Opel Ampera Electric Vehicle Heading for Geneva in March

Opel will exhibit the Ampera at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show in March. Following the 2007 Opel Flexstream Concept, the Ampera is the latest extended-range electric car and it will run on Voltec, the same technology found in the Chevrolet Volt.

This technology would allow the Opel Ampera to travel for up to 60km using only the lithium-ion battery as its power source. For longer trips the car would continue to run on electricity generated by a compact internal combustion engine. The Ampera's battery could be charged through any standard 230V outlet.

It's estimated that most Europeans cover distances similar to the Ampera's all electric range on a daily commute. About 80 percent of Germans as an example travel less than 50km a day.

"With the Ampera, Opel will be the first European automobile manufacturer to provide customers several hundred kilometers of non-stop electric driving," said Alain Visser, GM Europe Chief Marketing Officer.

Press Release

Opel Ampera to feature innovative GM Voltec technology


Rüsselsheim. Opel has announced Ampera as the name of its revolutionary extended-range electric car. The five-door, four-seat Opel Ampera will be revealed at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show (March 5-15).

“With the Ampera, Opel will be the first European automobile manufacturer to provide customers several hundred kilometers of non-stop electric driving,” said Alain Visser, GM Europe Chief Marketing Officer.

GM’s ground-breaking electric propulsion technology, called Voltec, operates differently from other advanced propulsion systems. For short trips up to 60 km, the Ampera will run only on lithium-ion battery power charged via a standard 230v outlet. For longer distances, the car will continue to drive on electricity that is generated by a small internal combustion engine.

The Ampera will be well-suited to the daily driving schedule of most European customers. For example, approximately 80 percent of German drivers travel less than 50 km daily.

Additional information on the Opel Ampera will be released March 3 at the Geneva Motor Show.