THE revolutionary Opel Ampera, revealed at the Geneva Motor Show, will be the first emission-free, electrically propelled automobile in Europe suitable for everyday driving.
“The Ampera is a new category of car that closes the gap between hybrids and battery electric vehicles,” said Carl-Peter Forster, president of GM Europe, owners of the Opel marque.
“Its groundbreaking Voltec electric propulsion system is the kind of game-changing technology the automotive industry needs to respond to energy and environmental challenges.”
For journeys up to 60km, the five-door, four-seat hatchback runs on electricity stored in a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery and emits zero CO2. When the battery’s energy is depleted, electricity from an onboard engine-generator extends the Ampera’s range to more than 500 kilometres.
”Opel remains focused on building on its heritage of German engineering to provide leading-edge technologies, especially in the field of environmental compatibility. With the launch of the Ampera in 2011, Opel will be the first European car manufacturer to provide customers with several hundred kilometres of non-stop electric driving,” commented Gillian Whittall, marketing & PR manager, GM Ireland.
The Opel Ampera will be well-suited to the daily driving schedule of most Irish customers, with Ireland’s compact road network, particularly for commuters travelling less than 60km per day. This is well within the battery-only range of the Ampera.
“The Ampera’s exterior design takes up cues from the Flextreme and GTC Concept show cars with an upscale, sporty look that builds on Opel’s theme of sculptural forms and expressive lines,” Mr Whittall concluded.
See Ennis Road Opel and Hinchy’s of Garryspillane for passenger and light commercials available in 2009, new and used cars.
