Opel Corsa-e Electric Car: Fast and Easy Charging

• Charging at home: from household socket to wallbox
• Charging on journeys: high-speed charging is standard
• Charging everywhere: with the “universal charging cable” at every charging station
• Via remote control: efficient travel with e-Services and the myOpel app

Opel Corsa-e: Fast and Easy Charging

Europe’s energy infrastructure is extremely diverse, with a wide variety of power supply grids offering different charging options. Owners of the Opel Corsa-e, which can already be ordered and will be available from spring 2020, do not need to be concerned. Opel offers tailor-made charging options for the purely battery-electric Corsa-e ranging from diverse cables for plugging into sockets and charging stations to a selection of wallboxes and an innovative “universal charger“. Access to multiple charging options is as important as the quickest charging times. Opel Corsa-e ensures both with powerful on-board chargers.

Three-phase 11 kW on-board charger enables fast charging

In Germany, the Opel Corsa-e from Edition upwards is equipped as standard with a three-phase 11 kW on-board charger. In countries where a three-phase household connection is less common, a single-phase 7.4 kW on-board charger is alternatively available. This comes as standard with the Opel Corsa-e Selection. In addition, the standard equipment in every trim variant of the Opel Corsa-e enables the use of fast-charging stations up to 100 kW.

In addition to powerful on-board chargers, the Opel Corsa-e is ready for all charging options – from household sockets and wallboxes to high-speed charging at public charging points. Customers who prefer the most convenient option of immediate and effortless recharging at home use the standard “mode 2 cable” for the normal 1.8 kW household socket. This comes with the cable that fits the energy infrastructure of the market. Opel customers can choose from various chargers in the accessories range to speed up the process.

When travelling, various “mode 3 cables” optimally tailored to the on-board chargers on offer are available for public charging. They are six metres long and thus enable access to public charging points even if parking is not available right next to them. In around 90 minutes, a range of approximately 100 kilometres can be added, while a full charge takes about five hours and 15 minutes (wallbox/public charging with 11 kW).

One for all, or: Swiss army knife of charging equipment

The “universal charging cable” combines the functions of mode 2 and mode 3 cables as well as a wallbox in one device. With its adapters, this mobile charging device can be connected to almost all household sockets and public charging stations. All you need at home is a conventional power socket to charge with up to 11 kW. The “universal charging cable” is thus ideal for customers who normally charge their car overnight at home but also want to occasionally make longer trips and then must “fill up” on the road. In these cases, they simply take their “universal charging cable” along and are equipped for every situation.

DC (direct current) charging stations are even faster. They are often installed along motorways. At up to 100 kW charging power, after just 12 minutes range is extended by 100 kilometres. In less than 30 minutes, the battery can be recharged to 80 per cent of its capacity.

While driving the Corsa-e, the current battery state-of-charge, energy consumption and range can be monitored on a separate menu displayed on the infotainment screen at the touch of a button.

Practical, easy, reliable: e-Services for Opel’s electric vehicles

To make driving in the new Opel Corsa-e even more convenient and relaxed, the infotainment systems Multimedia Navi and Multimedia Navi Pro as well as Free2Move Services, the Groupe PSA mobility brand, offer dedicated solutions for electrified vehicles. These are easy to use via apps. For instance with the myOpel app, range and charging status can be checked and the charging start time at a wallbox at home can be programmed. Using “intelligent charging“, charging can be immediately started or set for a later time, when electricity is cheaper. Another comfort plus: Opel Corsa-e owners can also conveniently preselect air conditioning and heating from the couch using the remote control.

One of the Free2Move services available on request is the “Charge My Car” charging pass, which enables access to over 110,000 charging points in Europe via the Free2Move app. To make it easier for customers to choose the right charging point, Free2Move Services makes a preselection based on the distance to the charging point, the charging speed and the charging price of the possible public charging options.

