Vauxhall Ampera EREV | Fully Charged

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  • Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
  • A test drive in the Vauxhall Ampera EREV, available in the UK early 2012.
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Комментарии • 183

  • @zapfanzapfan
    @zapfanzapfan 6 лет назад +8

    7 years ago, time flies...

    • @HermanWillems
      @HermanWillems 4 года назад

      Bought one second hand. My first EV(rev) and love it so far. It's always a game to me to get as much range out of the battery as possible. :) Before i drove a 280hp Nissan 350z. But i wanted something cheaper to operate, more space and have high comfort. Second hand Opel Ampera was that.

    • @riley881
      @riley881 2 года назад

      @@HermanWillems howz yours treating u 😀

  • @offgridsolaruk843
    @offgridsolaruk843 2 года назад +1

    Had a leaf sold it for an Ampera, had mine for 4 years, charge it off my off grid solar system. Awesome car, very reliable in my experience, wheel bearings wear and pitted discs an issue, a few other minor things but fun to drive, sturdy and well built. The Engineering behind it is brilliant.

  • @jlghardy
    @jlghardy 9 лет назад +39

    I have an Ampera. This is a very perceptive review. He describes exactly my experience over the last 2.5 years.
    I can't understand why it hasn't been more successful commercially, and I'm very sorry that we are not getting the next generation. EVs are dealer unfriendly and it may be that Vauxhall have been stuffed by their dealer network
    He mentions it, but doesn't emphasise what to me is one of the fun bits of the car. At the lights you can leave for dead anything driven by a petrol engine that isn't on cam in the right gear and with the turbo spooled up. My favourite victims are young lads driving Imprezas and the like. You can hear this rising scream behind you as the poor guy endeavours to recover his self respect.

    • @timaustin2000
      @timaustin2000 8 лет назад +3

      +jlghardy Sadly, Opel/Vauxhall made virtually no attempt whatsoever to market the thing and restricted the sale of the vehicle to a dozen showrooms or so in the UK. With all the goodwill in the world, my conclusion cannot be anything but this: Opel/Vauxhall wanted it to fail.

    • @jlghardy
      @jlghardy 8 лет назад +1

      Good point Tim - I think however it may partly be that THE DEALERS wanted it to fail. Tesla do not have dealers and there is a reason: a dealer network based on profit from maintenance is not viable financially for EVs

    • @timaustin2000
      @timaustin2000 8 лет назад

      jlghardy​ a year or so back, I was at the Vauxhall dealership in Lancaster and the boss there really wanted to sell them. He even had one parked up prominently on display on the forecourt,... But he wasn't allowed to. He had to send interested people to Manchester, where there was an accredited Ampera showroom.
      That shows the importance that Opel placed on the car. None.
      I'm not surprised, though very disappointed, that GM don't want to send v2s over here; Opel clearly couldn't give two hoots about them.

    • @iainansell5930
      @iainansell5930 8 лет назад +3

      opel put too much effort into their diesal engines.... now they're screwed, now that the EU are trying to ban diesals in urban areas within europe (the UK have put plans in motion to push for a ban of diesals in 30 major city/towns by 2020-whether it gets through parliament though, is another matter).
      problem with the ampera was they marketed it, badly, with little effort- to the company car crowd, but you ask a company car driver- vauxhall or BMW, what do you think they'll choose??
      a 4 seater hatchback car, in my opinion, was the completely wrong platform to put the drivtrain into... just imagine how popular it would have been if the put it into a zafira? all those parents doing short runs to drop their kids off at school.... They could have at least put 3 seats across the back.... the only reason i have'nt gone with an ampera, is i have 3 kids, aswell as the wife.... i could strap a kid to the roof i suppose- but just imagine how that'd affect the aerodynamics....

    • @iainansell5930
      @iainansell5930 8 лет назад +2

      mitsubushi has shown what you can do , with the outlander phev, which although its not strictly an extended range vehicle, its pretty close... they are selling very well indeed... i guess vauxhall/opel would rather lose custom than bother...oh, and as a side note, the UK are apparently not getting the Bolt either, the 200 mile range electric car......

