The Nissan e-NV200 compact van, which combines an alternative power system with a large cargo capacity, has won the German Commercial Vehicle Award for 2016.

This is the first award to be given in a special category of ‘Electrically Driven Urban Delivery Vehicle’ and will be awarded on September 23, 2016 at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover.

The German Commercial Vehicle Award is given by the German-language trade publications ‘handwerk-magazin’ and the ‘Deutschen Handwerks Zeitung’, and it is considered an important indicator within the sector. The award is based on the opinions of tradespeople. Every vehicle undergoes detailed testing over a two-day period. A total of 15 business proprietors and master craftspeople from different trades took part in this year's testing who, in addition to testing standard diesel-driven vans, also examined electric vans for the first time.

Despite its electric motor and 24-kWh battery with a range of up to 170 km, the e-NV200’s cargo capacity remains almost identical to a standard powered NV200. With a cargo compartment in excess of 4.2 m3 and a maximum payload of 770kg – the highest in its class – there is plenty of space for two euro pallets. Loading and unloading is made easy via sliding doors on the vehicle's sides and wide opening rear doors.

Tradespeople also benefit from a noiseless and emission-free power unit with less maintenance needed than conventional engines, which regularly require oil changes and belt and spark plug replacements. This translates into 40 percent lower servicing costs compared to combustion-engine vehicles.