Opel to become Purely Electric in record time

• Opel offer already includes twelve electrified versions
• Electric offer for entire light commercial vehicle line-up
• Electrified version of each model by 2024, purely electric in Europe by 2028
• Opel Crossland and Opel Insignia successors also battery-electric
• Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN with fuel cell technology already in use with customers
• New Opel Manta with purely electric drive by mid-decade
• Production of high-performance batteries in ACC giga factory in Kaiserslautern from 2025
• Opel pioneered electric mobility in Europe with Ampera and Ampera-e

Opel is becoming a purely electric brand

Opel is becoming a purely electric brand. By 2028, Rüsselsheim-based carmaker will have switched its entire product line-up to purely electric drives. Today, Opel already offers a comprehensive selection of electrified models. Presently, customers can order twelve electrified variants – from the small Opel Rocks-e to the large Movano-e transporter. A further battery-electric model will follow by mid-decade in the new interpretation of the Opel Manta. And the successors of the Opel Crossland and Opel Insignia will also be electric – and therefore emissions free.

“Opel is on a consistent path to going electric – and in record time. We are thus making an important contribution to reducing CO2. And we will not stop with the conversion of our product range: Together with our partners, we will be manufacturing our own high-performance batteries in Kaiserslautern as early as 2025. In addition, a resource-friendly new campus is being built at our headquarters in Rüsselsheim,” said Opel CEO Uwe Hochgeschurtz, explaining the brand’s strategy.

Opel’s ultimate goal is to offer electric vehicles that perfectly meet the demands of customers: In future, this includes driving ranges between 500 and 800 kilometres and a best-in-class fast-charging capability of 32 kilometres per minute.

Opel customers already have access to a comprehensive range of electrified models. All Opel light commercials vehicles already offer an emissions-free option. Opel Combo-e, Vivaro-e and Movano-e are battery-electric, while Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN offers an option with fuel cell technology. 

Opel Combo-e, Vivaro-e and Movano-e are battery-electric

Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN 

On the passenger car side, Opel Corsa-e and Mokka-e – winners of the coveted Golden Steering Wheel in 2020 and 2021 – have long since advanced to bestsellers. In Germany, the share of the battery-electric variants of these models already makes up more than 25 percent of all sales. New Opel Grandland and the new-generation Astra are both available as plug-in hybrids. Next year, the battery-electric Opel Astra-e will follow – as a five-door and Sports Tourer variant. Offer of emissions-free electric vehicles is rounded off by Opel Rocks-e, an urban electric vehicle for young people from the age of 15.

Twelve electrified Opel models already available in 2022.

Opel Manta to return: New interpretation with electric drive

By mid-decade, Opel will reinvent Manta as a purely electric car. Opel Manta, befitting the times we live in – emissions-free and versatile, a car that fans crave.

New Opel Manta-e

“New Opel Manta will be a highly emotional car once again. With electric power that ensures first-class acceleration on tap. Our Manta will once again stand for pure driving pleasure. We will build a fascinating, astoundingly spacious new interpretation,” said Hochgeschurtz.

Production to start in 2025: Giga factory in Kaiserslautern

Together with partners Total/Saft, Stellantis and Opel founded the “Automotive Cells Company” (ACC). A few months ago, Mercedes-Benz joined this joint venture. With this partnership, the parties are creating a world-class player in the field of developing and producing high-performance batteries for automotive industry. In addition, partners announced that they would increase ACC's industrial capacity in Kaiserslautern to up to 32 GWh. This will see a true giga factory for modern battery cell production created in Kaiserslautern, a traditional location for component and engine production.

Brand with the Blitz: Pioneer of electric mobility

Opel was even ahead of its time when it came to the market launch of electric cars that were fully suitable for everyday use. As early as 2012, an international jury of experts voted the Opel Ampera "Europe's Car of the Year" (COTY). Opel Ampera was a coupé-like four-seater with a so-called range extender. As with today's plug-in hybrids, the battery was charged externally. When driving, a combustion engine combined with a 54 kW generator provided enough electricity at all times. The Ampera could already drive up to 80 kilometres purely electrically - with range extender support, the range grew to around 500 kilometres.

