!NEW! Next Generation Chevrolet Volt to debut at 2015 International Auto Show in Detroit

Will continue to be manufactured at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant

Chevrolet announced today that the next generation Volt will make its debut at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The next generation Chevrolet Volt will debut at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Global Chevrolet Chief Marketing Officer Tim Mahoney said today.

The 2016 Volt will build on the award-winning original’s strong foundation of technology innovation. Volt sales were up 13 percent in July and more than 65,000 have been sold since it was introduced – making it the best-selling plug-in passenger car in the U.S. market.

“Volt is the perfect example of the ingenuity that drives everything we do at Chevrolet,” Mahoney said at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefings. “Volt fully delivers on the promises of Find New Roads and will continue to provide consumers with the transportation solutions they need and deserve in the future.”

Volt owners are driving more than 63 percent of their overall miles in electric vehicle mode, collectively logging more than 500 million gas-free miles since the Volt’s retail debut in 2010. That has saved more than 25 million gallons of gasoline. 

While the driving range in EV mode can be affected by temperature, driving technique and terrain, the ease with which Volt drivers are avoiding gasoline use demonstrates the Volt’s suitability for almost any lifestyle.

Volt owners who charge regularly typically drive more than 970 miles between fill-ups and visit the gas station less than once a month.

The Volt has received multiple customer satisfaction awards from leading third-parties. According to a recent leading independent satisfaction survey, the Volt is the highest-rated compact car under $55,000. Owners are showing their satisfaction as well. For the past three years, a leading customer publication has reported survey results showing more than 90 percent of Volt owners said they would definitely buy a Volt again.

The Volt continues to draw buyers from non-General Motors’ products.  In the 2013 calendar year, nearly seven of 10 new Volt buyers traded in a non-GM vehicle, the majority of which were Toyota Prius.

Among its accolades, the 2014 Volt has been recognized for its safety, most recently receiving the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 2014 Top Safety Pick+ designation for vehicles equipped with an available Forward Collision Alert system.

Two Years of Opel Ampera: The Uncompromising Electric Car

• 100 million kilometers covered on pure electric power since market launch
• 7,700 enthusiastic owners and over 50 international awards
• First car from European manufacturer with range extender technology

Opel Ampera EV 

The Opel Ampera is unique. The first electric vehicle suitable for everyday use has been on sale for almost two years and at a current price of 38,300 euros, the customer gets a car today that is equipped with the technology of tomorrow. Owners across Europe have now driven a total of 100 million kilometers on pure electric power, so it’s time to review real-life electric mobility.

The number of electric vehicles in the European market in 2013 is still too low. While their market share has increased slightly over last year, from 0.15 to 0.19 percent, this is still far behind the forecasts of numerous experts.

Opel is doing its utmost to support electric mobility. CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann says: “The Opel Ampera was the first electric vehicle on the market from a European manufacturer. Two years later, we remain committed to our strategy of providing sustainable mobility. We will continue investing in electric propulsion and believe in an emission-free automotive future – not only tomorrow, but also today.”

A total of 7,700 customers have already chosen the trendsetting Opel Ampera. In 2012, it was the best-selling e-car in Europe and was voted Car of the Year by a jury of trade experts. Currently the Opel Ampera is in third place among European e-car registrations with a market share of almost ten percent. In the Netherlands – Europe’s largest and most important market for electric cars – the Ampera is the undisputed leader with an impressive market share of 40 percent. In Germany – the only major market for electric vehicles in Europe without incentive programs – its market share has grown to a remarkable ten percent, and this upward trend is continuing: since its price was reduced in September 2013 to 38,300 euros, orders have almost doubled – a clear indication of how price-sensitive the electric vehicle market remains.

Customers who opt for an electric car quickly become fans. Owners in Europe have reassessed their approach and the Ampera is increasingly being driven in pure battery-powered mode. This is reflected in fuel consumption figures. In a study in the Netherlands, drivers achieved figures substantially lower than the EU standard fuel consumption level (1.2 liters fuel per 100 km, 27 g/km CO2).

Dutchman Benny van Wijngaarden, for example, covers over 25,000 km annually with his Ampera and uses just 0.9 liters of gasoline per 100 km. However, the Belgian fuel-saving champion is clearly Franky Van Liedekerke, who needs only 0.5 liters per 100 km while covering almost 15,000 km annually. These frugal Ampera owners drive more than three-quarters of their total mileage on pure battery electricity without requiring assistance from the Opel Ampera’s range extender.