  • @alltechinbox
    @alltechinbox 9 лет назад +6

    I have one, it is a great car. I am sad we are not going to have the gen2 version here in the UK.

  • @manoman0
    @manoman0 9 лет назад +13

    I'm getting my 2nd Volt.
    Why?
    Because it makes absolutely sense.
    I know, the haters won't agree.
    But who cares what they think.. =D

    • @Chrisb8s
      @Chrisb8s 8 лет назад +1

      +manoman0 I agree.... If you do no have a "typical" drive and you like the idea of having a bit of freedom to go where you want when you want, without time constraints and still get there most of the way on electric.. this is the car!

    • @manoman0
      @manoman0 8 лет назад +1

      Chris Bates
      I don't want a "typical" car anymore. It's like time travel. Backwards.

    • @HermanWillems
      @HermanWillems 4 года назад

      Just bought mine second hand. 69k kilometers, 15k euro. I can go to my work & back with a full battery. PERFECT. Bought a second hand cheap charger to mount to my house. Great car also. It's not super fast speedwise, but acceleration is great for rapid responses in traffic if needed. But comfort is great! The silence makes you enjoy your music alot better aswell, with the great audio inside. Love it.

  • @Tysto
    @Tysto 12 лет назад +1

    Mountain mode is coming to the Chevy Volt (sister model) as well, as I understand it. The advantage is that running on the battery is much more efficient in city driving, so on longish trips you might as well save it for that and use the gas motor for laboring up and down hills.

  • @fullychargedshow
    @fullychargedshow  13 лет назад +2

    @realcomputergenius You are correct that the petrol engine CAN drive the wheels but only in very specific, driver controlled circumstances. There is a drive setting called 'Mountain' which allows the planetary gear system to take drive directly from the engine to the wheels, but 99% of the time this is not the case.

  • @fullychargedshow
    @fullychargedshow  13 лет назад

    @GeminiPrimeX The one we were driving was indeed an Opel, the Opel and Vauxhall brand are very closely linked. I'm not that bothered to be honest, if the car is good, uses less petrol and is a step forward in the technology, then I'm not that bothered what badge it has on the front.

  • @fullychargedshow
    @fullychargedshow  13 лет назад +1

    @credogreen I've been asked this many times and the standard answer from manufacturers is tailpipe emissions. Not so much Co2 but SOX and NOX, hybrids and EREV's get all sorts of tax breaks and free passes to low and zero emission zones in cities because of ultra low or zero tailpipe gasses. It's more to do with human health in built up areas than climate concerns.

  • @fullychargedshow
    @fullychargedshow  12 лет назад

    An interesting comment, although based on a slight misunderstanding. If you were stuck in a traffic jam in the Ampera, for a start nothing would be running, you wouldn't be using any fuel, so you would be in a better position than all the other drivers in the same jam. Secondly, and more importantly, the Ampera has a petrol engine as well as an electric motor/batteries. It has the same range per tank as any other petrol car. I've driven 24,000 in electric cars, never had range anxiety.

  • @jacksonbangs6603
    @jacksonbangs6603 5 лет назад

    Whatever it takes to get people to drive electric works for me. Great video!

  • @TheTechiewiz
    @TheTechiewiz 11 лет назад +1

    Test Drive a Volt. you won't regret. I just leased one last week and it is my first american car and best one I have owned so far. I traded in a 2000 Acura TL which I owned since new. Never looking back. There are a couple of cool facebook owners forums too. I only used 5 gallon of gas driving from the dealer in Tampa to Orlando and do not plan to ever buy any more gas.

  • @The8BitGuy
    @The8BitGuy 13 лет назад +1

    It is weird seeing you drive on the other side of the car. I live in the USA and when I visit the UK I don't dare drive a vehicle, it is just too weird seeing the cars on the other side of the road.

  • @Parax77
    @Parax77 13 лет назад

    cont.. for all: The car has 2 motors say 0-65mph on the drive motor and a static 35 mph motor (the generator) this means that at some point between 35-65mph the static motor is engaged and the drive motor runs slower, ie 35+20 = 55mph or 35+65 = 100mph if you drop below 40 the static motor cuts out 0+35 = 35mph. Only when the battery is low can the engine (also static) engage in place of the static motor (now generating), so petrol mode = 35 engine+25 motor = 60mph or 35eng+45motor = 80mph.