2012: Opel Ampera "Europe's Car of the Year"

A purely battery-electric compact car followed in 2016 with Opel Ampera-e, a car that put an end to range anxiety in one fell swoop. A single charge of the 60 kWh lithium-ion battery covered a distance of up to 520 kilometres (according to NEDC) - at this point around 30 percent more than the closest competitor in the segment. In addition, electric vehicle offered a performance of 150 kW/204 hp and acceleration from zero to 50 km/h in just 3.2 seconds, which is comparable to a sports car. In addition to its liveliness, 4.16-meter-long Opel Ampera‑e impressed with plenty of space for up to five passengers.

2016: Opel Ampera-e

Opel Ampera and Ampera-e were especially popular in the Netherlands and Norway, markets that were already supporting electric car purchases at the time. At the latest with the introduction of the Opel Corsa-e, Opel made affordable electric mobility accessible throughout Europe.

Opel Corsa-e

Opel makes campus in Rüsselsheim electric

• 500 charging points at company headquarters already completed
• Another 540 charging points will be implemented in public parking lots near Opel as part of the “Electric City Rüsselsheim” project
• Battery container shows possible second life application of disused vehicle batteries
• Opel is going electric: Nine electrified models on the market this year, with more to follow

Opel campus in Rüsselsheim already has over 500 charging points for the company's steadily growing electric fleet

Opel is pushing ahead with the expansion of the infrastructure at its home location, which is so important for electromobility. Opel campus in Rüsselsheim already has over 500 charging points for the company's steadily growing electric fleet. Another 540 publicly accessible charging points are currently being installed by the city of Rüsselsheim am Main in the parking lots around the company headquarters.

New Opel Corsa-e

Since all new Opel are designed and developed in Rüsselsheim, the expansion of the charging infrastructure at the company headquarters was of particular importance. Announced construction of around 500 internal charging points for company cars and development vehicles has now been completed, so that a steadily growing part of the company fleet can be driven electrically.

New Opel Mokka-e

Initiative is linked to two funding projects. One - E-Mobility Lab Hessen - is a partner for around 120 charging points in the engineering sector in Rüsselsheim and Dudenhofen, which can be used for development vehicles. E-Mobility Lab Hessen is doing research together with Opel, and the development center will become “a real laboratory for electromobility, power supply, intelligent charging stations and intelligent load management”.

New Opel Grandland Hybrid4

As part of the second funding project, Electric City Rüsselsheim, more than 380 charging points for company and company cars have been created on the Opel campus. Another 540 public charging stations will follow in the parking lots around the plant, which the City of Rüsselsheim will implement in a further step by Electric City.

New Opel Combo-e Life

Electric City is a joint project of several partners, to which the city of Rüsselsheim am Main, Opel, the RheinMain University, the municipal housing company gewobau and the mobility consultancy Urban Mobility Innovations (formerly B2M) belong. Together, the partners want to massively advance the expansion of the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics, around 1,200 charging points are being built, more than 800 of which will be publicly accessible within the entire city area. Opel has already implemented its part, and urban activities are currently following in all city districts and residential areas, on the campus of the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, in gewobau residential complexes and in parking lots at shopping centers.

New Opel Zafira-e Life

Another aspect on the way to e-mobility: modular battery storage system, which was developed entirely in-house at Opel as part of the E-Mobility Lab Hessen, has gone into operation in Dudenhofen. Battery storage system uses used vehicle batteries from the Opel Ampera to temporarily store electricity. This stationary battery use in so-called Second Life serves to balance consumption peaks and thus stabilize the power grid. A total of 18 vehicle batteries are reused in the battery storage system, with the storage capacity of which eight electric vehicles can be charged at the same time. Alternatively, a four-person household could be supplied with electricity for a month.

Opel battery storage system in Dudenhofen.

Basis for the successful implementation of the extensive electric strategy lies in the models, of course - and a lot has happened here at Opel in recent years. From Corsa-e to Zafira-e, from Combo-e to Movano-e, from passenger cars to light commercial vehicles - Opel offers its customers a diverse portfolio of electrified vehicles and already covers the most important segments. But this is only the beginning. An electrified version of the Opel Astra will follow this year, and by 2024 there will be an electrified version of every Opel.

New Opel Astra Hybrid

Opel's electric offensive is part of the overall strategy of the Stellantis Group, which was presented during EV Day. Company aims to become the market leader in Low-Emission Vehicles (LEV). By 2030, Stellantis' LEV mix for cars in Europe is expected to grow steadily to over 70 percent - 10 percentage points above the current industry forecasts for the overall market mix. Stellantis is also working on innovative charging solutions.

