Nissan e-NV200 Workspace – the future of the office?

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Ever thought of working in your car? With rising office rental rates and the increasing popularity of more flexible working concepts such as hot-desking and co-working, such an idea may not seem so far-fetched in the future, and it’s one that Nissan and UK-based design workshop Studio Hardie are pursuing with the one-off, all-electric Nissan e-NV200 Workspace.

The concept behind the vehicle centres around the fact that an electric vehicle is cheap to run (as little as £0.01 or RM0.06 a kilometre, according to Nissan), lowering the cost of commuting to work; the ability to park up at free EV charging bays in certain city centres also allows users to practically work for free. Alternatively, users could skip the city altogether in favour of countryside or coastal fresh air.

The Workspace looks like any other e-NV200 on the outside, but step inside and you’ll find a specialised working environment, with a panoramic glass roof and LED floor lighting contributing to a more spacious feel. The colour of the interior lighting can be customised through a wide range of parameters, including using a palette from a photo, via a smartphone app.

A fold-down desk console on the right side of the load bay houses a touchscreen computer, wireless mouse and keyboard and an assortment of stationary supplies, each with their own dedicated storage space. To the left is a coffee-making console, with a barista-quality coffee machine rising mechanically from a concealed compartment; there’s also a suite of coffee-making equipment in the overhead locker.

The decked oak flooring features a custom centre mount that allows one of the two chrome, leather-upholstered chairs to be anchored, to be used with the desk. Two more mounts are fitted side-by-side further up the cabin, enabling two people to have a meeting. Between them is a wooden console containing a wireless smartphone charging dock, a Bluetooth speaker and a mini fridge drawer.

If the weather allows it, both side sliding doors and the split rear doors can be opened to further enhance the feeling of space. A floating deck slides out from the rear bumper, providing an outdoor area to take a phone call, work from a laptop or simply admire the view.

The Workspace can be fast-charged up to 80% power in half an hour, and there’s also an internal mount for a folding Brompton bike in case users want to leave the vehicle parked up and charged, in order to make short trips or to complete the “last mile” of any journey.

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Leonardo on Oct 27, 2016 at 4:08 pm

    It seems like a good idea with endless possibilities. We can call it SOMO (Small Office Mobile Office).
    Hopefully our policymakers don’t make it difficult to register such as a vehicle.
    Should have an option of fully EV and Hybrid engines so that it could be used in cities and the outskirts.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Not difficult to register consider the vast amount of foodtruck business around, but ask urself; wud u wanna work inside the car under our glorious MY equatorial sun (without AC too cuz exhaust will kirr u)?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
      • frankC on Oct 27, 2016 at 10:09 pm

        Well for this guy, the Nissan is e-NV200. the electric version of NV200. so when stationary it is parked on EV charging station. so no need to run the engine to keep aircon running.

        cheers

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Where to find a company that does the modification in malaysia? Rack or cabinet inside van

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • Ahmadjr on Oct 28, 2016 at 12:27 am

      Want to know too. This van looks suitable for doing sale door to door.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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