Opel Ampera – Revolutionary Electric Car to be launched in 2012

• Environmentally Friendly: Family car drives 40 - 80 km electrically
• Freedom: Battery re-charges in three hours; endless e-driving possible
• No Anxiety: Range can be extended to more than 500 km when needed
• Spacious: Five-door car seats four and has ample trunk space
• Dynamic: Nearly silent torque feels like flying
• Reservations now being taken

Rüsselsheim. Electric mobility is the best solution for reducing automobile emissions and dependency on petroleum but if electric vehicles are to have a significant benefit on the environment and society, they must be attractive to a wide variety of buyers, not just city dwellers. Now this ambitious goal has become considerably easier to reach – with the revolutionary Ampera electric car.

The majority of drivers will find an electric car, such as the Ampera, remarkably easy to accept. That is because in addition to a powerful, 16 kWh lithium-ion battery, it has a unique electric propulsion system that extends its driving range. While providing all the benefits of state-of-the-art battery electric vehicles, such as zero tailpipe emissions and spirited performance, the innovative Ampera is not compromised by the typical disadvantages, such as limited range or long hours of immobility spent recharging a large battery. That makes the five-door, four-seat Ampera the first electric car in Europe to give owners the freedom to drive wherever, whenever they want, with no worries of being stranded with a depleted battery.

 “The Ampera defines a new class of e-mobility. No other electric vehicle provides the freedom of individual transportation as the Opel Ampera,” said Alain Visser, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales at Opel. “We have compromised on nothing. The Ampera is a beautiful car that is as fun to drive as it is packed with premium content.” 

Reliable battery not disturbed by inclement weather

The Ampera is an electric vehicle that can operate in a wide range of weather climates. It is powered by electricity at all times and speeds. For the first 40 – 80  km, power is supplied by the electricity stored in the 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery. While driving on electricity delivered by the battery, the Ampera drives free of fuel- and tailpipe-emissions.

Independent research found that about 80 percent of Europeans drive less than 60 kilometres per day, so the Ampera would meet their requirements. When the Ampera’s battery runs low, the battery can be recharged in about three hours at 230v by plugging the vehicle's on-board charge system into a standard outlet. Because the battery can be recharged quickly, most Amperas are likely to be driven in battery mode nearly all the time. 

If a longer trip is required, the petrol-fueled engine/generator can seamlessly extend the total driving range to more than 500 kilometres on a full tank. This range-extending technology means the Ampera is suitable for worry-free daily use by the whole family.

If electric vehicles are to have a significant benefit on the environment, they must be sold in high volume. Electric cars like the Ampera – with extended range capability – are the quickest way to reach this goal because they require few adjustments in lifestyle.

Beautiful design – clearly an Opel

The Ampera carries the DNA of Opel’s new design language – a prominent grille, bold Opel badge and daring boomerang headlamps. Every element of the Ampera was designed and analysed for efficiency, making the Ampera one of the most aerodynamic and energy-efficient vehicles in the market.

Inside, the Ampera is packed with the premium content fitting for a ground-breaking vehicle. From Bose speakers to touch-screen monitors, this car brings mobility to the 21^st  century.

The Ampera already has won high accolades from specialists throughout the continent. Awards from authoritative magazines and websites include Greenest Car of the Year by www.whatcar.co.uk , innovation trophy from L’Automobile Magazine in France and best electric car by Auto Swiat in Poland.