Everyone knows that the biggest problem with electric cars is their limited range. It is a preconception that Vauxhall wants to challenge by taking an Ampera E-REV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle) on a 170-mile road trip.
Next Tuesday, 22 June, an Ampera will leave Vauxhall's Heritage Centre in Luton, bound for the company's factory in Ellesmere Port. With scheduled stops for driver changes and an hour-long visit to Vauxhall's Brand Centre at Star City in Birmingham the trip should take just over five hours.
In theory the electric Vauxhall could make the return trip immediately, without needing to refuel or recharge, thanks to a claimed real world range of 350 miles. The first 40 miles of the drive will be completed in zero-emission mode, drawing power from the 16kWh lithium-ion battery. After that the Ampera's internal combustion engine will cut in to generate electricity to complete the trip.
Anyone wanting to recreate the journey will have to wait until 2012 when the Ampera goes on sale. However, it will be possible to follow the team's progress at
facebook.com/vauxhallampera.
John Lambert - 16 Jun 2010