Opel chiefs are upbeat about the new Ampera-e that they claim will finally eradicate the biggest downside of an electric car for everyone – range anxiety.

In accordance with the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC, the current standard for range comparisons between different vehicles) the new e car from Rüsselsheim can clear the magical 400 kilometre barrier by a considerable margin without recharging.

In comparison, the BMW i3, even equipped with the optional large 33 kWh battery can only cover 300 kilometers in the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle), the Nissan Leaf manages 250 kilometers, the Renault Zoe 240 kilometers and the VW e-Golf 190 kilometers. With at least 25 percent more range than its closest competitor, Opel say that the Opel Ampera-e revolutionises electro-mobility.

Naturally, the maximum range in everyday use deviates from the NEDC values. In practice, factors such as road characteristics, weather conditions, driving style or additional load influence the range.

However, the Ampera-e can effortlessly cover more than 300 kilometers even under average everyday conditions. Opel’s newcomer will celebrate its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show later this month.

“In the Ampera-e we will bring an electric car suitable for everyday use to the market. It delivers an extensive range and will be offered as of spring next year already. The Opel Ampera-e is not eco-luxury, not a gadget and not a pure second car. Opel is showing that electro-mobility is also achievable for a much broader audience thanks to the most innovative technology – Opel is democratizing the electric car with the Ampera-e,” said an enthusiastic Opel CEO Dr. Karl Thomas Neumann.

It also offers space for up to five people and a trunk volume of 381 litres, which is clearly above average for cars of a similar overall length. This generous spaciousness is made possible by the clever integration of the ten battery modules. The entire package is located in the underbody and is tailored to the contours of the vehicle. This means that no space is wasted. The battery consisting of 288 lithium-ion cells and a capacity of 60 kWh was developed in cooperation with LG Chem.