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The first prototype of the production
Ampera today received its initial charge of electricity from the newly
installed recharging station at Opel/Vauxhall’s European headquarters.
The Ampera extended-range electric
vehicle will use the energy stored in its 16kWh lithium-ion battery to
drive the first stage of the 370-mile journey from Rüsselsheim, Germany,
to the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, without emitting CO2.
At the wheel will be Opel/Vauxhall
Director of Electric Vehicle Implementation, Gherardo Corsini. “I am
really looking forward to putting a lot of miles on our first Ampera
prototype during this maiden test on public roads,” said Corsini. “With
370 Nm of instantaneous, electric torque under my right foot, it
promises to be an interesting and almost silent drive to Geneva."
When the battery’s charge is low after
around 40 miles, the Ampera’s on-board internal combustion engine will
start to generate electricity to drive the wheels for the remainder of
the journey.
A battery electric vehicle would need
to find a recharging station and stop for up to several hours to
recharge its depleted battery before continuing the journey. The Ampera,
however, brings emission-free electric mobility without the limitations
of conventional electric cars. It can drive on seamlessly and without
interruption for more than 300 miles before plugging into a household
socket or filling up with fuel.
The prototype’s long-distance drive
from Rüsselsheim to Geneva demonstrates that the five-door, four-seat
Ampera can be the primary vehicle in the household, ready to drive
anywhere, any time. Series-production of the Opel/Vauxhall Ampera is
scheduled to begin at the end of 2011.
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