With their environmentally aware driving, European Ampera drivers have been able to prevent 13,000 tons of local CO2 emissions entering the atmosphere over the past two years, compared to emissions from conventional cars – a blessing for the environment. Ampera owner and mountaineering icon Reinhold Messner shares this view: He is able to roll along emission-free through the small towns of his native South Tyrol which are often overrun with traffic.

While environmental friendliness is one of the Ampera’s strengths, fuel economy is another benefit. Herbert Hans Grüntker, Managing Director of the Frankfurter Sparkasse (Frankfurt Savings Bank), highlights: “We use the Opel Ampera as a company car because for us it is the perfect combination of economic and ecological efficiency. We can recharge the Ampera at our own charging station. And our employees and business partners enjoy the comfort and wonderful quietness of this elegant electric car.”

The German business world is currently discovering the attractions of the Opel Ampera in a car-sharing project, RUHRAUTOe, led by Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Dudenhöffer of the CAR Institute. The Ampera is the most popular choice among the pool of various electric cars. From a total of 80,000 km driven, RUHRAUTOe users covered more than 50,000 km with the Ampera in almost 700 drives.

“The Opel Ampera is extremely well received by the business customers in RUHRAUTOe,* says Dudenhȍffer. “The ability to drive electrically without range restrictions is very important for companies and can easily be realized with the Opel Ampera.”

Something Peter Meyer, president of the German automobile club ADAC, underlines: "Since spring 2012 an Opel Ampera is being intensively used by our employees of the ADAC Technical Forum in Landsberg am Lech both for testing and interim analyses as well as for drives to appointments or film- and photo shoots. Thanks to the easy range extension technology, the Ampera enjoys great popularity and within the first test year already covered over 32,000 kilometers without any problem, some 45 percent of which were powered by pure battery electricity."

!NEW! Opel Ampera and iZEUS: Intelligent electric driving and recharging

• Starring role for Opel Ampera in iZEUS research project
• Customer-oriented integration of electric energy networks and transportation
• Project is funded by the German Ministry for Economy and Transport

The presentation of a specially-equipped Ampera to the Technical Institute Karlsruhe (KIT) marks the commencement of a field trial in the research project iZEUS (intelligent Zero Emission Urban System) in Stuttgart. 

The presentation of a specially-equipped Ampera to the Technical Institute Karlsruhe (KIT) marks the commencement of a field trial in the research project iZEUS (intelligent Zero Emission Urban System) in Stuttgart. Opel is researching the user-friendly integration of electric energy networks and transport in the fields ‘Smart Traffic’ and ‘Smart Grid’, together with its partners EnBW AG (consortium leader), ads-tec GmbH, Daimler AG, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, KIT, PTV Group, SAP AG and TWT GmbH Science and Innovation.

Thanks to the R&D carried out by Opel with the Ampera, drivers of electric vehicles in the future will reach their destination with maximum efficiency, zero range-anxiety and zero emissions. They will also pay for the renewably-generated electricity to recharge the car’s battery in the way most convenient to them.

In the iZEUS project, the Ampera has a specially-designed navigation system which allows it to calculate the most efficient route based on road conditions, topography, weather, battery temperature and performance of the air-conditioning system.

“The Opel Ampera is the flagship of electric cars for everyday driving”, states Dr. Christian Kunstmann, Head of Development for Power Train Electrification at Opel. “The connection between mobility and sustainable energy supply has always been of key importance to Opel, so much so that we offer our customers green-energy electricity contracts for the Ampera. The iZEUS project is about bringing this experience to the development of simple and customer-oriented accounting systems for battery charging.”

Furthermore, electric mobility should fit into daily life: drivers can pay for the renewably generated electricity to recharge the battery via their regular electric-mobility contract or a pre-paid card.

Intelligent driving with Opel’s Meriva battery research vehicles

Opel is also bringing Meriva battery research vehicles to iZEUS as part of the project’s research into linking traffic and energy systems for intelligent driving. These vehicles already provided valuable insights into bi-directional loading and integration in a smart grid in the earlier MeRegioMobil project. The iZEUS Merivas will introduce intelligent battery charging communication based on current ISO 156118 standards as well as carrying out testing of charging communications and bi-directional energy management at the KIT’s “Energy Smart Home Lab”.

The inclusion of traffic and energy systems in forthcoming smart grid concepts will also enable the improved integration of renewable energy resources and the construction of sustainable distribution networks through decentralized energy and charging management. While electromobility offers real and tangible potential for the reduction of CO2 emissions, this can only be maximized if intelligent and customer-oriented systems can be linked with current energy systems.

