(ENG) Opel Vauxhall Ampera (Chevy Volt)

(ENG) Opel Vauxhall Ampera (Chevy Volt) - Test Drive and Review

Рет қаралды 5,335

11 жыл бұрын

Opel Ampera (European version of Chevy Volt) is an electric vehicle with a petrol range extender. Is it a hybrid or an electric car? Does the range extender make more sense than a conventional hybrid or plug-in hybrid drivetrain?
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Пікірлер: 20

@okoxoko 7 жыл бұрын

Every time when I drive my Ampera I've got a banana smile cause of smooth, silent driving and saved money in my pocket. Of course I've bought the used one for 25% of her initial price. It is the great car for daily commute.

@Henry0870 7 жыл бұрын

Yes, me too!! I bought mine little more than 2 years ago, bit more expensive, 40% of new price. But first year I didn't have to pay monthly tax (now it's still half of normal tax) Price for electricity is way cheaper than gasoline. I now drive 85% electric!😁😁

@SirDrakeNewcanon 4 жыл бұрын

My wife has an Ampera and she is driving in electric mode. We had to travel now a longer distance and the consumption was less than six liters per 100 kilometers (driving on speed limit). Almost the same as with our previous car. It means that we can drive for almost nothing or for the same cost as an usual car. As a new car it is not paying off very quickly, but as an used one it is a very good choice!

@MarekDrives 11 жыл бұрын

As far as fuel consumption calculations are concerned, GM is very lucky with what the fuel testing cycle looks like. In real life this sort of fuel consumption may be more difficult to achieve for some. But thank you for your opinion.

@manoman0 11 жыл бұрын

Actually, you're right about the fuel consumption, it's somewhat between 5-7 L/100km, but, even more, for which purpose and how you drive the Volt makes a huge difference. My friend's Volt is at 2.2l/100km. I'm considering a Volt. I'd be basically running purely electric. So, it's actually quite tricky how to measure it. Best were to measure in kwh/100km. That would make much more sense. Also for petrol engines. It reflected the actual energy consumption, no matter if petrol or electricity.

@MarekDrives 11 жыл бұрын

I suppose it depends on how you define a hybrid. GM prefers to call this car an 'extended range EV' or something like that. It sounds more advanced. And the whole setup is interesting in a geeky way. But if you think of a hybrid drivetrain as a combination of combustion engine and electric motor, then this is it. BTW, EPA website lists Ampera/Volt under hybrid. Not electric. Instant torque - OK. But Mitsubishi i-MiEV or Renault Twizy are slow, and at higher speed use up energy much faster.

@MarekDrives 11 жыл бұрын

If there's right infrastructure and/or incentives Volt makes sense. But so does much cheaper Prius PHEV. (OK, Ampera is better to drive than Prius) Unfortunately in Poland there are only a few places to charge an EV, and the real life Ampera's EV range is barely enough for me to drive to work and back. Anything extra and the engine kicks in. I spoke to guy who drives an Ampera daily in the Netherlands, and he cannot get more than 40-45 EV range out of it. But he has many charging points there.

@manoman0 11 жыл бұрын

40-45: miles? km?

@manoman0 11 жыл бұрын

Well, calling it a Hybrid is quibbling over Terms. I'd say it's really not a true hybrid, it doesn't offer combinded HP (e+petrol). Anyhow, the Volt makes most sense of all alternative propelled cars. I'd be able to drive it purely as EV (hence I'd have no petrol consumption, except in the FM/EM-modes).

@banpowel9784 4 жыл бұрын

Is it classified as an electric car? Or hybrid?? Hybrids are not conjestion zone free. And if it is a hybrid, surely the motor charges the battery ?

@MarekDrives 4 жыл бұрын

I have no idea how it is classified. Back in the day there was a bit of an issue with the Volt/Ampera, because 1. the range extender is more important, than the battery, and 2. above a certain speed the petrol engine physically helps to maintain speed. www.wired.com/2010/10/the-chevrolet-volt-isnt-a-true-ev/

@MarekDrives 11 жыл бұрын

40-something, works for a financial institution, EV fanboy. I think he knows how to drive the Ampera. I didn't get a chance to drive it longer on a motorway, but I hear this is where the EV range is best in this car. And the Ampera will do around 160-170 km/h (there's a cut-off somewhere around that speed) in EV mode.

@ghejno 7 жыл бұрын

A dzisiaj? 3 letnia Ampera za jakieś 55 tys. PLN. Czy to byłby dobry deal?

@okoxoko 7 жыл бұрын

Bardzo dobry. Polecam.

@manoman0 11 жыл бұрын

That's not really good. I think it depends on how you use and drive it. Some get up to 80 km on one single charge. I guess the guy you spoke to has a rather heavy foot.

@SirDrakeNewcanon 4 жыл бұрын

It depends how cold it is. If it is colder, the battery cant give full capacity, but it is so by all electric cars. In winter you can drive 40, in the not too hot summer 80.

@MarekDrives 11 жыл бұрын

km unfortunately :/