Nissan has revealed its replacement for the pioneering e-NV200 electric van. Called the Townstar, it will be available with both petrol and electric powertrains but there won't be a diesel - a real milestone for a commercial vehicle. 

The van is based on the Renault Kangoo, and has an electric variant which Nissan is really throwing its weight behind. Using a 90kW electric motor linked to a 44kWh battery, the firm says that the electric Townstar is capable of travelling for up to 177 miles between charges, with a 0-80 per cent top-up taking 42 minutes via rapid CCS charging. This is a significant improvement over the 124 miles of the eNV. Load space is fractionally larger too, ans 4.3 cubic metres. 

It can transport two Euro pallets and carry up to 800kg of cargo as well as tow up to 1,500kg. The inclusion of sliding doors means that the load area can be easily accessed, while rear seats which split 60/40 take this usability further.

All models benefit from Nissans’s ProPilot driver assistance technology which can automatically slow the vehicle down if it detects slow-moving traffic ahead. It’s also able to keep the van centred in the road and can even steer it around ‘gentle’ bends. Inside there’s an eight-inch touchscreen display that combines with a 10-inch driver display ahead of the driver. Nissan says that features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will both be available on the system soon too.

It’s expected that further details about the Townstar - including those about specification and pricing - will be revealed shortly.

The Townstar should not be confused with a kitchen device for grilling bread