Opel Announces Game-changing Ampera-e Battery Electric Car

The unique, compact proportions of the Ampera-e are driven by the battery pack being mounted flat, under the vehicle floor.

If that name sounds familiar, that’s because Ampera was Opel’s moniker for its version of the first-generation Chevrolet Volt, the groundbreaking plug-in hybrid that proved to be a sales flop among European consumers.

The new model, which takes the form of a five-door, five-seat hatchback, is destined to be an affordable rival for the likes of the Audi A3 e-tron, BMW i3, Volkswagen e-Golf and second-generation Ford Focus Electric.

As AutoExpress notes, the Bolt can do 200 miles on one charge, whereas rival Nissan Leaf (which arguably leads the affordable EV field at the moment) can only manage 155 miles, despite having a larger battery. The 2017 Opel Ampera-e, on the other hand, discards the PHEV powertrain of its predecessor in favor of an all-electric setup.

Vauxhall could add a new small electric auto to its model range, in the wake of an announcement from Opel, the company’s European sister brand, that it will launch such as vehicle next year.

General Motors Chief Executive Mary Barra on Thursday said the company’s European division Opel would build an affordable five-seater electric vehicle, the Ampera-e, in 2017.

Opel group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, said: “Electric vehicles have the potential to make a significant contribution to climate protection and emissions reduction”. This also enables a more spacious interior, says Opel, providing seating for five passengers and competitive boot space.

It is as yet unclear if the new Ampera-E will be available in the United Kingdom badged as a Vauxhall.