  • @manoman0
    @manoman0 9 лет назад

    I must admit, you were really fair on this review....really being positive about the car....I appreciate that. Not because it's a Volt. In general, it's so silly to rant about every little thing on a car you might not like..

  • @OwtDaftUK
    @OwtDaftUK 12 лет назад +1

    They should install them charging things in the road that you driver over where people stop at red lights, give people something for their expensive road tax.

  • @NiallFernie
    @NiallFernie 13 лет назад +1

    Just a quick point on the video, someone may already have pointed it out, the sound loses sync with the picture. It gets worse the closer to the end you get. Have you changed you're editing/output? Apart from that great episode, informative and entertaining as usual :) Might be nice if they added a quick charge from the petrol engine, so you could sit in a lay-by near town and charge your battery from the jenny.

  • @R4t10n4L
    @R4t10n4L 12 лет назад

    Surprisingly the Opel version is surpassing sales expectations even though there's no gov't rebate in most of its markets

  • @mole20010
    @mole20010 13 лет назад

    @Perygryne The fuel tank is pressurized and the software that runs the car occasionally burns fuel to make sure it doesn't go "stale".

  • @DogsBAwesome
    @DogsBAwesome 13 лет назад

    @DingoBabyEat maybe its a misunderstanding due to you being a Johnny foreigner, A generator in the Uk would be classed as the motive power source (petrol or diesel) engine)and the bit that produces the electricity. In the UK the bit on the car that produces electrical power is normally called an alternator.

  • @fullychargedshow
    @fullychargedshow  13 лет назад

    @addictedtopiano I have driven the Renault Fluence, lovely car, will be posting review soon. However I feel I should point out that Renault have no intention at this time of introducing battery swap technology in the UK, or anywhere other than Israel or possibly Denmark. More soon.

    • @HermanWillems
      @HermanWillems 4 года назад

      Reading this comment in 2019 is funny. How far have we come.

  • @samdeur
    @samdeur 7 лет назад +1

    i have bin a Vauxhall or Opel (as we call it in The Netherlands ) driver for years.
    But last couple of years i saw the level of service drop dramatically servicing my car at the opel/Vauxhall dealer. Granted my car was getting older 10yr.
    The amount i lost on service boggle the mind. and i don't intend to ever do that again.
    So currently i sold my car and no more fossil burning car for me.
    And my next car will be full EV but only after i move from a flat to house were i can have my own charger otherwise it's a no go..

  • @DogsBAwesome
    @DogsBAwesome 13 лет назад

    surly the solution to extended range when needed is some sort of generator trailer that can be hired when needed

  • @rock3tcatU233
    @rock3tcatU233 13 лет назад

    I am very excited about this car! Even though the battery capacity is a bit of a joke, but I bet that as the volume numbers of this car increase that there will be companies that will offer battery upgrades.

  • @mbirth
    @mbirth 12 лет назад

    That's why it's called a "range extender". Also, driving the engine at optimum speed (for generating electricity) gives a better efficiency than making it adapt to the driver's requested speed.

  • @Richardtate
    @Richardtate 12 лет назад

    Hi, totally agree would prefer 5 seats. I think it's because the batteries run from front to back through the center. Great car though!

  • @Parax77
    @Parax77 13 лет назад

    @fullychargedshow Slight Error, Mountain increases the reserve charge so that the car can cope with hills. Hold forces the car to use the engine BUT this does not mean that the engine is driving the wheels!

  • @munteruk
    @munteruk 13 лет назад

    Thanks for including a few facts and figures Robert ;-)

  • @realcomputergenius
    @realcomputergenius 13 лет назад

    @ robert, Thats why it was labeled as just a hybride, and there for ist just a verry expensive hybride.

