2016 Chevy Volt To Debut In January

Today GM released the first teaser image of the 2016 Chevy Volt, which will bring a litany of changes to the popular plug-in hybrid. GM also set the debut date for the Detroit Auto Show in January, with the new Volt to go on sale sometime in 2015.

Since it went on sale at the end of 2010, GM says it has sold more than 65,000 Chevy Volts in the US alone…though its European cousin, the Opel Ampera, has seen sales plummet, and will soon be discontinued. As for the teaser shot itself, it doesn’t reveal much about the new Volt, except that it will have a more-rounded rear decklid.

But the Volt will live on, and rumor has it that it will bring with it many improvements and asked-for features. Among the most-requested features among Volt owners was more range, more room, (five seats instead of the current four), and a lower price. GM could offer a Volt with as much as 200 miles of electric range if certain rumors are true, though more likely GM will offer different battery pack sizes to placate the masses who want to either pay less, or go farther between charges.

Not that the current Volt is all that bad, as 92% of current owners say they’d buy another one given the chance. It’s also one of the highest-scoring cars on the Consumer Reports customer satisfaction survey. Another key point GM likes to drive home is that more than 70% of Volt buyers are new to the Chevy brand, making it a powerful “conquest” car. Hopefully the 2016 model proves just as successful for GM, a company plagued by recall woes and questions about its corporate structure the past few months.

Perhaps the 2016 Chevy VOlt can change the conversation towards more positive vibes.

Source: GM

New Opel EV Will Replace the Ampera

Opel quietly announced the end of the Ampera – badge cousin to the Chevy Volt. The Ampera is going away due to poor sales. Only 332 have been sold this year, even thought the Volt is quite popular in the US market. But that doesn’t mean that Opel will have no EV to offer to buyers going forward. According to Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann:

After the eventual run-out of the current generation Ampera, we’ll introduce a successor product in the electric vehicle segment. Our next electric vehicle will be part of our massive product offensive – with 27 new vehicles in the 2014-2018 time frame. We see eMobility as important part of the mobility of tomorrow and we will continue to drive down costs & deliver affordability.

The people at Autoblog expect the new Opel EV to be more than a rebadged Chevy Spark EV. Instead, they believe it will be a completely new electric model and that may signal yet another EV will appear shortly in the Chevy stable of cars, or perhaps even a version of the Sonic EV rumored to be in the works. For the moment, GM representatives aren’t giving out any more clues.

Source: Opel

Opel Ampera Price Slashed $10,000

Automakers are chopping thousands of dollars off the price of electric vehicles here in America, bringing the price of these cars more in line with customer expectations, and sales have risen as a result. The Opel Ampera, the Chevy Volt’s European cousin, just got its own big price cut, chopping $10,000 off the MSRP, though it still outprices the Volt by a wide margin.

The Opel Ampera’s price cut brings it down from $60,000 U.S. to just over $50,000, or about 38,300 euros. While still quite expensive, with generous incentives from local European governments, the Opel Ampera might become a bit more competitive in the growing (though still tiny) market for EVs and plug-in hybrid.

Along with the Chevy Volt’s U.S. price cut of $5,000, GM’s electrified vehicle efforts are coming down in price, opening the market for more potential buyers. While Opel’s price cut only affects the German and U.K markets for now, GM hopes to eventually bring the Volt’s price down to $30,000 before incentives. Here in America EV and plug-in car sales are soaring, but Europe is different story entirely.

Though the Opel Ampera sold out before it ever went on sale, sales have been hampered by the European economica recessions, and last year just over 800 Amperas were registered in Germany. GM hopes this new price cut helps lift faltering sales, but it isn’t expected to have any short time effects on awful sales.

 Source: Opel

Electric Vehicles Taking Off in Holland

There many only be 7,500 electric vehicles on the road in Holland, but the rate at which they are being adopted is quite fast. The number of electric vehicles on the road octupled last year alone. That’s an eightfold increase.

Charging stations are also popping up everywhere, which is equally important. Owners that cannot charge their electric cars are sometimes very disappointed because of it, and it is another reason not to buy them. Holland has a long history of environmental awareness, and gas prices have been over $8.50 per gallon in the entirety of the Netherlands, which is extremely high compared to the rest of the world. This is why biking is so popular across the country.

This makes the Netherlands an environment conducive to electric vehicle usage and industry growth, which is perhaps why Tesla Motors opted to open its European distribution center there. Yet even though EV sales increased by a factor of eight, they still represent less than 1% of total sales in the Netherlands. Right now the most popular EV in the Netherlands is the Opel Ampera, the European cousin of the Chevy Volt, which in June of 2012 captured more than 3/4 of the EV market in the Netherlands. But with new EV options coming from most major manufacturers, the Netherlands could lead the rest of Europe into an EV rennaissance.

As electric vehicles become more common in Europe, drivers are gaining experience with them,. And so are their manufacturers, who make improvements based on test data gathered from these along the way.

Source: Autoblog Green

Volt/Ampera engine named top “Green Engine” by international panel

Rumor may have it that GM’s 1.4-liter gasoline-powered generator in the Chevy Volt and Opel/Vauxhall Ampera is slated for replacement, but that did not stop a worldwide panel of automotive journalists from just awarding it as tops in the “Green Engine” category.
The International Engine of the Year awards are intended to identify “great” engines in a dozen different categories, and the humble range extender – as the judges described the Volt’s gas-electric powertrain – found itself in the general company of powerplants offered in models by Ferrari, BMW, Audi, and others brands with generally higher perceived panache.


