What's the news?
Nissan has shown off a concept version of its NV300 van (that's the big one, sharing a body with the Renault Trafic) that comes complete with the most eco-friendly built-in workshop that you could imagine.
No, the power-tools held therein are not powered by burning waste potato skins, but they are powered by the next-best thing - recycled Nissan leaf batteries. Nissan has created what it calls the Energy ROAM pack, a built-in battery made of recycled cells from Leaf electric cars. When the cells are past their best for use in the car, they can be re-worked and re-used like this.
The ROAM battery pack, which is weather-proof by the way, has a capacity of 700Wh and a 1kW output, which means that it can keep your drills and bandsaws going when there's no easy access to a local plug. It also means that you can cut, drill, and whatever else it is you may do with power-tools (chisel? I don't know tools...) you can do it from the van, without running the engine to provide power, which is obviously more eco-friendly.
Even better, the ROAM pack can be recharged on the go by connecting it to the solar panel mounted on the roof of the NV300 Concept.
Francesco Giacalone, LCV Planning and Marketing Director, Nissan Europe said: "With the NV300 Concept-van, Nissan is really thinking about the future of the commercial vehicle as an authentic partner for business customers. It's practical and versatile as well as innovative and self-sufficient with the addition of Nissan Energy ROAM. We believe it has enormous potential in the LCV sector and is a key differentiator for Nissan commercial vehicles."
The interior of this concept NV300, unveiled at the Brussels motor show, has been built up by Studio Hardie, a highly respected British design studio and includes an integrated touch-screen computer, swivel seating on floor rails, space-saving bespoke storage and LED lighting in the ceiling.
The Energy ROAM pack will go on sale in the spring of this year.