In addition, Free2Move Services offers a trip planner that also takes into account the location of the charging stations along the route and thus calculates the optimum route guidance. If the route is sent from the app to the navigation system, networked navigation guides the driver directly to the selected charging station and always shows the best route via the up to ten-inch colour touchscreen (with Multimedia Navi Pro). This avoids unnecessary stops or loss of time in the search for the next charging option. Instead, the app provides drivers and passengers with a realistic forecast of their estimated journey or travel time to their destination before they even start. In the coming months, further e-Services for Opel's electric vehicles will follow.

New OpelConnect Service Launched

• Peace of mind: Emergency Call, Breakdown Call and Vehicle Status & Information
• More convenience: Open & Start with mobile device and remote functions
• Drive smart: Live Navigation, Trip & Drive Management
• Orderable now: OpelConnect box in new cars for €300 in Germany
• IAA debut: first cars with OpelConnect on Opel stand at Frankfurt Motor Show

New OpelConnect Service

OpelConnect is launched. In future, Opel drivers will be well connected and protected with the new service. Thanks to live navigation with online traffic information, breakdown call and remote control via app, they will also feel more relaxed. In addition, the OpelConnect services and more information can be accessed via the colour touchscreen of the in-car infotainment system (compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) or via smartphone with the myOpel app. OpelConnect makes its debut at this year’s IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show (public days September 12-22). Visitors to the show can find out more about the new services on the Opel stand D31 in hall 11.0.

Customers can already equip their new car with OpelConnect for prices starting at €300 (RRP incl. VAT in Germany). System is available for Opel models from new Corsa, Crossland X and Grandland X, to Combo Life, Combo Cargo, Zafira Life and Vivaro. OpelConnect is standard on Opel cars with Multimedia Navi and Multimedia Navi Pro infotainment systems, and on the new Corsa-e and the Grandland X Hybrid4 (fuel consumption: WLTP1 1.6 l/100km, 37 g/km CO2; NEDC2 1.6 l/100km, 36 g/km CO2. All values weighted, combined and preliminary) 3.

Peace of mind: immediate help and optimum status overview

If the airbags or seatbelt tensioners are deployed in an accident, an emergency call is made automatically to the local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) 4. If no answer is received from the vehicle the PSAP sends details of the accident to the rescue services, including the time of incident, the position of the crashed vehicle and the direction of travel.

Opel Emergency Call Button

An emergency call can also be triggered manually by pushing the red SOS button in the ceiling above the mirror for more than two seconds.

A breakdown call connects the driver with the Opel mobility service. Important information such as location and diagnosis data, the time of the breakdown, water and oil temperatures and maintenance alerts can be sent automatically, if the customer wishes.

Drivers can get information about their car via the myOpel app and Vehicle Status & Information service5. The available data includes mileage, average fuel consumption, service intervals and refills, and also a reminder if a scheduled service is approaching. In addition to the owner, the Opel partner is also informed about service intervals and other offers, so that an appointment can be arranged.

Comfortable: remote control of vehicle functions

Functions such as door locking/unlocking or activation of the horn and lights to find the car, for example in a packed carpark, can be operated via the Remote Services6function. With electrified models, such as the Opel Corsa-e or Opel Grandland X Hybrid4, the state-of-charge can be checked. Charging times and thermal preconditioning can also be programmed via the app.

If the car is equipped with Keyless Open & Start including digital key, the car can be shared with the family. Via smartphone, the vehicle owner can allow up to five people to access the car 7.

Clever driving: always best informed about traffic

Live navigation 8 provides online traffic information in real time, which allows delays to be detected quickly and avoided. The system suggests alternative routes and calculates the arrival time. It also gives information about roads with heavy traffic, so that drivers can choose a less busy route. Additional services provide information about fuel prices along the route, available parking spaces and costs, the weather and points of interest such as restaurants and hotels (or in the case of electrified models, the availability of charging stations).

Drivers who want to know more about their own driver profile from OpelConnect can consult Trip & Drive Management. Trip duration, distance, fuel consumption and average speed of the last trip are visible here. Last mile guidance offers car-to-door navigation to the destination.

