Opel Unveils New Ampera – And it Looks Really Good
I wasn’t expecting to be impressed with the new Opel Ampera (the Chevy Volt’s European cousin). In fact, I was convinced I would find something dull, unimaginative and lacking in technical innovation.
But instead, I believe that I’ve actually found the only serious contender to replace the Audi A3 TDI that’s sitting on my driveway right now.
This week GM invited Gas 2.0 to witness the unveiling of the Opel Ampera, to go on sale in Europe in 2011.
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The Ampera not only looks great but features genuinely innovative technology, which according to GM vice Chairman Bob Lutz will ‘leapfrog the competition’. With a 16 kWh advanced lithium ion battery pack the Ampera has a battery range of 60km – not far, but far enough to satisfy the average daily requirement of 80% of German drivers – after which the gasoline powered engine begins to generate electricity enabling a total range of 500km.
GM’s Frank Weber, engineering lead on the Voltec drive train which underpins the Volt and the Ampera goes to some length to explain how this approach differs from the competition. Instead of driving the wheels directly with an option for electrical assistance (as is the case in the majority of today’s hybrids), the Voltec engine generates electricity only, allowing it to operate in the most efficient part of the fuel map while the power transmission is entirely electric. The result is an estimated running cost only 1/5th that of similarly sized conventional cars.
However, what’s most impressive is the passion and enthusiasm demonstrated by the Opel team for this product. In the Ampera they have created a stunning yet practical car which ticks every box on my A3 replacement list.
In short, it is one of the few cars that I saw at this year’s Geneva Motor Show which inspires a genuine feeling of desire – of the kind that makes one forget the poor economic arguments for cars in a country well served by public transport, and makes you just want to write the cheque and own it.
The Ampera is on my shopping list..
More Images
Fast Facts:
- 220 lithium-ion cells
- Nearly silent electric drive unit delivers 370 Nm of instant torque
- Equivalent of 150 horsepower,
- Zero to 100 km/h acceleration in around nine seconds, and a top speed of 161 km/h.
Images © GM Corp, with permission.
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March 4th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
What does “the Voltec engine generates electricity only” mean?
March 4th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
It means that it’s not connected to the wheels. It generates electricity, and the transmission is entirely electric.
March 4th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Nice! Quite honestly I like the design of the Ampera better than I do the Volt, but then again European models tend to be cooler looking to me in most cases.
March 4th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
What is the gain of efficiency of this powertrain system (thermic motor to battery to electric motor to wheels, if you compare with thermic motor to wheels?
I’m not convinced that it will be so efficient…
March 4th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
The efficiency gains come about because the engine can run in the most efficient range of its fuel map, rather than running at variable speeds and loads as happens under normal driving conditions – many of which are quite inefficient.
March 4th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
It reminds me of when my cat gets those eye goobers and it makes black streaks down his face. Of course in a sexy automotive way
March 4th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Is this what the SAAB AeroX suppose to be? Look very similar to me.
March 5th, 2009 at 4:09 am
It’s about time that someone figured out that the old Diesel Electric train engine has been extremely efficient for a long time.
March 5th, 2009 at 4:37 am
Very cool looking!
Not only can the engine operate at it’s most efficient rpm, but the engine can be tuned specifically for that rpm to squeak out every bit efficiency. If you look at the torque curve (i.e. torque vs. rpm) of a conventional IC car engine, you’ll see that it’s tuned to be very flat in the range 1000-6000 rpm. That’s due to engineers having
to compromise between driveability (good low-rpm torque), acceleration (good high-rpm torque) and marketable horsepower numbers. Things like 4-valves/cyl, variable-port intake runners, and variable valve timing have helped it be less of a compromise, but those technologies cost money and have mainly been used for improving performance rather than efficiency.
When the engine is going to be run at only a small rpm range, say 2000-3000, you can use a simple cam, valve-train, intake manifold, etc.–all tuned simply but precisely for that narrow rpm range. Not only that, but the bore/stroke ratio, compression ratio, etc. can be optimized as well. I wouldn’t doubt they end up being the most efficient IC engines ever built.
March 5th, 2009 at 6:18 am
404Lance said:
“…then again European models tend to be cooler looking to me…”
Does Fabio qualify?
March 5th, 2009 at 6:32 am
woah am i the only one who absolutely hates the design!?!
seriously its very unique but uniquely bad in my opinion. i hate how the hood is just plain white. and the lights are just blehh.
i think we are suckered into thinking its really good and cool because we have never seen anything like it before but to me its nothing but an electric car with messed up headlights. i’ll wait for the next model please…
March 5th, 2009 at 6:33 am
Lithium Ion batteries are the most prone to explosion of all the batteries currently used in electric vehicles, especially at high temperatures.
Do you think it is a good idea to combine this with a combustible gasoline engine and consumers who will be using this vehicle on the Autobahn?
March 5th, 2009 at 6:49 am
[...] a country well served by public transport, and makes you just want to write the cheque and own it. http://gas2.org/2009/03/04/opel-unveil-new-ampera-and-it-looks-really-good/ Written by Alex in: Global Warming, Technology, Transportation | Tags: Ampera, Auto Emissions, [...]
March 5th, 2009 at 6:53 am
GM’s volt is just for show to boost their image. The original chevy volt was offered in the us for ‘LEASE ONLY’, then pulled from the road and trashed. I wonder if there’s any left rotting away. However, since GM is doing so bad, maybe they’ll actually sell this instead of leasing it this time around. This will decrease oil revenues if enough are sold. I’m talking millions here though. Either way, I expect someone to be paid off not to put these on the road.
