There have been wide reports of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV exceeding its EPA-estimated 238-mile range, but the Opel Ampera-e is a relative newcomer to the European market. However, it’s clear the electric car is capable of surpassing its range estimates, too.
The Opel Ampera-e is officially rated at 520 kilometers (323 miles) of range on the New European Driving Cycle, which is notorious for its liberal estimates of range. Testing procedures vary greatly from U.S. standards and new European testing procedures peg the Ampera-e’s range to be 380 km or 236 miles.
However, a television crew from auto mobil decided to put Opel’s electric car to the test. The result was impressive: the Ampera-e covered 750 km (466 miles) on a charge.
The crew traveled at speeds between 40 kmh and 50 kmh (25 and 31 mph) to obtain the incredible distance. They also made heavy use of the Ampera-e regenerative braking system.
An incredible feat no doubt, range, much like gas mileage, ultimately depends on the driving style. With light acceleration and low speeds, electric cars of all kinds are able to cover greater distances.
Comments
What the non GM Opel did don’t matter anymore.The question is will the Bolt match or exceed that.
You do realize that the Ampera-E, is just a renamed, and rebadged Chevy Bolt EV? Right? Same battery, and same drive train. I feel like most people on this site are still clinging on to ICE’s, and don’t even bother educating themselves on electric vehicles.
Yes I am aware they are the same but I am just not interested in former or non GM vehicles(on a GM site). This is what I assume right or wrong a site for GM products. Don’t get me wrong I like all kinds of vehicles but when I visit a GM site I want to read about GM vehicles.
I just typed media.gm.com in the address window of my Web browser, and was redirected to the “Opel Pressroom” under http://media.gm.com/media/de/de/opel/home.html
As long as this happens, and as long as nearly all vehicles being marketed by Opel are based on common GM platforms, and as Opel manufactures vehicles for other GM brands, and as long as Opel markets vehicles built by GM Korea (Opel Karl/Vauxhall Viva) , and as long as 3000 of 7000 people in Opels development center ITEZ in Rüsselsheim work exclusively on global GM projects, it is legitimate for this site to cover developments at Opel. The ownership has changed on August 1, 2017, but the umbilical cord tying Opel to GM has not been cut, and wont be for some years.
Besides, this range test done with an Opel Ampera-e is obviously valid for its twin Chevrolet Bolt also.
Reg; ” With light acceleration and low speeds, electric cars of all kinds are able to cover greater distances.”
Works for fueled vehicles too.
It is amazing what light but steady acceleration, keeping RPM’s in the 1,500-2,200 range, looking ahead at traffic and lights to off-throttle slow down, and doing 55-mph, does for fuel mileage.
Drive like you don’t have any brakes and your fuel mileage will jump up significantly. But, no, we are all in a big hurry to go nowhere fast …cuzz we are so important.
My back-of-the-envelope calculation, including pit stops, says that it took them 21-22 hours for the trip.
Carry snacks – a good book or three – and plenty of water
Top!
“at speeds between 40 kmh and 50 kmh (25 and 31 mph) ”
this is the speed range allowed and possible in the cities. For a trip from, say Frankfurt/Main to Berlin the range does not fit. One would have to recharge on tne way, what takes at least half an hour. It is uncertain to find an unoccupied public charging station for an unattended recharge of the battery, and a restaurant ot café nearby.
BTW, Szymkowsky writes about “kmh”, i.e. kilometerhours, whatever that might be, but he actually meant kilometer PER hour, i.e. km/h.