The 2017 Opel Ampera-e has touched down in Europe. Assembled at General Motors Orion facility, the first deliveries have been completed to customers in Norway.
The first three customers took delivery of their new electric vehicles on Norwegian Constitution Day, as the three Ampera-es mimicked Norway’s national colors. The trio posed outside of Oslo Hall to mark the occasion.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time, and I’m very excited,” said Bente Østreng from Oslo. She is the proud owner of the blue Ampera-e. “We are already looking forward to taking it for the first long journey to our cabin in Sweden.”
Norway was chosen as the Ampera-e’s launch market for good reason: it’s the most electric vehicle country on the continent of Europe. The maturity of the EV market in Norway has outpaced the rest of Europe with a vast charging infrastructure put in place. The country is on track to have 100,000 battery electric vehicles on its roads by the end of this year. The fact Norway collects zero sales tax on EVs, provides free parking and allows access to bus lanes for EV owners most certainly helps.
Thus, Opel’s staggered launch begins in Norway with Germany, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland on deck.
The Ampera-e is rated at 500 km of range from a single charge and the battery can replenish 150 km in 30 minutes with a fast charging station.
Germany and Switzerland are scheduled to receive their first deliveries of the Opel Ampera-e by the end of the year.
Comment
Meantime, in the UK where there are also c.100k electric vehicles on the road – there are no plans whatsoever to offer the Bolt / Ampera E. That’s despite some manufacturers e.g. Hyundai, having waiting lists of over 6 months for pure EVs.