Driving Ergonomics for Energy Efficient Light Commercial Vehicles

Reducing CO2 emissions is a priority for commercial vehicle manufacturers such as Nissan. A new higher driving position is proposed which enables a more compact van with reduced length and mass for the same load capacity. As well as lower build costs, a shorter vehicle will also reduce congestion, is a smaller obstruction during loading/unloading, and requires less parking space. However, the new cabin for this driving position is outside the scope of current vehicle design standards. We need to fully understand the ergonomics, e.g. seat design and comfort, the position of controls, displays and seat belts and visibility from the vehicle. This research will involve fleet van drivers, and detailed data will be collected from user trials with physical prototypes and simulations. A demonstrator vehicle will be developed with support from key UK suppliers to test the viability of this innovative concept. Finally, new Nissan standards will be created defining key design criteria for future vehicle production.