Streets ahead: Nissan is saving the ice cream van

Let’s ignore the fact that Nissan chose the UK of all places to launch an EV with solar panels on the roof for a second and look at how the Japanese brand is solving a problem we didn’t even know we had: ice cream guilt. Yes, it’s a thing AND a climate change metaphor!

Ice cream vans are old. They are usually diesel-powered, they drive around the streets for hours and they are kept running when stationary, pumping fumes into the air. They may not be the most common car on the road these days, but with new technology, Nissan is spearheading a comeback - at the very least as a cool way to show off the new all-electric e-NV200 light commercial vehicle, which uses repurposed batteries from Nissan’s older generation of Leaf EV.

As part of the UK’s Clean Air Day earlier this week, Nissan partnered with ice cream brand and renewable energy-powered company, Mackies of Scotland, to show off the zero-emissions van as another way it can be used to bring joy, both commercially, socially and environmentally, especially in the UK where councils are actually banning Mr Whippy vans because of their environmental impact. Instead of the usual jingle, the EV ice cream van sent out clues via tweets to hint soft serve lovers of its location.

3

Launched last year, the e-NV200 has already been trialled by many commercial companies around the world, including Japan’s postal service, FedEx in the UK and as part of numerous taxi fleets around Europe. It has a 40kWh battery with a WLTP range claim of 200kms and is packed with a number of the Energy Roam reused batteries for on-board power, each of which can be charged in one to two hours (with fast charging), or via the vehicle’s solar panels, fixed on the roof of the van.

This EV concept shows off the versatility and potential of Nissan's most-loved van, not to mention the endless possibilities of the Energy Roam repurposed batteries. What would you want to turn it into? Tell us in the comments below!