Nissan's E-NV200 electric minivan concept begs the question: Can minivan's ever be cool?

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We’ll be honest and say that we haven’t really given minivans much love in the past. Of course you can’t really blame us. Typically minivans aren’t the most fun or exciting cars; they’re often big and bulky gas guzzlers that are just plain boring to drive. But it looks like Nissan is trying to change all that, at least a little, with its new E-NV200 concept minivan.

It’s important to note that cars, by nature, are generally a very visceral experience. We don’t always like what we “should” but rather what looks “cool”, or feels good to drive. That’s nothing new of course, it’s part of human nature — some of us are just more practical than others.

With that being said, Nissan’s EV minivan checks some boxes in our book when it comes to style. In addition to a spacious and pseudo-futuristic glass roof panel, the car features a slick touch display, LCD instrument, and can seat five passengers comfortably 

Even though we love Nissan’s Leaf, there isn’t a great deal of cabin or cargo space. That might serve well for quick trips to the grocery store, but what about taking your brood to soccer practice? The E-NV200 is not only Nissan’s attempt to inject some much needed spice in the mini-van segment, but also a way to offer up a zero-emissions electric alternative while providing greater utility and a larger passenger capacity often lacking in many of today’s EVs.

While Nissan’s electric E-NV200 seeks to address concerns regarding cargo and space, it’s also looking to offer a viable green alternative when it comes to fuel economy. The concept minivan is designed to achieve a comparable driving range to the Leaf, and features a similar drivetrain comprised of a 48-module lithium-ion battery powering an 80 kW motor.

Details such as pricing, or when and if the E-NV200 will be available to purchase, are still unclear, but given that the car is planned for use in New York’s ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’ project gives us a good indication that it most likely will make it to commercial production.

 

This article was originally posted on Digital Trends

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