March 5th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Why does all of these electric/hybrid/ green cars all look like some space ship leftovers. Just build cars that look like cars and stop making them look so “futuristic” that is why they are so expensive. just give me a honda civic body with all the guts of this thing and i’ll be content and probably save money to spend on the gas or electricity or trash for the Flux Capacitor.. i mean c’mon WTF!
March 5th, 2009 at 10:25 am
The efficiency of the series hybrid drivetrain (diesel-electric, as mentioned above) has been known for a long time, even to the automotive industry.
It hasn’t been significantly used, because it has one big disadvantage: battery weight. It doesn’t work efficiently without an electric energy buffer (battery) between the generator and the drive motors, and until recently, the added weight of the batteries would totally offset any gains in efficiency.
March 5th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
John, the Volt designers wrote an article about that – the sloping-hood, blunt-back design you see on the Prius, the new Honda Insight, the Volt, and the Ampera is pretty much the most aerodynamic car design they can make right now. In the world of flagship hybrids, it wouldn’t make sense to make one that wasn’t as streamlined as possible, so they can get a couple extra miles of range.
I think it’ll be a while before they figure out how to make aerodynamic cars that don’t all look the same, or get these powertrains to the point where they can sacrifice some efficiency for some style.
March 5th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Ok, the hybrid drivetrain developped by Opel is efficient. But can you give some numbers about this gain when you use the IC motor to drive longer?
If you calculate, you can loose all the gain of this small IC motor-done-to-charge-the-battery if you have too many losses when you charge batteries(80, 90% efficiency?) and use an electric motors (90% efficiency). I just want to be convinced…
March 5th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Tell me again, why is North America getting the Volt instead of the Opel?
March 5th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
European cars are way ahead of US cars in both design & innovation.
Where did you get the crazy idea it was the other way around ?
March 5th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
An excellent middle step toward a fully electric vehicle.
The issue is really pollution and it’s effects on human health, especially in cities. Here in London, jams are extremely common with everyone sitting there spewing out carcinogenic fumes while not moving. Fully electric drivetrains backed up by an IC optimised for power generation is spot on and all manufacturers should follow suit.
If you can plug it in all the better, but for many people living in city apartments for example this is not feasible unless you can access a charge point at work etc.
A move in the right direction for this planet and our children.
Regards to all.
March 6th, 2009 at 2:31 am
[...] Opel Unveils New Ampera
March 6th, 2009 at 5:18 am
For all those who say the European version is sooo much better than the American version (Chevy Volt), simply go to the GM website and search for the Volt. You will discover the ONLY difference is the front and rear bumpers and parking lights…. nothing else! However, both are awesome cars.
March 6th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
[...] Opel Unveils New Ampera – And it Looks Really Good – “I wasn’t expecting to be impressed with the new Opel Ampera (the Chevy Volt’s European cousin). In fact, I was convinced I would find something dull, unimaginative and lacking in technical innovation…” [...]
March 6th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Jon – love the cat reference! It looks like a storm trooper’s mask from the front. Just couldn’t do white because of that!
March 7th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
BUT… can it be plugged in? GM killed their famous US car the EV1 because Oil companies, among others, did not like the idea of a car not dependent on oil.
I will not buy a car that limits me like that.
Fuel cells are not the answer, still impractical , expensive and dependent on a single fuel source.
I want a car that I can plug in and therefore choose my energy type. I also don’t want an I.C.E. in there, they breakdown and have load of moving parts, I don’t care how efficient they are.
March 7th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
I don’t understand why you’d say you weren’t expecting to be impressed? Have you not been following the development of the Volt? Or is it the typical bias we see so often against American automobiles. Granted they’ve earned some of that over the years, but when the engineers & designers are allowed to they’ve shown time-and-again they can produce first-class product.
March 10th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Am I to understand there is no REGEN Braking and the ICE powers the BAT? Once full, does the BAT regain priority on cycle repeat? Does it have plug in capabilities/reversible to Generate Home Power?
When a car co. does that, then I’ll Be Impressed!:)
March 11th, 2009 at 11:38 am
[...] move is likely to ruffle a few feathers amongst GM executives, who had grand plans that the Opel Ampera (the Chevy Volt’s European cousin) would become the first major player in the region, [...]
April 4th, 2009 at 7:07 am
[QUOTE] Hybrid sceptic Ok, the hybrid drivetrain developped by Opel is efficient. But can you give some numbers about this gain when you use the IC motor to drive longer?
If you calculate, you can loose all the gain of this small IC motor-done-to-charge-the-battery if you have too many losses when you charge batteries(80, 90% efficiency?) and use an electric motors (90% efficiency). I just want to be convinced [/quote]
the idea of the volt / ampera
is that the car is used in PURE electric mode to / from work and the ICE only for trips etc so the efficiancy comes in the form of having a PLUG in electric car with range extending power
June 1st, 2009 at 10:25 pm
It will be to expensive and a showoff toy for the rich corporate scammers.
December 28th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
GM – how about giving your U.S. customers the “choice” of either the Volt or Ampera front-end styling? My guess is the Ampera would sell in larger quantities as it immediately and unmistakeably indicates to the public this is a new and different automobile (even at a glance)as the Volt and Ampera both are. I like the Volt, but it will likely be mistaken by many at first glance as being a Malibu (a lovely car in its own right), but its styling will not present the new “high-tech image” the Volt needs to present to the public. The Ampera front-end does!
Can one “import” an Ampera and register it in the U.S.?