Luton based Vauxhall Motors gave the most persuasive demonstration yet of its new Ampera’s core strengths of ultra-low emissions and real-world usability when a prototype car traversed seven UK counties; its production version would have enough energy left to do the same again.
The Vauxhall Ampera prototype completed a 170-mile drive between Vauxhall’s plants at Luton, Bedfordshire, and Ellesmere Port, south of Liverpool.
Every mile covered by the Ampera E-REV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle) was electrically driven, yet on reaching Ellesmere, its range extender meant that it could travel still further. In full production guise, the Ampera would have made it back to Luton.
The Vauxhall Ampera shares its extended-range electric vehicle propulsion system with the US-made Chevrolet Volt.
The Ampera has a battery range of around 40 miles. It also has a 1.4 liter petrol engine, driving a generator, which produces power for the battery once the car has exceeded its battery-only range.
When the battery’s energy is depleted to a minimum state, a small petrol/E85-fuelled engine generator seamlessly provides electricity to power the electric drive unit, boosting range by a further 310 miles.[wzslider height=”400″ lightbox=”true”]