  • @hunghuge12
    @hunghuge12 12 лет назад

    I'm just wondering if a 1400cc petrol is really necessary? Surely a smaller, lighter engine could be run when range gets below a certain level and charge the batteries constantly? Obviously this would eventually lead to limited performance but how long are you really going to be flat out for? Just to cruise on a motorway at 70 you're using what - 30hp? So use a 50hp generator engine, spark it up with 10 miles to go and you're unlikely ever to notice.

  • @alwayslearning3671
    @alwayslearning3671 8 лет назад

    I'm seriously considering a used Volt simply because on a trip to see my dad--a 600 mile trip--there are currently only two charging stations in Iowa and they're over 200 miles apart. I may just hold off and let them catch up.

  • @Perygryne
    @Perygryne 13 лет назад

    The one thing that worries me about a range-extended car like this is that petrol ages. Some recommendations say you should never use petrol that's older than one month, although in my experience that sort of caution is excessive.
    Theoretically, you could keep a tank full for long enough for it to degrade and do something messy to the IC engine.
    If I had one of these (dreaming ...) I'd be sure to run the tank down at least once a month and refill it, the same way I now do regular oil changes.

  • @MrCruiseadict
    @MrCruiseadict 7 лет назад

    wish the first gen volt looked this nice on the outside.

  • @addictedtopiano
    @addictedtopiano 13 лет назад

    @obts10 look out for the renault fluence with a changable battery underneath. This car will give you a clean conscious driving a fully electric car and long range ability with the interchangable battery. The company Better Place is installing Charge Spots & Battery Change stations in Austrailia atm.

  • @johnr1066
    @johnr1066 8 лет назад +3

    Why aren't Vauxhall / Chevrolet bringing the 2017 Ampera /Volt to the UK? Makes me wonder as electric vehicles are much more popular now than when this one was brought out.

    • @SnazzBot
      @SnazzBot 6 лет назад

      It just cost more to make a right-hand drive model.

    • @HermanWillems
      @HermanWillems 4 года назад

      @@SnazzBot They also not sell it in the Netherlands anymore. Mostly because of that there are alot of good EV options now. For example the Tesla Model 3 is sold like crazy here. And it cost less than the previous GM Volt. (opel ampera) Anyway, i bought second hand Ampera. There are some quirks i hate about the car though. The buttons are a clusterfuck(who the hell designed that), and with cold weather the front window gets alot of condensation which is annoying. But other than that. No complaints

  • @Grumpy_old_Boot
    @Grumpy_old_Boot 13 лет назад

    Nice video, it's good to see you still mess around with hybrid and range extended cars, and not only do pure Electric Cars.
    Offcourse, I still hope you'll do the Fisker Karma car eventually.
    I think it would change a lot of people's minds about REEV's, because they have gotten used to them being ... well .. ugly, like the original prius. But the Karma really breaks the mold in that aspect.
    Which is good, because I like pretty cars. :)

  • @greyareaRK1
    @greyareaRK1 13 лет назад

    The goal for this car seems to be performance over economy, which is laudable for winning hearts and minds, but I wonder what a more efficient variant might look like: lighter electric (possibly in-hub motors) and gas motor/generator with no overlap in mechanical drive systems (eliminating or simplifying the complicated gear/power system). A sizeable reduction in the 0-60 time perhaps, but maybe also an order of magnitude greater efficiency and serviceability?

  • @andygriff1987
    @andygriff1987 13 лет назад

    @GeminiPrimeX In Britain, we don't have Opel, we have Vauxhall, so that is what it will be marketed as over here.

  • @livingprooffilms
    @livingprooffilms 13 лет назад

    Sounds interesting. Its well worth looking into I think.
    Ever thought about looking at electric motorbikes and scooters?

  • @leglesscobra
    @leglesscobra 12 лет назад +1

    Interesting Idea: Drive an electric car, not a parallel hybrid like the Ampera. Then if you need to do a roadtrip, trade cars for a week with a friend who's staying at home who owns a petrol car. You don't have to have the inefficiency of dragging around a petrol engine and barely using it, and other person gets to try to try out an electric car and might be persuaded to get one for themselves

  • @TheWalrusOfHate
    @TheWalrusOfHate 13 лет назад

    Good vid as always, but the picture was lagging behind the sound. Just me?

