Photo: Opel
The electric vehicle wars are getting hotter and hotter with each and every day. After Tesla Motors promised that the Model 3 would democratize electric vehicles through affordability and range, General Motors followed with the introduction of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt. In Europe, the little runaround is going to be known as the 2017 Opel Ampera-e.
As a brief reminder, the first-gen Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid was adapted for Europe as the Opel Ampera. Compared to the production numbers of its American counterpart, the Ampera didn’t sell well at all. Compared to 51,662 units produced by Chevrolet for the 2013 model year, Ampera production was 5.3 times lower than that of the Volt (9,629 units).
Without a shadow of a doubt, the Opel Ampera was a commercial flop. The 2017 Opel Ampera-e, on the other hand, discards the PHEV powertrain of its predecessor in favor of an all-electric setup. The eco-friendly Ampera-e boasts 200 horsepower (149 kW) and 360 Nm (266 lb-ft) from its electric motor, which is powered by a 60 kWh lithium-ion battery located underneath the floor to maximize cabin space.
The range hasn’t been confirmed by Opel at the time of writing, but do expect more than 322 kilometers (200 miles) on a full charge. 0 to 96 km/h (62 mph) is doable in less than 7 seconds. The fastest the Ampera-e can go is 146 km/h (91 mph). In terms of pricing, it’s anybody’s guess how much the Opel Ampera-e will cost after applying the EV incentives. If all-electric vehicles aren’t your cup of tea, word on the street is the Ampera family will soon add a plug-in hybrid model based on the second-generation Volt.
It’s early to have a wild stab in the dark about the public’s reaction to these environmentally conscious models after they hit dealer showrooms in Europe, but one thing is sure - without proper advertising and a proper charging infrastructure, the second attempt at pushing the Ampera on the market will be a failure.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the Opel Ampera was a commercial flop. The 2017 Opel Ampera-e, on the other hand, discards the PHEV powertrain of its predecessor in favor of an all-electric setup. The eco-friendly Ampera-e boasts 200 horsepower (149 kW) and 360 Nm (266 lb-ft) from its electric motor, which is powered by a 60 kWh lithium-ion battery located underneath the floor to maximize cabin space.
The range hasn’t been confirmed by Opel at the time of writing, but do expect more than 322 kilometers (200 miles) on a full charge. 0 to 96 km/h (62 mph) is doable in less than 7 seconds. The fastest the Ampera-e can go is 146 km/h (91 mph). In terms of pricing, it’s anybody’s guess how much the Opel Ampera-e will cost after applying the EV incentives. If all-electric vehicles aren’t your cup of tea, word on the street is the Ampera family will soon add a plug-in hybrid model based on the second-generation Volt.
It’s early to have a wild stab in the dark about the public’s reaction to these environmentally conscious models after they hit dealer showrooms in Europe, but one thing is sure - without proper advertising and a proper charging infrastructure, the second attempt at pushing the Ampera on the market will be a failure.
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