Of course those brands are all playing catch up to the Volt in the plug-in vehicle category, but that’s another story …
All told, this year’s categories were New Engine; Green Engine; Performance Engine; Sub 1.0-Liter; 1.0-1.4-Liter; 1.4-1.8-Liter; 1.8-2.0-Liter; 2.0-2.5-Liter; 2.5-3.0-Liter, 3.0-4.0-Liter and above 4-Liter.
But the Volt’s engine was not the only humble candidate to find itself in exalted company. Top honors for the International Engine of the Year actually went to the (also green) Ford 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost engine. This Euro-spec powerplant which displaces 999 cubic centimeters also just squeaked by with first place in the Sub 1.0-liter category, as well as the New Engine category.
Ford’s direct-injected baby turbo puts out either 99 or 123 horsepower (100/125 PS) – on par with a 1.6 liter – and in the more powerful version, its 250,000-rpm turbo spools up peak torque of 125 pound-feet (170 Nm) at between 1,300-4,400 engine rpm with “virtually no turbo lag.”
Word has it that this UK-developed mill has hit the ground running this year with one in four UK buyers snapping up Ford Focus models equipped with the small but peppy and economical engine.
In any event, we don’t know for sure whether GM is really going to shelve the 1.4, but winning this award is another feather in the Volt’s cap.


Source: GM-Volt.com

New engine/powertrain for 2014 Chevy Volt?

Just days after GM might have slightly cannibalized Volt sales for the next couple months by announcing a tweaked battery and other updates due in August, a GM insider reportedly revealed that a 2.0-liter turbo engine will be introduced by summer 2013 for the 2014 model year.
Since their launch, the extended-range electric Volt and Opel/Vauxhall Ampera siblings have relied on an 83-horsepower 1.4-liter generator mated to electric propulsion for a combined 149 horsepower, 273-pound-feet torque. But word has it that present four cylinder is “definitely not” going to make it to 2014, according to an anonymous source speaking to Jay Cole (aka Statik) for Inside EVs.


The 1.4 was reportedly always considered a compromise pressed into service at a time of limited/frozen budgets when GM was undergoing restructuring. If the info is correct, the now better-funded company will select for the gasoline portion of the powertrain something closer in specification to the 260-horsepower, 2.0-liter (GM-sourced) Ecotec turbo engine Fisker uses in the Karma.
The actual 2.0-liter Ecotec turbo said to be pending for the Volt – currently rated at between 220-270 horsepower – has “been thoroughly vetted” and “will most likely” be the 2014 replacement, said Inside EVs.


This more-potent powerplant would possibly also call for an upgraded electric motor and the improved gas-electric powertrain would also be used in the pending Cadillac ELR which GM has said will rely on the Volt’s powertrain, and is positioned as a sleek, high-line corporate halo.
The speculation about the electric motor was by Inside EVs, and otherwise no news from the insider was reported as to possible updates to the 2014 Volt’s battery pack, or what should be specifically expected regarding range, or other performance parameters from the more powerful powertrain.
In any event, since it has also been leaked that the Cadillac ELR will launch in 2014, updating the Volt’s powertrain for that year would make all the more sense to fit with the sporty image portrayed by the extended-range Caddy that would compete with Fisker’s six-figure extended-range Karma.


While it was noted GM engineers had always wanted a purpose-built generator, the 2.0-liter Ecotec believed to be in the most-favored status at the moment will be used in the pending Buick Verano that rides on the same Delta II platform that the Volt does. Inside EVs quoted GM Global Chief engineer for Ecotec engines, Mike Anderson, who praised the engine that already sees duty in the Buick Regal GS.
“Our continuously variable valve timing is tuned to work in tandem with direct injection and twin scroll turbocharging to achieve optimum fuel economy, lower emissions, and instant performance when needed,” he said. “Having 295 pound-feet (400 Nm) of torque available over a wide range of engine speeds makes for a very exciting driving experience.”
Of course, if utilized the in the Volt, Opel/Vauxhall Ampera siblings, and ELR, the 2.0 Ecotec Turbo engine that was awarded by WardsAuto as one its “10 Best Engines,” would be mated with an electric motor and tuned for use as a generator. It nonetheless promises to spice up performance, or it could be optimized to help extend range, or offer a combination of both.
As would be expected, GM refused to confirm or deny truth of the news leak of the 2014 engine, citing the usual policy of not commenting on future product, so this is officially a rumor until further notice.


Source: GM-Volt.com

The Best of it and Some Surprises From New Opel Ampera Owner

 By Jean-Charles Jacquemin

 The best of it

What has been best for me during those last weeks since I drive my Ampera and still is, are mainly the facts that:
- I do best than the Audis and BMWs in the roundabouts and, more generally, in urban traffic, their drivers don’t like it at all …
- I show my students and researchers what a better future mobility could be. To their surprise, I let them drive my Ampera to convince them and they are still speaking about the experience two weeks after,
- I speak about it to my colleagues, friends and interested neighbors and also I let them have a ride and drive it to really feel the difference
- and, the best of it, I may leave my house and come back without my neighbors knowing it.
So life has been very interesting and instructive since I received the keys of my Ampera.
The picture below is my first vision of my Ampera, arriving in my Opel garage driven by the dealer.