Opel is Electric: Battery Refurbishment Center in Rüsselsheim for Best Service

• High-voltage: Experts test and service lithium-ion batteries
• Decade of experience: Electric drive systems refurbished in Rüsselsheim for ten years
• Unique: Only facility in the company for rapid customer support across Europe

Opel customers have had the choice of driving electrically or combustion engine powered cars for ten years. The first was the Opel Ampera in 2011, followed by the Ampera-e and the current models, from Corsa-e to Zafira-e Life. Alongside the e-vehicles, Opel has established a service for the maintenance of high voltage batteries. The facility set up ten years ago for the Ampera has been brought right up to date. The center now checks and, if necessary, repairs the batteries of all company vehicles on the eCMP platform (currently Opel Corsa-e, Mokka-e) and the Combo-e, Vivaro-e and Zafira-e Life. By the end of this year, Opel will be on the road with nine electric models and will offer an electrified version in each series by 2024.

“Over the years we have gained a lot of experience with lithium-ion batteries”, says Opel’s Managing Director Engineering, Marcus Lott. “A failure is very rare, but if it happens, investigating the cause and making repairs are jobs for specialists. We now put our competence at the disposal of the whole company and provide fast support.”

Opel has significantly expanded and modernised the “Battery Refurbishment Center” in Rüsselsheim. All the employees are professionals in electricity and trained to high-voltage level 5 standard. Technicians take care of the cases that dealers from all over Europe cannot handle. Last year, that amounted to around 100 defects among up to ten-year-old cars in which a control unit, or in the worst case, a battery cell failed to function. The battery then comes to Rüsselsheim, where the sealed pack is opened by the high-voltage experts. The malfunctioning cell is exchanged and the whole battery returned to the customer. In the event of more serious damage – such as after a collision – sufficient reconditioned batteries are always available in Rüsselsheim. In return the customer receives an exchange battery as replacement.

Only the Rüsselsheim battery centre is allowed to open the faulty battery. Sealed unit must be cut open by the high voltage experts. Damaged cell is replaced and the fully functional battery is then sent as a replacement battery to the warehouse.

Pacesetters: Long Tradition of Opel Electric Cars

• E-pioneers: Ancestors of Opel Corsa-e and Grandland X plug-in hybrid
• Since 1968: More than five decades of research into electric propulsion systems
• Way ahead of its time: Opel Ampera
• HydroGen test fleets: Hydrogen fuel cell propulsion has high future potential
• Opel goes electric: All models electrified by 2024

Opel Electro GT

With the new Opel Corsa-e and the Grandland X plug-in hybrid, the newest electrified cars from Opel are just taking to the roads. All-electric Opel Vivaro and the electrified Opel Mokka X successor will follow later this year, while the Opel Combo-e, Opel Zafira-e Life and the Astra successor will join the team in 2021. All passenger car and light commercial vehicle models will be electrified by 2024. Opel is going electric and can look back on a long tradition of test, record and production vehicles. Opel has been conducting research and development work in the field of electric propulsion for more than five decades. This makes the Rüsselsheim automaker one of the e-pioneers in the industry.

Already back in 1968, Opel Kadett B Stir-Lec I featured the principle of the “range extender” that would later go into production with the Opel Ampera. The Stir-Lec study was powered by 14 lead-acid batteries and the electricity that kept the batteries constantly charged was generated by a rear-mounted Stirling combustion engine.

Opel Kadett B Stir-Lec I

Only three years later, Georg von Opel, the grandson of the company founder, broke six electric vehicle world records at the wheel of a 188 km/h Opel Electro GT powered by two coupled electric motors producing 88 kW/120 hp. Energy was supplied by a 590 kilogramme nickel-cadmium battery pack and at a constant speed of 100 km/h, the car had a range of 44 kilometres.

Opel Electro GT powered by two coupled electric motors producing 88 kW

Sustainable electric impulse: Opel Impuls and Opel Twin

Opel Kadett Impuls

Research took a step forward with the Opel Impuls programme during 1990-97. Impuls I was a Kadett-based vehicle powered by a 16 kW direct-current electric motor using nickel-cadmium battery cells with a liquid electrolyte. It had a range of around 80 km and a top speed of 100 km/h. This was followed a year later by Impuls II, based on an Astra estate. It used 32 lead-acid batteries to power two three-phase asynchronous motors giving a total of approximately 45 kW/61 hp. 

