-care - analogously but simple choice of materials for the interior. In addition, there is, let's put it that way, robust workmanship. On the driver's seat there is still the badly flattened steering wheel, which immediately makes the associations “bus driver” jump towards you.
However, the descent from the “user expert” also has positive sides. An incredibly good overview, for example. This also includes problem-free maneuvering and parking with the e-family truck. And of course: practical sliding side doors. These are not only positively noticeable in tight parking spaces, they also make it much easier to get into the third row of seats. Otherwise, however, it is as narrow as is usual below the MPV class and is especially suitable for children. Not much is left of the luggage compartment when the seats are fully seated. In nominal terms, 444 liters fit behind the large hatch, but they mainly move upwards.
E = special²
What's the Evalia among its competitors like the VW Caddy, Ford Tourneo Custom and what makes the Mercedes Citan special is its electric drive. The electric motor from the Nissan Leaf sends 109 hp to the front wheels, the top is limited to just over 120 km / h (123). From a standing start, it takes 14 seconds for the speedometer needle to pass the number “100”. Nissan names a range of up to 167 kilometers per battery charge. This is more than sufficient for city traffic and also seems realistic. However, only those who stay away from the motorways. Basically “the faster the empty” is the motto for new e-mobilists.
But the short, narrow and tall minibus benefits from the electric drive. The batteries built into the underbody adjust the otherwise unfavorably high center of gravity, the extra weight of around 200 kilograms compared to the gasoline engine ensures surprisingly fine roadholding even when unloaded. In addition, there is the typical e-mobile advantage: the power that can be called up directly. There is no need to switch, not couple, or stir in the aisles. There is no turbo lag, no Nm mountains. which you have to climb first. Right from the start-always- there is a torque of 254 Nm. With the Evalia, this ensures moments of surprise for sports car drivers at the traffic lights and enables them to meander through the relaxed city traffic. That doesn't change anything about the Evalia's quaint, own set-up. At heart he is a “doer”, a “commercial vehicle derivative”, with more seats and carpeting.
But you can also travel very comfortably with the rigid axle and leaf springs. The lack of engine noise is comfortable. In the city, however, this also requires extra attention because pedestrians hardly hear the Evalia either. Despite the “space shuttle sound” from the speakers.
Beam me up - where and where with the energy?
Refilling the battery takes around ten hours at a normal socket. A good four hours of patience are required when the cable is connected to a 32-ampere charging station. It only takes half an hour with Nissan's own “gas pump” with 50 kW high-voltage direct current, of which there are currently only 60 in Germany.
We have selected a mobile charging box with Typ2 jack for the Evalia. The us was made available Loading box from car-go-electric.de, Thanks to the 22 kW charger, the box would be able to feed the 24 kWh battery with fresh ions in a reasonable amount of time. Unfortunately, the e-NV 200 offers only 2 kW charging current via the type 6.6 plug.
The necessary connection with ChaDeMo standard is the Evalia but at least already on board. There are also numerous typical car items such as climate control, touch screen multimedia system and even a heated steering wheel.
Prices start at 36.766 euros including the battery. If you prefer to rent the battery than buy it, you only pay 30.870 euros on delivery, but must also spend at least 87 euros per month (36 months, 10.000 km / year). The list of surcharges is short, in addition to the third seat for 741 euros and a 6,6 kW charging connection (1.074 euros), it also includes metallic paint (452 euros), parking beeper (from 143 euros) and a few optics upgrades.