A key project component is therefore the development of standards for controlled charging. This should be able to take into account oscillations in energy supply counterbalanced by the appropriate customization of charging intensity which at the same time does not place restrictions on the vehicle user. The project foresees the ongoing development of accompanying legal frameworks, norms and standards established on the basis of political procedural recommendations.

iZEUS

The research project iZEUS develops concepts and practical examples for the integration of electromobility in private- as well as in urban commercial transport. The goal of the research is to develop one uniform transport concept that will be tested and demonstrated with the help of fleet tests made up of a significant number of test vehicles. The cross-regional interlinking of transport- and energy systems, innovative account management- and fleet management systems will play a central role, as will decentralized energy- and charging management that uses stationary energy storage units for the improved integration of renewable energy resources and for the stabilization of distribution networks.

The project partners include, alongside the EnBW AG as consortium leader, Adam Opel AG, ads-tec GmbH, Daimler AG, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, the KIT, the PTV Group, SAP AG and TWT GmbH Science & Innovation. The project is funded by the IKT for electromobility through the German Ministry of Economy and Transport.

The iZEUS project website can be downloaded at the following link: http://www.izeus.de/

!NEW! Opel Ampera Wins "eCar Award 2013" As Best Overall Concept

• Opel Ampera wins award in the new category "First Evergreens"
• Opel CEO Dr. Neumann accepts prize at the IAA in Frankfurt

The price has been handed over to Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann by the editors-in-chief Bernd Wieland (on left) and Olaf Schilling. 

In 2010, the revolutionary Opel Ampera won the newly introduced "eCar Award” as the "Innovation of the Year"; in 2011 the series production vehicle was voted "eCar of the Year". And not even two years after its launch, the electric car with the clever range extender concept is already one of the first evergreens in the electric car segment: more than 13,000 readers of Auto Bild and Auto Test chose the Ampera over 15 competitors as the "best overall concept" among the "first evergreens" of electric mobility. At the IAA in Frankfurt the initiators of the "eCar Award", editors-in-chief Bernd Wieland (Auto Bild) and Olaf Schilling (Auto Test), congratulated Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann on this success.

"The trendsetting propulsion concept of our Ampera was convincing from the very start," said Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann at the award ceremony. "The fact that the Ampera is now already regarded as an 'evergreen' and the readers have selected it as the best overall concept shows us that the technology combining electric drive and a range extender is not only well received, but also that it has proven itself in real-world mobility."

As an important boost for the further proliferation of electric mobility, Opel has just lowered the entry-level price for the Ampera to 38,300 Euro (RRP incl. VAT in Germany) – 7,600 Euro less than before. The automaker is thus again making innovative mobility solutions accessible to a broader customer base.

Opel Ampera: Electric mobility suitable for everyday use

The Opel Ampera is the first electric vehicle that does not require any changes in habit or attitude. A unique 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack feeds an advanced, 111 kW/150 hp electric drive unit to deliver between 40 and 80 km of pure electric operation with zero emissions – depending on terrain, driving technique and temperature – when fully charged. In extended-range mode, which activates whenever the battery has reached its minimum state of charge, power is seamlessly inverted to the electric drive unit from a generator driven by a gasoline engine. This enables a total driving range of more than 500 kilometers without refueling. The Ampera’s electric propulsion system delivers instant torque of 370 Nm that enables zero to 100 km/h acceleration in under ten seconds and a top speed of 161 km/h.

!NEW! Opel Ampera Electric Vehicle Now At Low Price of 38,300 euros

• Clear signal: Price reduction gives electric mobility new boost
• Clear statement: Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann announces E-initiative
• No compromises: Fully-fledged four-seater without range limitation

Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann at the ZEIT Conference with the Opel Ampera.

The Opel Ampera is unique. No other European electric car can transport four people up to 80 kilometers on pure electric power and more than 500 kilometers in bi-fuel operation without making a stop to re-charge. In the framework of the model offensive that is now in full swing, Opel is making another clear statement and investing in the future of electric mobility. The German automaker is significantly reducing the Ampera’s purchase price in selected markets – as a boost for this environmentally friendly type of mobility that is still not widespread enough. In Germany the innovation leader Opel Ampera is now available from just 38,300 euros, a substantial reduction of 7,600 euros.