Some surprises too

First, I’m convinced that all the fuss about the danger of the silent drive for pedestrians with riding at low speed is much ado about nothing. Never, even in crowded streets, had I to brake violently to avoid one, really if you drive with an attention to pedestrians and cyclists, there is no problem at all.
Second, the original charging cord supplied with the car is very sensitive to the type of electric current it receives, I was unable to charge at a friend’s home because the charging cord didn’t find the good tension and … even if the son of the house is electrician and checked all the power outlets which were, on belief of his instruments readings, OK. My charging station works fine at around 14.95 A. I get a better mileage for a full charge with it (68 km) than with the original charging cord at 5A for which I got 62 km for a full charge.
The second picture shows my charging station with its cable, the screen of the station is a subcounter linked to my smartphone to pilot the station and to the internet to archive the history of charging my Ampera. It has also a subcounter for the cost of the charge based on the current electricity rates.


Third, Opel was not very efficient – as I related in some comments in April – when I was waiting to get my Ampera. I must say they made a commercial gesture to compensate for the inconvenience by offering me some accessories like the luggage net, the hard cargo liner for trunk protection, the sun-shade windshield, and the charge cord bag. The last three items are very useful and I recommend them.
Fourth, and without doubt the most important for me, my driving style has completely changed. As the Volt or the Ampera is conceived to make you aware of your energy consumption, I surprised myself to give me a challenge to get a 100-percent driving efficiency on every trip and I often succeed. So that often I get more than 70 km on a full charge even in difficult terrain. It is now a challenge between my wife and me to get the higher mileage on a full charge or on a trip.
Fifth, usually I have to drive in heavy, often stop and go traffic. Before with my previous ICE cars, I returned home tired and stressed. Nothing like this with the Ampera with its driving easiness, the linearity of its accelerations, the regenerative power of the L position (I run in D only on highways if the traffic is not dense, that is 2 percent of the time) … and the quality of its infotainment system.
And at last, my surprise was that in the HOLD mode, the gas consumption in a long trip is around 4.8l/100km (more or less 50 mpg) with a normal driving style. I often drive in HOLD mode on highways when I know I cannot recharge at my destination to be able to drive in NORMAL mode in town and on the return trip.
Usually as an early adopter of new technologies I’m disappointed about one or another feature of my new purchase. Until now I have nothing to complaint about my Ampera (yes perhaps my own dumbness when it comes to assimilate and apply all the contents of the user’s manual!). I must say I learned a lot on GM-Volt.com and I have nothing extraordinary to tell about the mileage or the technology in different situations (I think all has already been said) except that I have been surprised by the response delay when I accelerate brutally (a very rare situation) in HOLD mode.
I only hope more people could have the opportunity and the pleasure to drive an Ampera or a Volt. For this, its price has to be lower, early adopters like a lot of us may help. It will help the world to diminish its oil dependency.


Source: GM-Volt.com

Ampera may outsell Volt in its first year

The Volt’s Euro twin siblings, the Ampera variants, are on track to surpass first-year Volt sales.
This news for the Opel/Vauxhall twins may come as little surprise, but as you’ll recall, GM missed its 10,000-unit target last year after the federal battery investigation and American politics were blamed on slowing momentum to 7,761 units sold.
Well, the Ampera just being introduced has over 7,000 orders, of these a good 60 percent are fleet customers, and the Detroit News reported that Enno Fuchs, e-mobility launch director for Adam Opel AG, said it will be no sweat topping 10,000 Amperas by year’s end.


“We are quite sure that our sales target of 10,000 units (in 2012) is within reach,” Fuchs wrote in an email to the publication.
We’ve been hearing similar things from European GM executives since last year, and even if things for the Volt were off to a rocky start here, the Amperas and European Chevrolet-badged Volts are being comparatively better received.
No doubt it has partly to do with high fuel prices there, and that the Volt has already passed a gauntlet in its home country further proving to progressive Europeans – particularly deeper-pocketed fleet buyers – that the car is a safe bet.
Also not hurting the situation, the Volt/Ampera was recently named the first American car to receive European Car of the Year, and – although priced like a modest luxury car – it is taking sales from competitors, including diesels, even in some countries where no tax credits exist, but a VAT tax does.
Months ago there was some talk of asking GM for more than the first year’s Ampera allocation, so we shall see whether this is deemed feasible in months to come.
The Ampera sells for 41,900 Euros (about $55,300) and it is noteworthy that from the beginning GM has invested in more Voltec variants in Europe than it has in America.
In Europe you can choose between an Ampera or Volt, whereas in the States, we have just the Volt. Perhaps we should also comb news there for test mule sitings or other clues to the second generation Volt?
Meanwhile, Volt sales are picking up here, and GM will sell more than 10,000 in the U.S, having delivered 3,915 year to date through March, and more of these were individual consumer sales.



Source: GM-Volt.com

Opel Ampera Wins Monte Carlo Rally

With all of the bad news surrounding the Chevy Volt these days, I think a few fluff pieces about its kissing-European-cousin the Opel Ampera is in order. Last week I talked about how Opel was entering the Opel Ampera into the Monte Carlo Alt-Fuel Rally. Well congratulations to the two cheese-eating surrender monkeys French drivers who took their Ampera to the top spot.