Opel Astra Impuls II

From 1993 to 1997, Opel carried out its first large-scale electric vehicle test program with Impuls III. A fleet of ten Impuls III cars was tested on the German island of Rügen, covering a total of more than 300,000 km. Five vehicles were fitted with nickel-cadmium batteries (45 kW/61 hp) and the other five used sodium/nickel-chloride high-energy batteries (42 kW/57 hp). All ten Impuls III vehicles were equipped with a three-phase asynchronous motor.

Opel Astra Impuls III

Meanwhile, in 1992 the widely acclaimed Opel Twin concept car was revealed. A three-cylinder, 0.8-litre petrol engine delivering 25 kW/34 hp was available for highway driving, while an electric unit with two 10 kW/14 hp wheel-hub motors came into play for city and short-distance driving. The Opel Twin driver had a central forward position, with three passenger seats in the back. In 1995, Opel took electro-mobility into the commercial vehicle segment with the Combo Plus concept van, which featured two sodium/nickel-chloride high-energy batteries operating in combination with a 45 kW three-phase asynchronous motor.

Fuel cells in everyday testing: emission-free HydroGen fleets

Opel HydroGen1

In 2000, Opel’s fuel-cell development took to the streets with the Zafira-bodied HydroGen1. Its hydrogen fuel cell supplied electricity for a three-phase asynchronous motor giving 55 kW/75 hp and 251 Nm of torque. A buffer battery covered power peaks. In 2001, a fleet of 20 HydroGen3 models was driven by test customers. Power was increased to 60 kW/82 hp, giving a top speed of 160 km/h.

Opel HydroGen3 

In the 2004 Fuel Cell Marathon, two HydroGen3 vehicles covered nearly 10,000 km across Europe, from Hammerfest in Norway to Lisbon in Portugal. At the wheel of a HydroGen3, Grand Prix and Opel DTM driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen also won the 2005 Monte Carlo Rally for cars with alternative propulsion.

Opel HydroGen3 - Monte Carlo Rally for cars with alternative propulsion

Fourth generation of fuel cell vehicles, HydroGen4, is also completely emission-free, with only water vapour coming out of the exhaust. Fuel cell stack consisting of 440 cells connected in series, in which hydrogen reacts with oxygen from the air, is responsible for the environmentally friendly drive. There is no combustion, but an electrochemical reaction that generates electricity. In this way, a continuous output of 73 kW/100 hp and a peak output of 94 kW/128 hp are possible.

Starting in 2008, a fleet of HydroGen4 vehicles began demonstrating its suitability for everyday use in a project sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Transport – the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) – in Berlin and later also in the states of Hamburg, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse.

Opel HydroGen4 

Range champions: Opel Ampera with range extender and Opel Ampera-e

At the same time, Opel also pursued the development of battery-powered vehicles and presented the innovative Flextreme Concept at the 2007 IAA in Frankfurt, which featured the Voltec extended-range electric propulsion. Opel Flextreme GT/E Concept, presented at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, illustrated how this drive concept can also be integrated into a mid-size car.

Opel Ampera 

Electric drive with range extender reached series production in 2011 in the Opel Ampera, the first electric car for four people fully suitable for everyday use and travel. Energy for distances between 40 and 80 kilometres (depending on driving conditions) was supplied by the 16 kWh lithium-ion battery, which fed the 111 kW/150 hp electric motor. Whenever the battery charge level reached a defined minimum, the 63 kW/86 hp petrol engine switched on automatically and drove a generator to power the electric motor. This type of continuous energy supply ensures carefree driving – without a charging station and with ranges of several hundred kilometres. Opel Ampera was ahead of its time and was awarded the “European Car of the Year 2012” title.

Opel Ampera-e 

Opel Ampera-e followed in 2016/2017. With a segment-leading pure electric range of 423 kilometres (WLTP), Ampera-e debuted as a true range champion at the Paris Motor Show. Since the batteries are mounted extra flat in an underfloor design, it offers space for five passengers and a boot with the capacity of a full-size five-door compact class model (381 litres). Opel Ampera-e also demonstrates how electric mobility and driving pleasure can form a single unit, as the maximum torque of 360 Nm ensures impressive acceleration and elasticity values. The output of the electric motor is 150 kW/204 hp. Compact car accelerates from zero to 50 km/h in 3.2 seconds, and covers the intermediate sprint from 80 to 120 km/h when overtaking in just 4.5 seconds.