OpelConnect and Free2Move will soon offer additional country-specific services. These will range from Charge my Car with trip planner and charging pass for e-vehicles, to special services for business customers.

OpelConnect services will initially be available from autumn 2019 onward in 12 countries – Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain and the United Kingdom. The offer will be successively introduced into additional European markets.

[1] Fuel consumption and CO2-emission data given are preliminary and have been determined according to WLTP test procedure methodology (R (EC) No. 715/2007, R (EU) No. 2017/1151). EG type approval and Certificate of Conformity are not yet available. The preliminary values might differ from official final type approval data.

[2] Fuel consumption and CO2-emission data given are preliminary and have been determined according to WLTP test procedure methodology, and the relevant values are translated back into NEDC to allow the comparability with other vehicles, according to regulations R (EC) No. 715/2007, R (EU) No. 2017/1153 and R (EU) No. 2017/1151. EG type approval and Certificate of Conformity are not yet available. The preliminary values might differ from official final type approval data.

[3] Dependent on market-availability of OpelConnect services.

[4] Available in EU and EFTA countries.

[5] Availability expected Q4 2019.

[6] Remote control availability expected 2020.

[7] Availability for Opel Corsa expected 2020.

[8] Live navigation services available free-of-charge for 36 months after activation. Payment for Live navigation services required thereafter.

Brand CEO of the Year: Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller Awarded “Eurostar 2019”

Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller has been honoured by the renowned industry magazine Automotive News Europe as Brand CEO of the Year with the “Eurostar 2019”. With the award, the respected trade publication honours the comeback of the Opel brand under the leadership of Lohscheller, who is the first Opel CEO in history to receive the “Eurostar” award.

Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller and Opel Insignia
 

“This award is a great honour for me personally, but above all a special tribute to our entire team, which has done great things in the past few months. Every day at Opel we work hard to strengthen the comeback and the profile of our tradition-rich brand. We can be proud of what we have achieved as part of Groupe PSA and we will make our Blitz logo shine even brighter,” said Michael Lohscheller.

Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller and Opel Grandland X

Following the takeover of Opel by Groupe PSA in the summer of 2017, the management team led by Michael Lohscheller developed – on their own – a comprehensive restructuring plan called PACE!. The overarching goals: with PACE! Opel will become sustainably profitable, global and electric. Consistent implementation of this plan under Lohscheller meant that Opel was able to achieve a recurring operating income of €859 million in 2018 – the highest operating profit in the 157-year company history after nearly 20 years of losses. In the first half of 2019, Opel was able to further improve its results and achieved an operating income of €700 million in a difficult environment for the entire industry.

Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller and new Opel Corsa-e

“Opel has had numerous CEOs in recent years – half a dozen since the turn of the century alone. However, Michael Lohscheller turned being the first one who, after developing a comprehensive plan, not only delivered, but so far even over delivered,” said Luca Ciferri, Associate Publisher and Editor-in-Chief at Automotive News Europe.

Michael Lohscheller has been Opel CEO since June 2017. Previously, since September 2012, he was Chief Financial Officer. Michal Lohscheller has more than 20 years of experience in various companies in the automotive industry, where he worked in several areas. Lohscheller, born on November 12, 1968, studied at the University of Applied Sciences in Osnabrück, Germany, and at the University of Barcelona, Spain. From 1993 to 1996, he studied European Marketing Management and earned a Master of Arts (MA) degree at Brunel University, London, UK. He is married, has two children and is a passionate long-distance runner who has already successfully completed 110 marathons.

Automotive News Europe is one of the world's leading automotive magazines and has been in Europe since 1996. The magazine has been presenting the annual “Eurostar” awards since 1998. According to the jury, the award honours “the best of the best” from all areas of the automotive industry. For example, the winners included Groupe PSA CEO, Carlos Tavares (as “Group CEO” in 2017).

Michael Lohscheller will accept the award at the “Eurostars” gala on the eve of the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, where Opel will present the newest generation of its bestseller, the all-new Corsa.