It was an overall good day for the Ampera. Of the 7 Ampera teams that entered the alt-fuel rally, four finished in the Top 10. But it was the car driven by Bernard Darniche and Joseph Lambert that finished in first out of a total field of over 130 competitors. The other three teams finished in 3rd, 7th, and 8th place. This ends the Tesla Roadster’s 5 year dominence of the event, and crowns a new champion of the Monte Carlo Alt Fuel Rally.

This year’s course included a 342-mile jaunt from Annecy-le-Vieux to Monaco on the first day, and a 169 mile trip down the original rally route. This follows on the Volt/Ampera being named the European Car of the Year. If only more Americans cared about this kind of “racing”, the Volt might find a few more fans with the Fox News crew.

Source: Gas2.0

Opel has received more than 7,000 orders for Volt cousin Ampera

Opel has so far received some 7,000 orders for the Ampera electric vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt’s European cousin. Opel said that the numbers surpassed its most optimistic expectations for this point in time.

Enno Fuchs, Opel’s e-mobility launch director, said that the Ampera sales target of 10,000 units for 2012 is “well within reach.” Customer deliveries, which began in February, are going according to plan, according to the company.

In the US, General Motors is suspending production of the Volt for five weeks starting 19 March, due to higher inventory than demand. GM is also suspending production of the Ampera, according to the report in the Detroit News.

The Ampera and the Volt were just voted “Car of the Year 2012” by a panel of judges in Geneva, made up of 59 leading automotive journalists from 23 European nations. The Opel Ampera / Chevrolet Volt tallied 330 points against VW Up (281) and Ford Focus (256).

Opel Ampera delayed over Chevy Volt battery fears

Automotive News reports that, as suspected, Opel is delaying delivery of its Ampera extended-range hybrid to customers. The plug-in gas-electric hatchbacks have already arrived at dealers across Europe, but the automaker wants to ensure the vehicles' batteries are safe even in the event of an accident. The delay comes on the heels of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration evaluation which saw its Chevrolet Volt twin catch fire three weeks after a series of crash tests. Since the Volt and Ampera are mechanically identical, Opel says that it wants to set up a process to deal with the batteries to make sure they're safe.

Both the Volt and the Ampera are assembled at the General Motors plant in Hamtramck, Michigan, and both make use of lithium-ion batteries to power their electric motors. GM has offered to buy back any Chevrolet Volt models from owners concerned about the safety of their vehicle, but few have taken them up on the offer. The company is currently working on a solution to the fire issue, and the U.S. government is investigating why it took NHTSA so long to bring the battery pack problem to light.



Source: Autoblog Green

Opel executive says more Amperas are possible

General Motors’ Adam Opel division is reporting that it may get as many as 15,000 Volt-based Amperas to sell in Europe for its first year instead of a previously reported 10,000.

According to an interview with Wards Auto, Alain Visser, vice president-sales, marketing and aftersales for Europe, the company was initially supposed to get just 8,000 Amperas. Popular demand however – and sufficient capacity at Detroit Hamtramck to fill it – may see GM shipping more of the still-American-made cars.

“We’ve got over 6,000 reservations, which is way above what we anticipated,” Visser said of a program in which someone can reserve an Ampera online with a E150 (approximately $209) deposit. “We obviously have very direct discussions with Detroit. Our current indications are we have the capacity from a global point of view to fulfill [demand for the Ampera]. So we are OK.”

Somewhere between 10,000-15,000 Opel Amperas will be sent to Europe. It was recently named 2012 Car of the Year in Denmark.

As we covered the other day-e, Opel is evaluating other EVs, has a three-prong electrification strategy, and wants to lead its market.

“I think it is a really big step here in Europe, because there are a lot of manufacturers talking about e-mobility … but we [are] the only one with an electric vehicle with no range limitation that is actually on sale today and not a concept car,” he told Wards Auto. “It’s a massive opportunity for the Opel brand.”

WardAuto data indicates Opel’s light-vehicle market penetration grew to 5.1 percent through August, up from 4.8 percent the year prior. Citing its improved position, and sounding a little like he’s taking a cue from VW and other proud automakers in his country, Visser said the company sees potential marketing opportunities there.

“We want to position ourselves more and more as the German brand, combining the German substance of quality and technology with emotion,” he said, “That’s why design is becoming so important for the Opel brand. The fact that our market share is going up is confirmation we’re on the right path, and we plan to increase and strengthen our position even more in 2012, including growing market share.”

Unknown is if or when GM would set up European production of the Ampera or other e-vehicles. Also in question is the degree to which hydrogen power will eventually play in GM’s electrification strategy, but we know it is being considered as part of the company’s long-term plan.

Is it therefore possible EREVs and EVs are to be a stop-gap measure for a decade or more? Will they only be a limited fraction of the global vehicle pie indefinitely? We have no proof this will be the case, but Opel has spoken of hydrogen vehicles’ inclusion, and GM is still working on them.

While GM’s hydrogen info pipeline may be kind of dry these days, Opel has already gone on record saying what its policy is at this juncture.

“Batteries have a relatively low energy density, so we believe a pure battery-powered car is primarily suited for use in urban areas where limited ranges are sufficient,” said Dr. Lars Peter Thiesen, Manager Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Deployment Strategy.

Part one of Opel’s e-mobility solution for its “complete range of electric vehicles” is the short-range EVs. Part two is the Ampera and future extended-range models which are seen as more versatile and providing no range anxiety. Opel is also holding out hope for future developments of cost-effective hydrogen fuel cell vehicles “with no restrictions on vehicle size or use.”

