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the Opel Ampera is nothing more than a Chevrolet Volt with some extremely mild cosmetic changes, but doppelgangers have always had a very special place in the wonderful world of General Motors. If Bloomberg’s inside sources are right, GM is currently looking into the development of a Buick-badged version of the plug-in hybrid Opel Ampera. According to people familiar with the project, the Buick model could go on sale in 2013, if the plans goes ahead.

A key aspect to General Motor's survival is what is now being called its Voltec platform - cars which are built on the same platform underpinning the Chevrolet Volt, an electric car scheduled to be introduced before the end of 2010. Besides the Chevrolet Volt, GM has been showcasing the Cadillac Converj concept, a luxury coupe version of the Volt as well as the Opel Ampera, a European counterpart to the Volt. Together, these three cars will play a prime role in distinguishing the direction General Motors will be going for the next decade or longer.

Each of the three models will be "powered" by an electric lithium-ion battery, a rechargeable powerplant with an all-electric range of forty miles. Beyond that, a small gas engine will kick in and, in the case of the Chevrolet Volt, that engine will be the same 1.4L I4 motor as the one that will move the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze, a gasoline model. GM hasn't said which engines will be in the Ampera or the Converj, but the 1.4L may provide just enough power to move those two models as well.

OK - so you heard all the up sides to plug-in hybrids but what are the downsides (apart from mainly not being available yet)? Well here are some that I see:

* They have a lot of unproven technology as they have never really been tried in mass production yet so it could take a while to iron out the kinks.
* Some people could have a problem trying to find a place to charge them - which could mean they take the "lazy" option of mostly using the engine all the time.
* Obviously another one is the price! - at the moment they look a lot more expensive than even the usual hybrids which are already more expensive than a regular car. The Prius had a problem with price for a long time.
* And finally Are they too little, too late - to save the environment, because that's what they're all about aren't they?

So in summary: It looks like out of all the options for Electric Cars for me - the Plug-in Hybrid seems like the best one - especially compared with the All-Electric Cars around at the moment. But we'll also have to wait a year or two first. Right now though I have to get my hands on some of those electric scooters and electric bicycles around at the moment!

GM has released the first official photo of the 2011 Opel Ampera today ahead of the electric car's unveiling at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show later this week.

First, GM released a darkened teaser picture. Then, renderings of the car were leaked onto the internet. Really, though, we got our best look just over a week ago when intrepid spy photographers in Germany caught the car out in the open posing for its official GM photo shoot. Still, the official picture released today doesn't have any tall plants blocking the view, so take a look and see what you think.

Mechanically, the Opel Ampera is identical to its North American cousin, the Chevrolet Volt. Rather than design an entirely new car on the Voltec architecture, GM has restyled it for the European market, a move that will certainly save money for cash-strapped GM. Being mechanically identical, the Ampera will have the same 40-mile all-electric range and a range of "several hundred" miles after a gasoline-powered engine starts up and runs a generator.

© Source: motortrend
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Opel is set to reveal the Ampera Electric car at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, effectively unveiling the European design for the Chevrolet Volt.The five-door, four-seat Opel Ampera uses an identical platform to the Volt, utilising GM’s Voltec electric propulsion technology.

Like its North American sibling, the Ampera is capable of short trips up to 60km on batter power alone charged via a standard household power outlet.

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

Beyond this distance, an onboard small combustion engine generates electricity which in turn drives the motor and charges the battery. The Ampera is well-suited to the daily driving schedule of most European customers with around 80 per cent of German drivers travelling less than 50km daily.

© Source: caradvice
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