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The Vauxhall Ampera - Driving electric just got serious
Vauxhall has raised the barrier once again with a car of the future which is coming on sale within a few short months. It heralds the death of mundane electric / hybrid vehicles with its modern, sleek design, five doors, four seats and ample space for luggage (300 litres). No longer will you have to dress-down when thinking of the environment or leave half of your family at home to go shopping in your electrically powered vehicle. The Vauxhall Ampera is here and it has raised the stakes so high that it makes electric cars of the past (and present) weep with envy.
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Developing a new category in environmentally friendly driving, the Ampera markets itself as an extended range vehicle (E-REV). It is different from other hybrids in that they use both an electric motor and internal combustion engine to power the wheels. The Ampera uses an electric motor exclusively for the first 50 miles of each journey. Only after that time, the onboard engine will run to charge the batteries whilst driving. Therefore for every journey the Ampera takes, you can be assured that the electric motor capable of 100mph and 370 Nm of instant torque will be taking you there.
Whenever electrically powered vehicles are mentioned the worry of "range" comes up. The Ampera casts those worries aside as with a 50 mile electric-only range added to a possible 310 fuel-charged electrical range, this stunning vehicle can take you an incredible 360 miles. This sates the harshest of critics with regard to electric driving (Mr Clarkson, we are looking at you) and finally proves that driving electric is finally a realistic possibility for those of us in rural areas.
Not only is the range an impressive feat but the charge time required for the Ampera is a mere 4 hours (from a 230v socket). With this speed of charging, the obvious economical and environmental benefits and the fact that the nearly silent Voltic electric drive unit provides zero emissions for the beginning of every journey, the Ampera is a car to be recognised.
For most environmentally friendly cars, design comes last in a long list of concerns. However the Vauxhall Ampera looks stunning with sculptural forms and expressive lines. Designed to reflect the modern technology driving it, the Ampera sports iconic looks inside and out. In fact very little gives the onlooker clues as to its environmentally friendly ethic. The style gets even better when you take a look at the beautiful interior; reminding you of times when you thought that futuristic cars should look a bit more....hi-tech. The Ampera doesn't let you down with high-quality and hi-tech materials, lots of space and an interior colour scheme that wouldn't look out of place in a sci-fi film. Spice-red accents and a Dark Argent Metallic paint complimenting the jet-black designed interior, this is not a car for your standard environmentalist. The look of the interior is not just cosmetic as it features an integrated shifter, two information displays and a touch-sensitive information / entertainment centre.
Vauxhall have highlighted that the Ampera will save you about 370 gallons of fuel per year. This is based on a normal commute of 40 miles daily usage (15,000 miles a year). An electrically powered Ampera mile equates to approximately £0.02 per mile (versus a £0.09 per mile petrol driven car ). All prices are based upon fuel costing £1.20 per litre. As we all know, fuel has increased in price exponentially recently and so the saving is even more important to our users.
With the obvious tax incentives and benefits (including zero congestion charge), the Vauxhall Ampera is capable of 175mpg. So there you have it. Already award the What Car? Green Car of the Year, the future of electric driving is coming very soon. Your local Camberley Vauxhall dealership (Charters Vauxhall) will be proudly stocking the Ampera when it is released later this year. Stay tuned to the Charters Group when we shall be putting it through its paces and discovering how the Ampera has not only re-written the rulebook, but thrown the old rules away!
Use the contact form below for more details on the Vauxhall Ampera including a UK release date, prices, specifications and be one of the first to test drive this car of the future.
Call Charters Vauxhall of Camberley on 0844 247 0784