It is a convincing concept: in autumn 2017, Opel was awarded the internationally renowned “Golden Steering Wheel” in the small and compact car class for the Opel Ampera-e. And the AUTOBEST jury had already voted the Opel Ampera-e ECOBEST 2016. Opel dealers still have a few Ampera-e, but their place in the showroom will soon be taken by the new Corsa-e, which has already won the AUTOBEST “Best Buy Car of Europe” award.

Opel: Rüsselsheim Engineering Center to Receive Over 160 Charging Stations for Electric Cars and to Research Charging Infrastructure of the Future

Opel targeting leading role in advancement of electric-mobility as part of the PACE! strategic plan

Project in the Engineering Center to start in a few months and support creation of an intelligent charging infrastructure for electric-mobility of tomorrow

Reflection of mobility situation in Hesse in 2035

Participation of the House of Energy think tank run by the Federal State of Hess

Opel Ampera-e

The Engineering Center at Opel’s company headquarters in Rüsselsheim will become a laboratory for electric-mobility: Together with Kassel University, FLAVIA IT and PLUG’n CHARGE, the two latter companies that specialize in charging infrastructure, the carmaker will conduct research into the ideal setup of the electricity grid for the future. The three-year project “E-Mobility-LAB Hessen” is scheduled to receive supportfrom the Hessian Ministry for Economy, Energy, Transport and State Development with funds provided by the European Regional Development Fund. In return, Opel will set up an intelligent charging and infrastructure system for electric cars in its Engineering Center. Installation of the first charging stations at the Opel site in Rüsselsheim and the Test Center in Rodgau-Dudenhofen will already start in a few months.

In total, more than 160 charging stations, which will charge the electric car fleet of the Engineering Center in future, will be created. Extensive and well-founded simulations of numerous scenarios will be possible based on actual data, ensuring the transferability of the results. The concept was developed together with House of Energy, the think tank of the Hessian energy transition.

This is a further milestone on Opel’s journey to playing a leading role in electric-mobility – a clear goal of the PACE! strategic plan. The Rüsselsheim-based carmaker will have four electrified models in its portfolio by the end of 2020. These will deliver a lot of driving pleasure and will accelerate the demand for electric cars. And by 2024, there will be electrified variant of each model in the Opel line-up.

“Opel will be electric. We are now creating the required charging infrastructure at our Engineering Center in Rüsselsheim and simultaneously supporting politics and the authorities in the creation of an appropriate charging infrastructure. One thing is clear: electric-mobility will only be a success if vehicle development and expansion of the charging infrastructure go hand in hand,” said Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller.

The share of electric vehicles in the manufacturer’s development area will reflect a mobility situation as expected for 2035. With this the project partners want to gain valuable insights into the charging behaviour and requirements relating to the network expansion. Charging current and charging time are adapted according to the particular use of the development vehicles with the help of an intelligent control system. This smart infrastructure will ensure that the entire fleet is always charged appropriately despite the high energy demands of the electric vehicles – and all this with a minimum expansion of the existing electricity grid.

“The energy transition is underway, now we need to make progress with the transport transition, especially in Hesse where around half of the energy demand can be attributed to transport. That is why we are driving electric-mobility by, amongst others, the widespread support for charging infrastructure. We are delighted that a Hessian carmaker in Opel will be playing an innovative and guiding part in developing the mobility of tomorrow,” said Tarek Al-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal State of Hesse.

In addition, a modular battery storage, which will reuse Opel Ampera-e batteries to temporarily store electricity, will be installed in the Test Center Rodgau-Dudenhofen. This so-called stationary “second life” application targets mitigating peak loads and thus stabilizing the electricity grid. A total of 18 vehicle batteries will be reused in the battery storage, which has the storage capacity to a supply a four-person household with electricity for a month.

