The next generation of FedEx vans could be a little different than what you'd expect. While the Nissan NV200 is already hitting the streets here in the U.S. as the official New York City taxi, it will soon be cruising around the busy streets of London with an electric drive-train and a FedEx logo on the side.

The plan is to test the real-world practicality of the Nissan NV200 powered by the running gear from the Nissan Leaf. For the two months the vans will deliver packages around London, and FedEx will evaluate them. Nissan will use those results to bolster testing in other utility markets around the world. Rumor has it, that if testing goes well, Nissan will more seriously develop plans for a small electric utility vehicle in the future.

What's in it for FedEx? Well, the low speeds of driving through busy city streets will extend the range of the electric vehicle, enough to get packages where they need to go, for sure. And, FedEx won't have to pay London's congestion charge (which can run as high as $15 a day), because of the electric drivetrain.

Though we can say that the power plant of the all-electric Nissan NV200 is practically identical to the one used in the leaf, Nissan hasn't revealed if the specs are much different. The electric motor in the Leaf produces 107-hp and 207-lb.-ft of torque, and gets an EPA-estimated 73 miles to a charge. Charge time is about seven hours in a 240-volt outlet. We'll know soon enough though - testing of the FedEx NV200 is set to begin soon.

Be sure to stay tuned with John Howard Nissan, located at 1730 Mileground Morgantown, WV 26505 for continued news and updates on Nissan's green and electric-vehicle technology. Do you have questions about the NV200, Leaf or any other new Nissan models? Contact us via our website anytime, and a member of our team will get right back to you.