RAK-e concept.

At the moment GM is emphasizing what it has for sale in the near term – extended-range models and soon-to-be EVs. If hydrogen can be made feasible, no doubt Opel – and GM – would like to be a leader in that technology as well.

But really, anything could happen between now and when or if hydrogen power can be made cost effective. In the meantime, it is not even clear when Opel EVs will become available.

Visser did not add any more fuel to the rumor that the Spark EV might be re-badged as an Opel, and spoke less definitively about the RAK-e concept’s production potential than he did recently with Automotive News.

“Reaction to that vehicle was overwhelming and extremely positive,” Visser said of the all-electric lightweight tandem two-seater. “It is not impossible, but it is not at all decided. It is something we would like to start studying, particularly given the positive feedback of the Frankfurt show.”

Source: GM-Volt.com

Executive says Opel working on more EVs and will dominate Europe

Yesterday we learned how Renault-Nissan has outlined a plan to take over the world electrified auto market, but it won’t own Europe if GM’s Opel division has anything to say about it.

For that matter, GM has also said it aims for world dominance, but unlike the Japanese company, it has not blown a trumpet in advance with a bullet list of initiatives.

The Europeans have been a little more forthcoming however, and Opel has published what it calls its “e-mobility unlimited” solution.

Additionally, a few comments were offered in an Automotive News Europe interview last week by Opel’s sales and marketing chief, Alain Visser

The RAK-e was previously reported as the Opel One when it appeared at the Frankfurt Motor show in September.

“We want the Opel brand to be the market leader in electric mobility,” Visser said last week.

Opel has been encouraged by pre-orders of 60-percent of its first year’s 10,000 Volt-based Ampera allocation and the company is also working on at least a couple other small battery-powered vehicles.

One of the electric vehicles Visser said Opel may actually build is the wild-looking RAK-e vehicle featured at the Frankfurt motor show. It is intended to be low priced and entry level for drivers age 16 and up.

“By the year’s end, we’ll decide whether to bring the RAK-e into regular production,” Visser said. “If the decision turns out to be positive, the RAK-e could reach the market as early as 2013.”

Sources told Automotive News that the tandem two-seater – which is barely more than an enclosed four-wheeled electric motorcycle – will likely be priced between 10,000-12,000 euros ($13,932-$16,715), and may be built by KTM subsidiary Kiska in Salzburg, Austria, which helped develop the vehicle.

GM says the “dynamic lightweight concept” offers 62 miles of range and a top speed of 75 mph.

The RAK-e can be governed to just 28 mph in order to make the vehicle legal for young drivers in markets where 18 is the minimum age for full licensing privileges.

“The emission-free electric city car even looks good on the highway,” Opel said. “The groundbreaking concept reaches far beyond any conventional vehicle. To drive 100 kilometers would cost just 1 euro.”

The second electric “minicar” Automotive News reported Opel is also working will be little more familiar to GM-Volt readers, which is good, as Opel and GM in the U.S. have otherwise declined to share more about it.

Sources in Europe have said Opel’s other project may be a sister to the Spark EV which GM will launch in the U.S. in 2013.

As a side note, American pundits are also guessing where the Spark EV will be built. GM has not said whether it will be assembled in the U.S. or imported. One speculation is GM could very well bring in Spark EV “glider” rolling chassis from Korea to fit with their American-made A123 batteries and GM co-developed powertrain.

Rather than jump into the fray with other intrepid sleuths, we tried to go to the source, but yesterday GM spokesman Kevin Kelly said GM is not prepared to share more about this or other electric vehicle news at this time.

When the Spark EV was announced, another GM spokesman told us more news will come next year, but the pundits are still trying to discover GM’s secrets.

As for Opel and the European question, small e-cars are in keeping with its position on electric cars.

“Batteries have a relatively low energy density, so we believe a pure battery-powered car is primarily suited for use in urban areas where limited ranges are sufficient,” said Dr. Lars Peter Thiesen, Manager Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Deployment Strategy.

Thus, Opel’s e-mobility solution is a three-pronged approach involving a “complete range of electric vehicles,” according to an editorial by Rita Forst, Member of the Management Board, dam Opel AG and Vice President, Engineering Europe.

The range includes: Small, purely battery-powered electric cars for short distances, as covered above, the Ampera and future versions, and electric cars with hydrogen fuel cells “with no restrictions on vehicle size or use.”

Will the Spark EV be re-badged as an Opel?

This said, Automotive News notes that the aforementioned Renault-Nissan alliance will be standing in the way of its intention to dominate the growing electrified auto industry.

If Opel is to succeed, the company will have to outdo plans by Renault-Nissan which include investing 4 billion euros ($5.57 billion) on electrified vehicle development.

“Some people might think our EV strategy is a big bet, said Renault Chief Operating Officer Carlos Tavares. “For me, it is not a bet, but a big insurance policy.”

If we learn more about GM’s electric insurance policy, we will be sure to let you know.

Source: GM-Volt.com

Vauxhall Ampera wins Green Car of the Year in the UK

Following the Volt’s prize-garnering lead, this month the Vauxhall Ampera was awarded “Green Car of the Year” by one of the UK’s leading automotive magazines.