New Opel Grandland X Reaches AUTOBEST 2018 Final Six

• Recently tested, now already in the final: Opel Grandland X amongst “Best Buy Cars of Europe” according to jury
• Convincing qualities: New Opel compact SUV impresses with design, leading technologies and functionality
• Success story: Opel multiple award winner in prestigious international competition

European AUTOBEST 2018 Finalist: New Opel Grandland X has impressed the jury and been included in the final six.

Despite only having recently celebrated its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show and having just been tested by members of the media, the new Opel Grandland X has surpassed many of its rivals and been named one of the finalists for the European “AUTOBEST 2018”. The jury of the prestigious international competition announced this today. A jury consisting of journalists from 31 European countries tests new models eligible for the coveted award. The winner is named “Best Buy Car of Europe 2018”. By reaching the final, the dynamic Opel compact SUV is one of six remaining strong contenders for the title. The AUTOBEST jury evaluates the candidates in various categories such as flexibility, design and new technologies along with the service network, availability of parts and price.

The new Opel Grandland X excels in many areas: Modern, athletic lines, cool off-road look along with typical SUV qualities such as elevated seating position and good all round visibility. Furthermore, the adventurous newcomer comes with numerous leading technologies such as IntelliGrip electronic traction control along with plenty of space and comfort for up to five passengers.

All this is offered at an attractive price-performance ratio and has helped the new challenger in the SUV segment qualify for the AUTOBEST 2018 final. The decisive evaluation will take place during numerous test drives along with further assessments on the test track in Vairano (Italy). The winner – the “Best Buy Car of Europe” – will be announced in mid-December.

Opel’s latest contender, the Grandland X, is following a good Opel tradition. The Rüsselsheim-based carmaker has celebrated multiple honours in various categories of the prestigious AUTOBEST awards in recent years:

In 2007 and 2015, the Opel Corsa won the AUTOBEST award, enabling both generations of the small car all-rounder to carry the title of “Best Buy Car of Europe”.

• In 2009, the first generation Opel Insignia wowed the jury with its styling and took the DESIGNBEST award.
• Elsewhere, the Opel Ampera and the Opel Ampera-e demonstrated environmentally friendly mobility with both winning the ECOBEST award in 2011 and 2016 respectively.
• Furthermore, the current Opel Astra generation won the 2015 SAFETYBEST award for its trendsetting IntelliLux LED Matrix headlights.
• And as the Opel credo “Sculptural artistry meets German precision” is valid for both the models as well as the entire company according to the jury, Opel was presented with the COMPANYBEST award in 2016.

J.D. Power: Opel ADAM and Opel Insignia most dependable cars in class

• Study on vehicle dependability: Opel top in city cars and mid-size segment
• Auto Test Winner 2017: Opel Ampera-e biggest “Technical Innovation”

Joint awards ceremony: Auto Test winners and the results of the J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey have been announced jointly since 2008.

Champion of personalization and dependability: Opel ADAM tops its class in the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study.

The J.D. Power market researchers are an institution when it comes to quality and customer satisfaction. In the biggest automobile customer satisfaction survey in Germany, the VDS (Vehicle Dependability Study), car owners were asked about the quality and reliability of their one to three-year-old vehicles. Drivers of the Opel ADAM and Opel Insignia gave their cars excellent ratings – the best in their segments. At the joint awards ceremony with the trade magazine Auto Test yesterday evening in Cologne, Opel Vice President Quality Elvira Tölkes accepted the trophies for the victorious duo. 

Best in class: In the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study owners gave the Opel Insignia the highest marks for cars in the midsize segment.

In addition, Jürgen Keller, Opel Executive Director Sales, Marketing and Aftersales Germany also collected another prize: the Opel Ampera-e, with its electric range of 520 kilometers (according to the New European Driving Cycle) is Auto Test Winner 2017. The electric car received the award for best “Technical Innovation” of the year.

At the awards ceremony in Cologne, Elvira Tölkes said, “We place very high value on the quality of our cars delivered to our customers. In addition, the J.D. Power study shows that Opel also sets high standards in terms of reliability and durability across the entire portfolio from the chic urban car Opel ADAM to the Opel Insignia. So we are delighted to have received both of these awards.”

“Beyond high quality, what also distinguishes Opel is that we make future technologies accessible to so many people. Good examples of this are the personal connectivity and service assistant Opel OnStar as well as the current market launch of the revolutionary electric vehicle Opel Ampera-e. Our electric car is a true range champion, without a doubt a major innovation and thus a worthy Auto Test winner 2017,” added Jürgen Keller.