Opel is one of the pioneers in trendsetting electric mobility. Since its market launch at the beginning of 2012, Opel has made significant progress with its first electric car. By streamlining series production processes, leveraging savings in components purchasing and maintaining an unwavering commitment to making electric mobility affordable for everyone, Opel is now able to considerably reduce the Ampera’s price. In doing so, the automaker strengthens a new, trendsetting technology – for the general benefit of the customers and much to the delight of the Opel CEO. Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann: “The Opel Ampera was the first electric car on the market from a European manufacturer. With our new pricing, we show our straightforwardness and continue to pursue our strategy for sustainable mobility. We at Opel remain committed to investing in electric propulsion and believe in an emission-free automotive future – not in the future, but today.” The Opel CEO announced this good news today at the ZEIT Congress in Frankfurt, a conference for experts on the subject of mobility of the future.

The Opel Ampera is a fully-fledged, four-seat sedan which can cover up to 80 kilometers on pure electric power, meaning completely emission-free in urban areas. When the 16-kWh lithium battery is charged with electricity from renewable sources, its environmental footprint is impeccable. And when the on-board range extender – a 1.4-liter gasoline engine – is used, the Opel Ampera can cover distances up to 500 kilometers without stopping for a battery re-charge.

!NEW! Opel/Vauxhall Ampera Leads Field at the ITU World Triathlon Series

Opel/Vauxhall sponsors one of the world’s largest triathlon series

The low emission electric Ampera ideally reflects this innovative sport

Athletes and crowd favorite with over 22,000 participants and 800,000 spectators 

Opel/Vauxhall Ampera Leads Field at the ITU World Triathlon Series

The Opel/Vauxhall Ampera is the official lead car at the three final European legs of the ITU World Triathlon Series 2013. Opel/Vauxhall is the official auto supplier and one the key sponsors of the competitions in Hamburg (July 20 – 21) and Stockholm (August 24 – 25), as well as the spectacular Grand Final in London (September 11 – 15). 

The Opel/Vauxhall Ampera leads the way – emission-free and silently – for the elite fields of triathletes at all three events, setting the stage for the sportspeople. As Europe’s best-selling electric car in 2012, it will also act as an environmentally friendly and comfortable shuttle service vehicle for dignitaries and VIPs.

“Triathlon is a rapidly-growing Olympic discipline among sports fans. It requires serious ambition, absolute perfection and enormous versatility – values that our Ampera also ideally represents,” says Opel CEO and dedicated marathon runner Karl-Thomas Neumann. “So we are delighted to be the only automaker to exclusively support the ITU World Triathlon Series in Europe with our emission-free electric vehicle." 

With a fully charged battery, the Ampera can cover between 40 and 80 km purely electrically and with zero emissions before the clever range-extender concept kicks in and enables a driving range of up to 500 km without requiring a filling station stop. The spacious sedan has room for four occupants and their luggage or sporting equipment.

ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado says, “The Opel/Vauxhall Ampera delivers power and endurance in a sustainable format, which reflect triathlons core components and key values for the International Triathlon Union. We are delighted to partner with a company that shares our same message."

Triathlon series attracts enthused athletes and spectators on multiple continents

In total, more than 22,000 participants from every continent are expected to take part in the final three events of the premier triathlon series. In addition, an estimated 800,000 spectators will cheer on both the amateur participants and the world’s best triathletes across the course. In Hamburg, Stockholm and London, the elite athletes will compete for precious points to decide the 2013 World Championship title. The ITU World Triathlon Series has already held events in New Zealand, USA, Japan, Spain and most recently in Kitzbühel, Austria. The multi-continent triathlon series is a major landmark for on-site spectators but also TV sport fans – with all events broadcast in over 160 countries.

!NEW! Two Amperas for Efficiency House Plus in Berlin

Two Electric cars from Opel as everyday solution for CO2-neutral housing

Two Amperas brings emission-free mobility for inhabitants of the Efficiency House Plus in Berlin

In Berlin model project "Efficiency House Plus," can people moves now with new Opel Ampera. To guarantee the mobility of the inhabitants of the CO2 neutral house emissions, Opel presents two vehicles available. The test family that lives in the house plus efficiency drives, now for three months, the "Car of the Year 2012". Rainer Bomba, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (BMVBS), and Gerrit Riemer, Director Future Mobility at Opel, presented now, the two vehicles. 

Gerrit Riemer (Opel) and Rainer Bomba (BMVBS) passes for the residents of the Efficiency House Plus the keys from two new Amperas.