  • @greendude96
    @greendude96 13 лет назад +1

    only if GM and others haven't sued california and scrapped the EV-1s in the 90s most of us would drive an EV now:(

  • @jur4x
    @jur4x 7 лет назад

    Don't know about Ampera, but many Volt owners said that their petrol engine is always running when temperatures drop below +5°C.

    • @Henry0870
      @Henry0870 7 лет назад +1

      I have a 2012 Ampera, my engine will start running below -4°C. Later models have an option to set the temperature to +2°C or -10°C
      (I know that some people place a resistor somewhere to fool the Volt, so the engine won't run when it's cold....)

    • @coniow
      @coniow 7 лет назад

      + Jur4x, We have a plug-in Prius that also starts the engine in very cold conditions (IE, around freezing). A water cooled engine will have a radiator, and that risks iceing when you add in the wind chill of driving. Better to start it up and warm up to prevent damage. Frustrating as hell, but better to use some petrol, than pay for the damage.

  • @davidmaxwaterman
    @davidmaxwaterman 7 лет назад

    I wonder why they don't allow you to take the engine out of the car, for journeys where you're sure you're not going to run out of battery power (like most journeys, I imagine). Shouldn't it be a relatively simple matter to put a generator in the back/front? It'd affect the handling, I'm sure...perhaps use two to balance it out.
    Anyway, it seems like an inefficiency to buy an engine that you never end up using; or only use on journeys where you know for sure you would use it.

  • @ThorMaxx
    @ThorMaxx 12 лет назад

    I think the biggest argument against this car and the chevy volt is the price point. The volt is $41000 CND before the tax credit... you can buy a lot of car and gas at that price.

  • @TofferB
    @TofferB 12 лет назад

    Does it, or Does it not make more sense for it to be a small desiel 'generator'?

  • @thomaspowell3739
    @thomaspowell3739 4 года назад

    The batteries will easily last the warranty, as it can’t be rapid charged, the only issue for me, is the complexity and potential high maintenance costs

  • @ra5928
    @ra5928 11 лет назад

    The only real way to figure out electric equivalent mpg is to figure out your charging cost for a full charge and divide that number into the average you are getting on your range. Every E car owner's situation is different. My charging costs are $1.17 for a full charge. I average 43 miles per charge. That comes out to $0.027 per mile. At $3.80 per gallon, that equates to 140 mpg. I low balled that because gas is going down now. But, it is still $3.95 in CA.

  • @N1mro8
    @N1mro8 11 лет назад +1

    Yeah holland weather rules them all... :'( . They should make the insignia an hybrid electric car!!!

  • @Simon-wn2id
    @Simon-wn2id 4 года назад

    I got one 2 years ago. Absolutely love it. Only car I would replace it with is a Tesla

  • @SimonLeBonbonbon
    @SimonLeBonbonbon 12 лет назад

    You were speeding@ 4:35. Where 70 km/h was allowed you were driving 86 km/h in bad weather conditions. :D

  • @fj9fl61
    @fj9fl61 13 лет назад

    it needs a combo of techs,spherical kugelmotor for instance,lightweight. incidentely,how do u stay warm in the colder climes? if the engine/generator is not on,no heat. we need clarification on this point.

    • @Simon-wn2id
      @Simon-wn2id 4 года назад

      Electric heating. Supposed to take heat from the battery pack. Also has electric heated front seats. The car actually heats up quite quickly but obviously affects the range.

  • @johnbenton4488
    @johnbenton4488 9 лет назад

    As with everything, it comes down to cost. I daresay GM have employed some pretty fancy accountants to work out the final selling price. We'll see!

  • @paullewis1637
    @paullewis1637 4 года назад

    I don't understand why you say at the beginning if your presentation that you did a quick charge and now you've got about 80 miles of range. And yet later you state that the battery range is about 44 km or so. Please explain

    • @Simon-wn2id
      @Simon-wn2id 4 года назад

      2 different cars.
      The 80 mile range was about the leaf and the 44 KM was about the Ampera

  • @willdatsun
    @willdatsun 8 лет назад

    love your show. i hear the new version of this has a huge battery, might be usa only not sure if they are selling them anywhere else.