This year J.D. Power surveyed 14,000 people about their experiences with their car in online interviews. The study’s questions are grouped into the categories quality/dependability, appearance and running costs. All responses result in a ranking in which the brand or model with the lowest number of faults emerges as the winner. J.D. Power analyzed a total of 71 car models.

Auto Test winners and the results of the J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey have been announced jointly since 2008.

“Best Economical Diesel 2017”: Opel Astra 1.6 CDTI Wins Green Mobility Trophy

                                             Opel Astra 1.6 CDTI

• Strong showing: Opel Astra wins its category ahead of BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E Class
• Strong second: Opel Ampera-e wins silver medal in best electric car category

And the winner is: the Opel Astra 1.6 CDTI with 81 kW/110 hp (NEDC fuel consumption: urban 3.9 l/100 km, extra-urban 3.1 l/100 km, combined 3.4 l/100 km, 90 g/km, efficiency class A+). The bestseller from Rüsselsheim won the Green Mobility Trophy 2017 and was named “Best Economical Diesel”. Of the 7,400 Auto Zeitung readers who cast a vote, 28.1 percent chose the frugal limousine with the Blitz on the grille. This put the Opel Astra ahead of the second-place BMW 520d and the Mercedes E 220d in third place. 

The range champion Opel Ampera-e is also popular with Auto Zeitung readers. The electric car took home the silver medal in the “Best Electric Vehicle” category. With 520 kilometers according to the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), the Opel Ampera-e offers an unchallenged higher range than the closest competitor in the segment.

“We are delighted with these knowledgeable readers’ verdict. With this, our Astra wins another major award after it already captured the European “Car of the Year 2016” as well as 13 national ‘Car of the Year’ titles,” says Jürgen Keller, Opel Executive Director Sales, Marketing and Aftersales Germany.

!NEW! Opel Ampera-e Impresses with Electrifying High-tech

• Revolutionary: Electric range of 520 kilometers (in accordance with NEDC)
• All-round safety: Assistance systems guard, warn and even brake in an emergency
• Outstanding connectivity: 4G/LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot, smartphone integration and new OnStar services
• Tailored: New myOpelApp developed especially for the Opel Ampera-e

Range champion: New Opel Ampera-e can cover 520 kilometers (measured in accordance with the New European Driving Cycle) between charges.

The new Opel Ampera-e is the electric car with a revolutionary officially certified NEDC range of 520 kilometers (measured in accordance with the New European Driving Cycle). The 4.17 meter long Ampera-e also offers plenty of space for up to five passengers plus trunk space of 381 liters (1,274 liters when the seats are folded down), which is more than some compact class cars. “We are bringing an electric car fully suitable for everyday use to market in the Ampera-e. It is not eco-luxury, not a gadget and not just a second car. Opel is showing that electro-mobility is also achievable for a much broader audience thanks to the most innovative technology,” said Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. The newcomer has been available for order in Norway, a country fully geared up for electro-mobility, for a few weeks now and orders have surpassed 3,400. With the Opel Ampera-e set to go on sale in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland shortly it is time to get to know the electric car better and take a closer look at the combination of high-tech battery, assistance systems and digital connectivity.

 

No range anxiety: New Opel Ampera-e revolutionizes electro-mobility.

The new Opel Ampera-e – Overview

Battery & range

60 kWh lithium-ion battery consisting of 288 cells arranged in eight modules of 30 and two modules of 24 cells. The entire battery pack is an integral part of the underbody. This saves space while simultaneously guaranteeing safety. A 30-minute charge at a 50 kW DC public fast-charger will add a further 150 kilometers of range. Opel grant a warranty of up to eight years or 160,000 kilometers for the battery system. The revolutionary electric car has a range of 520 kilometers measured based on the NEDC test cycle with a full battery. And the Opel Ampera-e also impresses when tested approximated to the speed profile defined in the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure) driving cycle (shortened test procedure): Based on this development test, the engineers estimate a combined WLTP range of 380 kilometers. Naturally, the range in everyday use will vary and depends on personal driving behavior and on external factors.