"Opel is participating in the pilot project to demonstrate that electric mobility is perfect for everyday use. Thanks to the self-generated current from the house goes to the Ampera.
 

100 percent organic. With the innovative concept of the Ampera, the best-selling electric car in Europe, Opel is a pioneer and trendsetter in the field of sustainable mobility. For living in the future will increase the efficiency of building a similar pioneering role as the Ampera for sustainable mobility, "said Gerrit Riemer.

The Ampera is the first fully electric vehicle for everyday use by a European manufacturer. A large 16 kWh lithium-ion battery powers the 111 kW/150 hp electric motor with energy. Depending on driving style, road profile and outside temperature can thus distances from 40 to 80 kilometers to cover purely battery powered and completely emission-free. For longer distances, a gasoline engine serves as a generator to the vehicle continues to be driven electrically. This makes traveling more than 500 miles without stopping.
 

From left: Gerrit Riemer, Director Future Mobility at Opel, test family, Rainer Bomba, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (BMVBS)

The "Efficiency House Plus with Electromobility", Fasanenstraße 87a in Berlin, was in 2012 opened by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Federal Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer, is a project of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development. The energy-plus house produces twice as much electricity as it consumes - enough to fill up in addition to electric cars.

Electric Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt wins Green Engine Award

• First time ever a range extending powertrain wins an “International Engine Award”
• Revolutionary propulsion concept wins green engine category amid fierce competition
• Unique range extender enables go-anywhere–anytime mobility

The revolutionary Ampera and Volt electric vehicles have been given yet more global recognition by the automotive media. Their range extending 1.4 liter engine has won the “International Engine of the Year Award” for the best green engine in a tough field of 45 other “green” contenders. The Ampera and the Volt are the first electric vehicles in the market that can go anywhere anytime. It is also the first time in the 14 year history of the awards that a range extending powertrain has emerged as a winner. The awards ceremony was held in the German city of Stuttgart.

“Until the Volt and Ampera the short range of battery electric vehicles has limited their suitability for everyday use,” said Uwe Winter, Vehicle Line Director and Chief Engineer, who was handed the prize by the British organizers, the Engine Technology International magazine. “Our revolutionary propulsion system removes this obstacle by uniting the environmental friendliness of electric drive with the long range of a combustion engine. And the Best Green Engine Award is the highest recognition of this achievement.”

 

Seventy-six leading motoring journalists from 35 countries around the world sit on the panel of judges and award prizes in twelve different categories for excellence in powertrain engineering. They agree that this year was one of the toughest to judge so far with 39 all-new engines taking part in the contest.

One of the jury members, Bill McKinnon, explained why there had been strong support for the Ampera/Volt range extender: “Combining pure electric efficiency with petrol versatility and convenience means that this is a leading solution.”

The latest accolade comes against a backdrop of rising global fuel prices, where small, green and electric powertrains are playing an increasingly prominent role in the international automotive trade.

A 16 kWh lithium-ion battery powers the 111kW/150 hp electric motor of the Ampera/Volt. Depending on the style of driving and road conditions, distance of between 40 and 80 kilometers can be covered in the purely battery-operated mode, completely free of emissions. The wheels of the car are always powered electrically. In extended-range mode, which activates whenever the battery has reached its minimum state of charge, power is seamlessly inverted to the electric drive unit from a generator driven by the 1.4 liter, 63 kW/86 hp gasoline engine. Extended-range mode enables a total driving range of more than 500 kilometers without refueling.

The Ampera and Volt together have won numerous international awards including the “World Green Car of the Year 2011” and have just been named the European “Car of the Year 2012”. There have also been accolades for safety like the maximum 5-star Euro NCAP award. Last year, the propulsion system of the Volt was named one of the ten best engines for North America by Ward’s automotive magazine.

Opel Ampera Wins Rally Monte Carlo

• Four Ampera electric vehicles among the top 10 in rally for alternative propulsion
• French team Darniche/Lambert successful against some 130 competitors
• Debuting Ampera succeed in durability and fuel consumption tests

Opel Ampera won Rally Monte Carlo for alternative propulsion

After winning the “Car of the Year 2012” award, the Opel Ampera has now also won the 13. International Monte Carlo Rally for electric cars and alternative propulsion in which it competed for the first time. Four Ampera ranked among the top 10 vehicles. The French duo Bernard Darniche and Joseph Lambert managed to beat the entire competitive field. On Sunday, the final day of the contest, the revolutionary electric vehicle reached the finish line in the capital of the Côte d’Azur principality. Some 130 competitors from about 30 manufacturers took part, among them seven Ampera, including one private Ampera team. The other contenders included a Renault Fluence Z.E., a Tesla Roadster sports car, a Mitsubishi I-MiEV and a Peugeot Ion. Apart from the overall victory, the Ampera teams with Charlotte Berton and Olivier Sussot ranked third, Jean-Claude Andruet and Patrick Lienne came in 7^th and Hanns Werner Wirth and Daniel Riesen finished 8^th, completing the fantastic result.