The car won’t even be available for ordering until year’s end, but WhatCar? has had its eye on the Volt-based Ampera since the magazine gave the extended-range electric vehicle its prestigious Green Technology Award in 2009.

“The Vauxhall Ampera represents a massive step for alternative-fuel cars,” said What Car? editor-in-chief, Chas Hallett. “It offers all the benefits of owning an electric vehicle with virtually none of the drawbacks. It gives motorists the ability to dramatically reduce their emissions without changing their lifestyle, which is exactly what green cars need to do.”

Green Car of the Year Vauxhall Ampera.

The Ampera also earned the top slot in the WhatCar? alternative fuel category over the Nissan Leaf and Renault Fluence electric car.

In a land where cars cost more than in the U.S., and petrol especially costs more, the Ampera’s cost-benefit advantage, and environmental friendliness was not lost on the editors of “Britain’s biggest and best car buyer’s guide” (as WhatCar? calls itself).

“Demolishing the issue of ‘range anxiety’ altogether,” said Vauxhall in a press release, “the Ampera’s clever Voltec system helps it achieve an incredible 175mpg and combined emissions of below 40g/km, according to official R(EC) 715/2007 regulations for measuring fuel consumption and C02 emissions.”

UK motorists are also reportedly enthusiastic for the 25-50 miles of emissions-free electric driving the Ampera will offer.

Vauxhall said prospective buyers can reserve the Ampera through a program called ePioneers, in which a £150 fee will put their name on one of the imported-from-America cars.

“The Ampera takes Vauxhall into a new era,” said Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall’s Managing Director. “It can genuinely be considered a car that can perform a full range of family duties, with its four-seats and five-door body. Yet its 100 mph performance and brisk acceleration mean that it can hold its own in the cut and thrust of everyday motoring, unlike many EVs currently on sale.”

What Car? Editor-in-Chief Chas Hallet (right) gives Green Car of the Year award to Nick Reilly, president of GM of Europe.

Plans are to release the Ampera in early 2012 for £33,995 (estimated $53,654 U.S. including Value Added Tax).

Vauxhall has said there is already “massive interest” in the vehicle, and is assessing the viability of setting up an assembly plant in the UK at some undetermined point in time.

The decision to do so will be based in part upon initial success sales success and perceived market demand going forward.

Source: Autoblog Green

Report: General Motors to build 10,000 Opel, Vauxhall Amperas in 2012

2011 Opel Ampera – Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors says it will pump out 10,000 Opel and Vauxhall Amperas for sale in Europe in 2012. The breakdown, according to GM Europe president Nick Reilly, will go something like this: Opel gets 6,000 Amperas from GM's allotment of 60,000 for 2012 and Vauxhall receives 4,000 of the plug-in hybrids to sell in the UK. What this means is that approximately 50,000 Chevrolet Volts will be built in 2012, of which 2,000 will be sold over in the UK, leaving the United States with 48,000 Volts to go around in 2012.

Nick Reilly says most of the Amperas will be sold to fleets and local government agencies. The Volt, he says, will be targeted at retail customers in Europe. GM says it will launch the €42,900 ($63,038 U.S. at the current exchange rate) Opel Ampera in Europe in the fourth quarter of 2011 and will wheel out both the £28,545 ($46,614 U.S.) Volt and the £33,995 ($55,514 U.S) Vauxhall Ampera in the UK in spring of 2012.



Source: Autoblog Green

Report: Is the 2011 Opel Ampera sold out?

2011 Opel Ampera – Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in November of 2010, General Motors began taking orders for the 2011 Opel Ampera, Europe's mechanically identical cousin of the Chevrolet Volt. The MSRP, a lofty €42,900 in Germany, ($61,123 U.S. at the current exchange rate), or $21,128 more than a 2012 Volt here in the U.S. (though not significantly higher than the Volt's European price), apparently hasn't turned off potential Ampera buyers.

According to Automobilwoche (sub. req.), some 5,000 potential buyers have plunked down €150 ($214 U.S.) to pre-order the Ampera, which means that all of the Amperas headed to Europe this year are spoken for. Well, sort of.

Officially, Opel's press release says that:

Over 5,000 potential customers have already joined the ePioneer community at Opel-Ampera.com. Opel expects Ampera sales in 2012 to reach around 10,000 units.

Those 5,000 (2,000 coming from the general public and 3,000 from corporate fleets) or so hand-raisers have nothing to lose but their meager deposits if they decide to back out. So, until sales of the Ampera begin in the fourth quarter of 2011, there's no way of knowing whether or not Opel's plug-in hybrid is actually sold out. In any case, there appears to be a supply of about 10,000 Amperas headed across the pond for 2012.



Source: Autoblog Green

GM adding two shifts, 2,500 Jobs to Detroit-Hamtramck Plant

General Motors is adding two shifts and about 2,500 hourly and salaried jobs at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to build the new Chevrolet Malibu mid-size sedan and the next-generation Impala large sedan alongside the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera electric cars. Detroit-Hamtramck currently has 1,121 hourly and salaried employees.

GM also announced a $69 million investment in tooling and equipment to support the next-generation Impala. In April 2010, GM announced a $121 million investment to support Malibu production.

GM announced last week that after a four-week shutdown, the Detroit-Hamtramck plant will exclusively build Volt and Ampera electric cars with extended-range capability for the rest of the year. Exports of Volt and Ampera to Canada, Europe and China are included in the total 16,000 electric vehicles being built for the full 2011 calendar year. The Volt/Ampera production goal for 2012 is up to 60,000 with three-quarters of those to be sold in the United States.