Performance & torque

Instant torque of 360 Nm is responsible for the electrifying temperament of the Ampera-e. The output of the electric motor is equivalent to 150 kW/204 hp (PS). This enables the Opel Ampera-e to accelerate from 0 to 50 km/h in just 3.2 seconds and from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds – times rivalling those of sports cars. Mid-range acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h, which is especially important for overtaking maneuvers, is completed in just 4.5 seconds. Top speed is limited to 150 km/h for the benefit of the overall range.

Comfort & Safety

The new Ampera-e also follows Opel’s strategy of making technologies normally only known from the luxury class available to a broader audience at affordable prices. Therefore, the electric car from Rüsselsheim comes with a string of high-tech assistance systems.

Advanced Park Assist: It finds suitable parallel and perpendicular parking slots automatically park the Ampera-e. The driver only needs to operate the pedals. Advanced Park Assist scans free parking spaces between parallel parked vehicles as normally encountered on supermarket car parks. Furthermore, the clever assistant searches for roadside parking spots between parked cars. The driver always has an excellent overview thanks to the 130-degree rear-view camera.

Safety assistant: A string of systems helps ensure that the Opel Ampera-e always keeps a safe distance to the vehicle in front, does not unintentionally leave its lane, no other road users are overlooked and supports the driver right up to emergency braking. The amount of assistants even helps eliminate the fear of being caught in hectic rush-hour traffic. The assistants are:

• Following Distance Indication & Forward Collision Alert – for sufficient distance to vehicles in front
• Lane Keep Assist – issues a warning when unintentionally leaving the lane (active at speeds between 60 and 150 km/h). Provides gentle steering wheel turns but does not steer the car continuously.
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert, radar based – for safe reversing
• Automatic High Beam Assist & Traffic Sign Assistant – to see everything at a glance.
• Radar based Lane Change Alert and Side Blind Zone Alert – so that nothing and nobody is overlooked
• Pedestrian Safety Signal & Front Pedestrian Mitigation Braking – to protect pedestrians. The warning signal was developed to make distracted or blind pedestrians aware of the quiet electric car and is active at speeds up to 30 km/h.
• Forward Collision Alert with Low Speed Collision Mitigation Braking & Reflective LED Alert Display – to help prevent front-end collisions.

Infotainment & connectivity

Well informed: New Opel Ampera-e with digital instrument panel and central, iPad-inspired monitor.

Opel’s electric car is the perfect match for our digital age: essential operations are performed via the individually configurable, tablet-like 10.2 inch color monitor. All important information on the vehicle or the outside conditions can be displayed here. The IntelliLink-e infotainment system can integrate compatible smartphones via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These can be charged even when not connected through a cable thanks to wireless charging. Features such as voice control, USB and Bluetooth interfaces are obviously also available. Audiophile Ampera-e owners can also order the Bose sound system with subwoofer – a special treat in the super-silent electric car.

IntelliLink-e finally fuses to create a complete service offering when combined with the personal service and connectivity assistant Opel OnStar. OnStar offers a powerful 4G/LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot, ensuring outstanding connectivity for all Ampera-e occupants and their mobile devices. Furthermore, Opel OnStar users are only a press of a button away from a personal advisor who can help book a hotel room (booking service), find the closest available charging station or provide directions to a car park.

The digital offering is rounded off by the newly developed myOpelApp. It gives Ampera-e owners the possibility of controlling their car from afar – just like with all other models with Opel OnStar on board. The app helps fully exploit the advantages of an electric car: The Ampera-e can be pre-heated or pre-cooled no matter whether it is parked at a charging station or not via the app, thus enabling passengers to get into a perfectly acclimatized car no matter what the weather. In combination with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto the app also enables the location of charging stations to be considered when planning routes – just in case the distance exceeds the range.

Just like its sibling the Chevrolet Bolt EV, the Opel Ampera-e is made in the GM plant in Orion, Michigan.

Christmastime with the new Opel Ampera-e: Simply electrifying !

More than 500 kilometers of purely electric range for a truly super-silent night.

Father Christmas has no doubt,

The Ampera-e is worth a shout.

Convinced by its breathtaking electric range

He feels it’s time to make a significant change

From reindeer, sleigh bells and ho ho ho,

To electric power gliding through the snow.

With the seats flipped down there is plenty of space

To pack all the presents for the yearly race.

And when all is done, he can scream with delight,

Donner and Blitzen, I had a great night!

Opel and Riwal888 wishes you a merry Christmas.