Opel Ampera on Rally Monte Carlo - German Team

“The Ampera’s success in this versatility contest under very challenging conditions proves its impressive balance between durability and fuel efficiency. This underscores our leadership role in the field of alternative propulsion,” says Opel’s Director E-mobility, Enno Fuchs. The “Rallye Monte-Carlo Des Énergies Nouvelles” took place for the 13^th time and has established itself as the oldest motorsport event for vehicles with alternative propulsion. The Monte Carlo Automobile Club has organized the competition since 1995.

Endurance test for alternative propulsion

The rally started in the three towns of Annecy-le-Vieux, Clermont Ferrand and Lugano for 550 kilometers via Digne-les-Bains, the capital of the French district (département) Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to Monaco. On the second day, the teams had to complete a distance of 272 kilometers, leading them through Monaco and the original route of the Monte Carlo Rally through the French Maritime Alps. In these two days the teams were subjected to regularity tests and had to prove their driving skills by pushing their vehicles to the limit.

Apart from the regularity tests, the focus lay with fuel consumption. With the help of a ratio derived from vehicle weight, CO₂ emissions, the energy density of the fuel and its consumption, the organizers were able to calculate a comparison value and draw up an overall ranking. “The sophisticated technology of the Ampera was always reliable and enabled our tremendous success,” says the French rally co-pilot, Joseph Lambert who celebrated the victory with driver Bernhard Darniche. Darniche already won the legendary Monte Carlo Rally in 1979 and has more than 10 times been successful in winning the special stage over the famous Col de Turini.

Opel Ampera on Rally Monte Carlo - French Team

 

The Opel Ampera is the first electric vehicle that can go anywhere anytime. A 16 kWh lithium ion battery powers the 111kW/150 hp electric motor. Depending on the style of driving and road conditions, distance of between 40 and 80 kilometers can be covered in the purely battery-operated mode, completely free of emissions. The wheels of the Ampera are always powered electrically. In extended-range mode, which activates whenever the battery has reached its minimum state of charge, the gasoline engine drives a generator that supplies the electric drive unit. The range extender enables an operating radius of 500 kilometers. On the road, the Ampera’s electric propulsion system provides instant torque of 370 Nm enabling zero to 100 km/h acceleration in around nine seconds and a top speed of 161 km/h.

Opel Ampera on Rally Monte Carlo - German Team

Opel Ampera Debuts At Rally Monte Carlo

For the first time in its history, Opel is providing its award-winning electric cars for the prestigious international Rally Monte Carlo. Six electric Opel Ampera will make their debut in the “Alternative Energy” version of the rally which commences in Annecy-le-Vieux, Clermont-Ferrand and Lugano on March 22 and finishes three days later in the capital of Monaco, Monte Carlo. In order to take part, competing vehicles must have a maximum of 115g/km CO2 emissions. The main aim of the rally is to cover a certain distance, maintain a constant speed and use as little energy as possible. Some 150 vehicles are expected to take part this year.

By entering its electric vehicles with range extending capabilities in the international rally, Opel is once again showing that it is a global leader in the field of e-mobility. “Spectators will have the chance to see our electric cars in action under the challenging conditions the rally has to offer.” says Enno Fuchs, Opel’s Director E-Mobility.

The Opel Ampera is the first electric vehicle that can go anywhere anytime. A 16 kWh lithium ion battery powers the 111kW/150 hp electric motor. Depending on the style of driving and road conditions, distance of between 40 and 80 kilometers can be covered in the purely battery-operated mode, completely free of emissions. The wheels of the Ampera are always powered electrically. In extended-range mode, which activates whenever the battery has reached its minimum state of charge, the gasoline engine drives a generator that supplies the electric drive unit. The range extender enables an operating radius of 500 kilometers. On the road, the Ampera’s Voltec electric propulsion system provides instant torque of 370 Nm enabling zero to 100 km/h acceleration in around nine seconds and a top speed of 161 km/h.