| "Driving
electrically is not only about
ecology," said Frank Weber,
GM global vehicle line executive
and chief engineer.
"Driving electrically is
also great fun. Instantaneous
torque of 370 Newton metres
under your right foot feels like
being in a sports car, but in
almost complete silence."
Electricity
drives the Ampera’s wheels at
all times and speeds. For trips
up to around 40-miles, power is
supplied by the electricity
stored in the 16-kWh,
lithium-ion battery.
While
driving on electricity delivered
by the battery, the Ampera emits
zero CO2. When the battery’s
energy is depleted, a petrol or
E85-fuelled engine-generator
seamlessly provides electricity
to power the electric drive unit
while simultaneously sustaining
the charge of the battery. This
mode of operation extends the
range for several hundred
additional miles, until the
battery can be charged via a
standard household 240v outlet.
Unlike
a conventional battery-electric
vehicle, the Ampera eliminates
“range anxiety,” giving the
confidence and peace of mind
that the driver will not be
stranded by a depleted battery.
“Advanced
lithium-ion battery technology
is the key to getting the
Vauxhall Ampera into the hands
of consumers”, said Hans
Demant, GME vice president of
engineering. “The engineers at
our research and development
centre in Mainz-Kastel, Germany,
are testing the battery round
the clock, 365 days a year, to
ensure that it meets the needs
and expectations of our
customers.”
The
Ampera's battery pack will be
manufactured by GM at the first
lithium-ion production facility
to be operated by a major
automaker in the United States.
More than 220 lithium-ion cells
in the T-shaped pack provide
ample power. The nearly silent
electric drive unit delivers 370
Nm of instant torque, the
equivalent of 150bhp, zero to
60mph acceleration in around
nine seconds, and a top speed of
100mph.
The
Ampera will be well-suited to
the daily driving schedule of
most customers. For
example, research by GM in
Europe showed that approximately
80 percent of drivers travel
less than 30-miles daily. Based
on current fuel prices, Vauxhall
predicts that the Ampera will
cost roughly one-fifth of the
current cost per mile of an
equivalent petrol engined car.
PRELIMINARY
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Vauxhall Ampera
General
| Vehicle
type: |
5-door,
front-wheel-drive |
| Category: |
Extended-Range
Electric Vehicle (E-REV) |
| EREV
competitors: |
None |
| Chassis: |
independent
McPherson struts front,
compound crank twist
axle rear,
four-wheel disc brakes,
full regenerative brakes
to maximize energy
capture, electric
power-assist steering |
| Seating
capacity: |
Four |
Performance
| Top
speed (mph): |
100 |
| EV
range (miles): |
40 |
Dimensions
| Wheelbase
(in / mm): |
105.7
/ 2685 |
| Length
(in / mm): |
177
/ 4404 |
| Width
(in / mm): |
70.8
/ 1798 |
| Height
(in / mm): |
56.3
/ 1430 |
| Cargo
volume (cu ft / L): |
10.6
/ 301 |
Battery
system
| Type: |
lithium-ion |
| Energy
(kWh) |
16 |
Electric
drive unit
| Power
(kW / hp): |
111
/ 150 |
| Torque
(lb-ft / Nm): |
273
/ 370 |
Exterior
| Tire
and wheel size: |
specially
developed low
rolling-resistance tires
on 17-inch forged
aluminum wheels |
|
