Nissan Kicks Off Townstar EV Production

• Nissan Townstar EV production starts in Maubeuge, France, with the van offering a choice of electric or gasoline powertrains.

• The Townstar is based on the CMF-C architecture also used by Renault and Mercedes-Benz, with some being passenger models.

• The Nissan van is powered by a 45-kWh battery, which gives it a range of up to 269 miles in the WLTP city cycle.

The VW ID. Buzz Cargo is bound to see even more competition in Europe soon, as Nissan has just started production of the Townstar electric cargo van in Europe. The van has begun rolling off the assembly line in Maubeuge, France, with the Townstar acting as a successor to the Nissan e-NV200.

If the profile of this van looks a little familiar, that's because the CMF-C platform is shared with quite a variety of models, from the electric Mercedes-Benz eCitan to the Renault Kangoo, and is offered with internal-combustion engines as well. The electric Townstar version, however, features a relatively small 45-kWh battery, giving the van a range of 183 miles combined in the WLTP cycle, or up to 269 miles in the city cycle.

The 45-kWh battery may not sound like much, but the Townstar and other vans of its type are meant to be used by contractors or for last-mile deliveries, making range less of a priority than cargo space or price. The city rating of 269 miles is perhaps the more pertinent figure here, as a lot of these vans are used by small businesses in town.

On the cargo front, the Townstar will be offered in two wheelbase variants, with payload capacities ranging from 600 to 800 kilograms, (1322 to 1763 pounds). The van will offer a towing capacity of 1500 kg (3307 pounds). The long-wheelbase version will accommodate two standard Euro pallets inside—an important metric in this segment.

However, the Townstar will still be offered with a gasoline engine option, in the form of the 1.3-liter TCe engine producing 130 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. So Nissan is still keeping this option open, as demand for EV vans won't be universal in Europe in the next few years.

The Townstar will join a small number of other electric cargo vans in Europe this year, with this segment having seen a lot of growth in a short span of time.

"With tougher emissions standards, urban access restrictions, and ever-increasing demand for last-mile delivery, businesses large and small need to find effective and sustainable solutions to remain competitive and optimize their operations," said Allan Newman, LCV product manager at Nissan Great Britain. "We’re confident Townstar will meet their every need."

The Townstar will start at $34,077 in the UK in electric form, making it one of the more affordable EVs in any market segment.