Nissan wants to electrify with Interstar and industry models

Nissan Germany has introduced the new Interstar and aims to gain significant market share in the van segment, especially with the electric variant and numerous special modifications and extensions to its models, as well as dedicated commercial vehicle services. Traditionally an important selling point for the Japanese: For all new Nissan commercial vehicles, the company offers a Europe-wide five-year warranty or up to 160,000 kilometers of mileage. This includes a paint warranty, original parts and accessories, as well as roadside assistance. For the electric variants, an eight-year warranty or up to 160,000 kilometers on the battery is provided. The manufacturer recently presented its lineup at a dealer event at Hangar 7 in Mönchengladbach.

The new Interstar is set to power ahead

The highlight was the new Interstar transporter, which, as the technical sibling of the new Renault Master, comes simultaneously with a diesel and a fully electric variant, offering up to 460 kilometers of range. A second battery version with a smaller 40 kWh battery instead of 87 kWh is aimed specifically at urban delivery services and craftsmen, for whom a 200-kilometer range is sufficient. Both variants come with DC fast chargers, standard at 50 kW (optional 130 kW), making a two-shift operation possible even for the base version. A 30-minute charging session can provide up to 200 kilometers of range. Charging with alternating current from ten to 100 percent is possible in less than four hours, according to the manufacturer.

Aero-Van concept to moderate battery usage

The aerodynamics of the new Nissan Interstar have been further optimized compared to the previous generation, reducing air resistance by twenty percent regardless of the drive type, thereby ensuring high energy efficiency. The diesel version requires 1.5 l/100 km less, and achieves 7.4 l/100 km in the WLTP cycle. The goal, according to the officials, was to create an electric package that balances payload, costs, and range, with efficiency as the foundation.

The E-transporter is expected to offer a load capacity of 1.2 to 1.6 tons depending on the version, and should not significantly lag behind the diesel version, which offers 2 tons. Both the front-wheel-drive diesel and the electric versions can tow a load of 2,500 kilograms, with the permissible total weight limited to 5.5 tons, whereas the diesel offers 6,000 kilograms. Here too, the difference between the electric and diesel versions is only 500 kilograms, making it not too significant.

Loading Characteristics Like the Diesel

Parity prevails in the other loading characteristics, which is also intended to facilitate the adoption of expensive special modifications in a later switch from diesel to electric: For instance, the transporter features a loading area that is 100 millimeters longer and a side door that is 40 millimeters wider, as well as a flush-closing partition instead of the previously recessed one, which increases the loading width. The turning circle, which is 1.5 meters smaller thanks to a shorter wheelbase and greater steering lock, significantly improves maneuverability in city traffic compared to the rather unwieldy predecessor.

The considerably more spacious, higher-quality, and more connected Interstar in the interior also comes with numerous safety systems, including an emergency braking assistant, a drowsiness warning system, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a trailer stabilization system. The 1-Box brake system is intended to ensure high braking performance, regardless of the vehicle's weight. The reaction time during emergency braking has also been halved compared to the previous generation, further promotes the manufacturer.

Conversion and Modification Solutions for the Entire Commercial Vehicle Range

For the new generation of the Interstar, Nissan offers a wide range of factory-built modifications, available in the calculation business, including tippers, flatbeds, and vans. Through local partnerships, the product portfolio is to be further expanded. In addition to the Nissan Interstar as a horse transporter from MSG or the GfK lightweight 20 m³ volume box body by the company Humbaur, which offers a payload of 1,020 kilos despite a 750-kg Dhollandia tail lift and full format, there are flexible modules from PlugVan. This allows the Interstar to be equipped with a living unit or a workshop module from Würth in just a few minutes, with securing achieved through the existing anchor points. Numerous and customized conversions and modifications are also available for the rest of the commercial vehicle range in collaboration with various partners.

Townstar: Electric Garbage Collection Tipper

Among other things, for the Nissan Townstar, which is presented as a vehicle for municipal and waste disposal companies. This individual special conversion with a collection container, as well as LED roof bar and LED front flashers, was developed in collaboration with the Dutch conversion specialist Veth Automotive. The Townstar van with Würth module is aimed at craft businesses. Here, customers receive individual cargo space conversions with floor and side wall cladding, underfloor drawers, and variable shelf modules. The Townstar is also presented as a taxi conversion by INTAX and as an inclusion taxi with a wheelchair ramp by MobiTEC.