New electric car from Vauxhall
A new model of electric car looks set to solve the problem of limited battery life and bolster electric car sales.
A new model of electric car looks set to solve the problem of limited battery life and bolster electric car sales.
The Ampera is the latest offering from Vauxhall, and will reach 24 showrooms across the UK next Tuesday, following a successful launch in the US last year, with a price tag of £30,000 (about $49,669).
The selling point of this new model is that after its battery runs out, (after 50 miles of electric power) a petrol engine will power the car for up to 310 additional miles. As this petrol powers the electric motor, Vauxhall have asked the vehicle to be considered as a ‘range extender’ model, rather than a hybrid car.
This latest model follows on from recent developments in the electric car market. Renault’s Fluence ZE (zero emissions) family car went on sale last month.
“The launches of the Vauxhall Ampera and the Renault Fluence ZE are a stepping stone to broaden the electric car offering,” Marc Rinkel, senior analyst at analysts IHS Automotive, told the Guardian.
“Although currently low consumer spending is not in favour of expensive vehicles, these models shall become popular amongst company car buyers… the exemption of company car tax for electric vehicle drivers [in the UK] looks very appealing indeed.”
In 2011, only around 1,000 electric cars were sold in the UK and data on sales in 2012 shows demand for electric cars has reached a plateaux. Similarly, sales of electric hybrid cars have flatlined in the US over the last year. However, Vauxhall have said they expect to sell 3,500 units in the UK in 2012; a figure they predict will reach 5,000 in a year’s time.
Though the investment of big companies in electric cars looks promising, there remain other obstacles to consumer uptake beyond the products on range. Supporting infrastructure for electric cars is a massive factor. For example, the option for users from different electric car schemes to be able to share charging points requires further attention, as does the option of pay as you go charging points.
Currently users may need to plan ahead to check what charging points are available in the towns they will be driving through, or may need to notify a scheme in advance of their trip to register to use a charging point. More detailed maps of charging points across entire countries are also required. For now, however, the car manufacturers at least are showing their interest in cleaner vehicles.
Image: The Vauxhall Ampera | Flickr Dominic's pics