The All-New Nissan Micra EV Earns Five Stars from Green NCAP
The All-New Nissan Micra EV Earns Five Stars from Green NCAP
The small electric car class has a new headline result. The all-new, fully electric Nissan Micra has been awarded the top five-star Sustainability Rating by Green NCAP, the independent organisation that assesses how environmentally friendly cars really are.
What is Green NCAP?
You may know Euro NCAP for crash safety. Green NCAP does a similar job for environmental performance. It scores cars on three areas: clean air, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. It also looks beyond the tailpipe, considering a car's whole life from manufacture and use through to end-of-life treatment. That makes its ratings a more rounded picture than a simple "zero emissions" claim.
How did the Micra score?
The Micra achieved an overall score of 94%, which put it in the five-star bracket Green NCAP reserves for its best electric vehicles. The detailed results were:
- Greenhouse gases: 10 out of 10
- Energy efficiency: 9.3 out of 10
- Clean air: 9.1 out of 10
- Cold weather performance: rated "Good"
The cold weather result is worth noting. Winter conditions are a common worry for people considering their first EV, because low temperatures can reduce range.
Small, efficient and built for town
The sixth-generation Micra is now fully electric and was developed with European roads in mind. It is under four metres long and under 1.8 metres wide, so it suits tight town streets, car parks and tricky parking spaces.
There are two battery options:
- 40kWh: up to 196 miles of WLTP range, with DC charging up to 80kW
- 52kWh: up to 257 miles of WLTP range, with DC charging up to 100kW
Nissan quotes efficiency of up to 4.38 miles per kWh. Regenerative braking and the e-Pedal system also help keep everyday driving efficient. Inside, the car has Google built-in, including route planning that factors in charging stops.
Designed in London, built in France
The Micra's exterior was designed at Nissan Design Europe in London. It is built at the Ampere ElectriCity plant in Douai, France, on the AmpR Small platform, which it shares with Renault through the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Sharing a platform in this way is how manufacturers are bringing new EVs to market faster and at lower cost.
What this means for buyers
The Micra's result is a good example of where small electric cars are heading. Manufacturers are building compact EVs that aren't only efficient to run, but are independently assessed for their wider environmental impact.
Whether you're considering your first electric car or weighing up a switch from petrol or diesel, an independent rating like this is a useful tool alongside range, charging speed, running costs and price.
Thinking about going electric?
If you're exploring electric motoring, our team at Edgars can talk you through the Hyundai electric and hybrid range, including what charging at home and on the road looks like day to day. Get in touch or visit your local Edgars branch to find out more.