New Vauxhall Ampera hints at the future of motoring
A pioneering electric battery has enabled the new Vauxhall Ampera to become the UK's first long-distance electric vehicle.
Deemed an E-REV – short for an extended-range electric vehicle – the technology at work inside the car could represent a momentous turning point for greener motoring.
This is because for a three-hour charge, the new Ampera's battery can provide up to 40 miles of clean driving that hardly costs a motorist a penny. Of course, this range depends on how considerate a person's driving style is.
Once the battery becomes drained of its energy, a driver is alerted when a green battery light on the dashboard begins to flash red.
However, this is not the end of the road for the new Ampera. Instead, a 1.4-litre petrol engine boots up and begins to power a small generator in the car.
This feature in turn works to charge the electric battery once more, which allows the electric engine to keep on chugging. The last knock-on effect of this convoluted process is that the engine enables the wheels to keep on turning and the car to continue journeying for up to 320 miles.
All of this means that drivers who rarely travel above 40 miles per commute may never need to make use of the new Ampera's petrol engine. However, this feature acts as a cushion if the length of a road trip becomes disrupted or is miscalculated.
It is not just all about greener motoring with Vauxhall's fresh Ampera. The car is able to reach a respectable top speed of 100mph and regenerative braking makes for a different style of driving.
Tech-savvy motorists are also in for a treat when they first step inside the new Ampera and tap its 'Start' button.
Such an action causes a pair of large information screens on the dashboard to burst into life, complete with state-of-the-art HD graphics and features which can be accessed simply through the power of touch.
There is plenty to admire about the exterior of the new Ampera too. The quirky grille design is sure to be a highlight with many car lovers, as redesigned Griffin perches work in tandem with two unique boomerang headlamps.
Posted by Sebastian Turkenburg