The new Malibu—Chevrolet’s first global midsize sedan—will be built in Detroit and Fairfax, Kan., as well as China and Korea and will be sold in more than 100 countries on six continents.

Source: Green Car Congress

Opel Ampera gets 8-year, 160,000-km battery warranty

The Opel Ampera PHEV










General Motors sought to address fears in Europe about the durability of a new generation of largely untested lithium-ion batteries equipped in its upcoming Opel Ampera by offering customers an eight-year warranty.

Electric cars like the Ampera and Chevrolet Volt are considered by many in the industry to be trailblazers into a new age of carbon-free mobility, yet the technology is so new that there are hardly any on the road.

With purchasing prices estimated to be as much as twice that of a comparable car with a conventional combustion engine, faulty battery issues that leave commuters stranded on the road remain a key concern for the industry.

GM said in July it will offer an eight-year, 100,000 mile battery warranty on the Volt, which has an expected 40-mile (64 km) range when running on electricity stored in its lithium-ion battery.

Source: Reuters

Opel adds stop/start technology to Corsa, Astra ecoFLEX models

2011 Opel Corsa

Press Release

* Ready to go: World premiere of Ampera production car
* Lounge On Wheels: Vision of next-generation Zafira
* More frugal than ever: Start/Stop further improves ecoFLEX range's efficiency
* Redesigned: New Antara and Corsa debut in 2011

Rüsselsheim. The series production model of Opel's revolutionary extended-range electric vehicle, the Ampera, will make its grand premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show (March 3-13). First deliveries will be made before the end of this year. With this, Opel makes good on its promise to be the first manufacturer to make this highly innovative technology available in Europe.

Fair visitors will also get a glimpse into the future of Opel's next-generation Zafira: The Zafira Tourer Concept brings on-board flexibility to a new level of sophistication and comfort, showcasing how an elegant Lounge On Wheels could look.

More of Opel's future as a leader in sustainable mobility will also be displayed with the latest low-emission ecoFLEX models. Entering the market in early 2011, the re-worked Corsa and Antara will also be featured at the Opel booth.

Opel Ampera production car – e-mobility within drivers' grasp

Keeping the promises it made in the last years, Opel will continue being a trendsetter with the market introduction of the Ampera by the end of this year. The production model of the Opel Ampera that will debut at the Geneva Motor Show does not deviate from the targets set during the development phase while its bold design remains very close to that of the early concept cars.

The Opel Ampera extended-range electric vehicle will be the first electric car in Europe suitable for everyday driving: it gives drivers the peace of mind that they won't be stranded due to a flat battery. With its unique electric propulsion system providing lively acceleration and high levels of refinement, the five-door Ampera seats four passengers and offers ample trunk space. It is powered by electricity at all times and speeds. For the first 40 - 80 kilometers, power is supplied by the electricity stored in the 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery. While driving on electricity delivered by the battery, the Ampera moves free of gas and tailpipe-emissions.

Independent research found that about 80 percent of Europeans drive less than 60 kilometers per day, so the Ampera would easily meet their requirements. When the Ampera's battery runs low, it can be recharged in about four hours at 230V by plugging the vehicle's on-board charge system into a standard outlet. Because the battery can be recharged quickly, most Amperas are likely to be driven in battery mode all the time. If a longer trip is required, the gasoline-fueled engine/generator can seamlessly extend the total driving range to more than 500 kilometers on a full tank. This range-extending technology makes the Ampera the first practical car with worry-free electric driving. The extremely quiet 111 kW/150 hp electric motor delivers 370 meters torque from a standstill. It accelerates the Ampera from zero to 100 km/h in around nine seconds and enables a maximum speed of 161 km/h.

Zafira Tourer Concept: A Lounge On Wheels

In , Opel will also present the vision of what a new generation of its larger monocab, the segment-defining Zafira, could look like. Dubbed a "Lounge On Wheels", the Zafira Tourer Concept features an airy and bright interior executed in high quality. "We've applied the lounge concept to a motor vehicle," says Mark Adams, Vice President Opel/Vauxhall Design. "A lounge is a place you want to escape to and relax, a place where you really want to be. We wanted to offer the same feeling in a monocab and make it the lounge you want to spend time in."

All in true Zafira fashion, Opel's new concept car offers highest possible cabin flexibility to meet most needs for space, with a great emphasis on rear passenger seats. The cabin is also generously glazed to invite light, enhance the feeling of wellness and a peaceful openness to the outside world.

The spacious and sophisticated lounge-style interior is embraced by an elegant, sculptured and dynamic exterior, featuring a new, bold face that integrates a dramatic wing shaped headlamp that creates a very dynamic look.

The Zafira Tourer Concept brings Insignia ambition, quality and innovative technologies to the monocab segment. It is designed to ensure that every journey is pleasant, safe and relaxing for all aboard.

Opel ecoFLEX family: More efficiency thanks to Start/Stop technology deployment

Opel stands for sustainable and practical mobility without compromising on driving fun. Opel ecoFLEX models enable low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions without skimping on performance or dynamic driving – all at an affordable price.

The new ecoFLEX family displayed in features two major novelties:

* The Corsa 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX now combines its 70 kW/95 hp powertrain with Start/Stop technology, offering combined fuel consumption of 3.5 liters per 100 km and emitting just 94 g/km CO2 .

* Start/Stop technology is also available in the new version of the Opel Astra 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX (70 kW/95 hp). In the 5-door hatchback, it reduces CO2 emissions from 109 to just 104 g/km and combined fuel consumption from 4.1 liters to 3.9 liters per 100 km. While the 5-door hatchback is available with and without the Start/Stop system, the new Sports Tourer 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX has it as standard (fuel consumption 4.1 l/100 km, emissions 109 g/km CO2).

With the deployment of Start/Stop technology all through the model range, Opel has taken another major step towards its goal of lowering fuel consumption and emissions.

Start/Stop technology is now available in the Opel Agila, Corsa and Astra. Before the end of 2011, it will also be offered in the Meriva, Zafira and Insignia.

Starting 2011 – the new face of Opel Antara and Opel Corsa

Starting in the spring of 2011 with accentuated exterior design, new engines, newly tuned chassis and an upgraded interior, the re-designed Opel Antara combines sporty off-road flair with high utility value and urban chic. The fully re-worked engine line-up consists of two new 2.2 CDTI units with 120 kW/163 hp and 135 kW/184 hp, and a new 2.4 ECOTEC gasoline variant with 123 kW/167 hp. All engines meet Euro 5 emissions standards and guarantee improved driving performance with significantly reduced consumption and emissions. The two available transmissions – a six-speed manual and an automatic – have also been completely newly developed. Refinements to the chassis and active safety include improvements to the ABS system and the standard fitting of Hill Start Assist (HSA) which prevents roll-back when driving away on grades.

Following the overhaul of everything under its skin in 2010 – engine line-up, chassis and steering system – the Opel Corsa gets a new wardrobe in 2011. A redesigned face lends it a sportier, expressive look; new exterior colors and interior ambiances as well as a great offer of individualized, sporty versions make it more attractive than ever. The new multimedia infotainment system called "TOUCH & CONNECT" features a color touch screen, full navigation coverage for 28 European countries, Bluetooth, iPod and USB connections at a very competitive price. The 70 kW/95 hp ecoFLEX 1.3 CDTI version now equipped with Start/Stop technology benefits from 8.7% lower fuel consumption in the urban cycle. Overall, it only requires 3.5 liters per 100 km and emits just 94 g/km CO2.

General Motors Reporting Historical Year-Over-Year Sales Increases

Crediting a marked sales increase last month to improved availability and incentives across its make and model spectrum, GM reported a 49-percent increase compared to Feb. 2010, including a 70-percent peak, the highest year-over-year gain in GM’s history.

Specific breakdown of the limited-availability Volt’s contribution was but 281 units, down from 321 in January compared to the Nissan Leaf, which sold just 87 units in January, and 67 in February.

While Volt sales are comparatively better than its nearest competitor, yet not significant compared to GM’s internally combusted models, the brand-new model has no year-over-year stats to drag down the average. Its inclusion in GM’s “newest vehicles” category therefore had no effect on GM’s newest models which posted the company’s top gains in February.

Overall – including all sales to fleets, rental companies, and consumer retail sales – “newest” vehicle sales increased 66 percent for the month compared to a year prior, with consumer retail sales as a category cresting as high as 119 percent.

Following this gain by its newest models, GM cited significant sales increases also for passenger cars, crossovers, pickups and SUVs.

Passenger cars sales overall rose 40 percent, with improvement to consumer retail sales at 76 percent.

A particular boost came to passenger car sales by new models including Chevy’s Cruze of which were sold 18,556 units, a robust 212-percent increase over last year’s Cobalt. The new Cadillac CTS also led with a 159-percent year-over-year increase.

Crossover sales overall were up 57 percent, with leaders being the Chevy Equinox of which were sold 98-percent more than last year.

Full-size pickup trucks also carried a heavy load, accounting for a 65-percent increase overall, with retail sales rising 83 percent.

High dealer inventories and strong sales strategies are largely credited with the rapidly returning profitability for the recently bailed-out American automaker.

GM said U.S. inventories, at about 517,000, were about 7,000 more than January, 2011, and 101,000 higher than February, 2010.

As a brand, Chevrolet led the way in increasing GM’s sales with 142,919 vehicles delivered, a 43-percent increase overall for all sales, which factored in a 69-percent retail customer sales increase.

Higher overall percentages, with less volume were also reported by GM’s other three brands, consisting of a 73-percent increase for Buick which sold 15,807 units, a 59-percent improvement for GMC, comprised of 32,534 units sold, and a 70-percent upsurge for Cadillac, which sold 15,768 units.

As explanation for the disparity between “overall” and “retail” sales, GM’s fleet sales for its four U.S. brands remained near nominal at 43,900 units, or a 2-percent increase for the month compared to a year prior, and sales to rental fleets were down 5 percent.

So where does the Volt fare in all of this?

Monthly sales figures in the several hundreds are due to the Volt’s limited availability, and, possibly to an extent because of price gouging by certain dealers not abiding by GM’s requests not to. At this juncture, low sales are not reported to be strictly due to lack of demand.

While the company is not yet raking in the profits through Volt sales, plans for availability through more U.S. dealers – which should help counteract gouging – as well as plans this week in Geneva to introduce the production version of its European sister, the Opel Ampera, has led GM to only express optimism for the Volt in the long term.



Source: GM-Volt.com