  • @wascal
    @wascal 13 лет назад

    Hey Rob, loving your videos.
    Just read an interesting article on slashdot about new battery technology that could increase capacity by as much 1.5 to 3 times current models,

  • @DenWhitton
    @DenWhitton 12 лет назад

    I can't believe Holden will be selling the Volt in Australia for >AU$58,000, and will limit the number being imported. It's like they don't want to sell any. And it's just a re-badged GM Volt, not the nice looking Euro-designed Ampera. At that price it would be worth buying the Ampera and importing it myself. Shipping costs + certification costs + car cost will still be cheaper than $58k, and the car looks better.

  • @peterp7658
    @peterp7658 9 лет назад

    Love this car

  • @girochin007
    @girochin007 13 лет назад

    @sappha58 There's not enough power from a generator to charge the batteries and run the car... That would be putting out more energy than what is being put in which is physically impossible.

  • @electrictroy2010
    @electrictroy2010 9 лет назад

    DISCONTINUED IN EUROPE, JAPAN, AND AUSTRALIA. The Americans get the new G2 version, but the overseas markets do not, because overseas drivers did not want the car (they already have 50-80 mpg-us diesels)
    .

    • @sparewheel
      @sparewheel 9 лет назад +1

      electrictroy2010 I'd say they don't know about the existence of this car. Great marketing!

  • @Adendri38
    @Adendri38 12 лет назад

    Hi Robert, just thinking, when emission free zones do come, would hybrids be allowed to travel within them? only reason i ask is how could the governors? or whoever would be there to maintain it emission free, know if they were driving with the electric engine or put the petrol engine on?
    also how could they keep control of non emission cars within the area,
    i love the ampera/volt, also really love the idea of the leaf :) thanks in advance for any info :)

  • @kamentabakov5302
    @kamentabakov5302 5 лет назад

    What do you think about a second hand one 2011 with 165000 km for about 8000£. Should I buy it? Because I'm a bit worried about the batteries.

  • @tobyadams
    @tobyadams 13 лет назад

    I do enjoy your shown, but more often than not, the audio gets out of sync in every episode :-(

  • @DanFrederiksen
    @DanFrederiksen 13 лет назад

    interesting if it's actually a different engine from the Volt.
    I'm sort of a fan of REEV although I hate the GM pricing which is just ridiculous. it's basically just a prius drivetrain with a larger battery, it should not cost what it does. but of course the autoexec idiots have a hard on for the term premium which they think will justify any greed by adding a bit of extra features on the inside.

    • @Simon-wn2id
      @Simon-wn2id 4 года назад

      It’s an interesting point because I found out that my Ampera was built in Detroit at the Hammtrack (sp?)

  • @leglesscobra
    @leglesscobra 12 лет назад

    I Stand corrected

  • @wascal
    @wascal 13 лет назад

    @WillMasterke
    It was indeed, the technology looks quite promising and could be implemented quickly and cheaply, if the oil companies dont get hold of it first :D

  • @Robottodd
    @Robottodd 13 лет назад

    @TheWalrusOfHate I had the same issue. A./V. were just out of sync.

  • @ra5928
    @ra5928 12 лет назад

    The Ampera is not a parallel hybrid. I get 150 mpg equivalent in my Volt "dragging around" my petrol engine. The Ampera won the Monte Carlo Alternative Fuel Rally. A rally to determine fuel efficiency and low emissions. It took 4 of the top 10. Beat the Tesla full electric which had won the previous two years. Beat all other alternative fueled cars and hybrids. The publication Deisel Cars named the Volt/Ampera "Best Eco Car". On the highway, the Volt/Ampera gets 43 mpg.

  • @littleman9055
    @littleman9055 6 лет назад

    Is it worth buying it if I want to travel 3000 miles every month?

  • @metroperson
    @metroperson 13 лет назад

    It would be good for me....I drive out to my family's home and it is a little of 80 miles away ...then head on out to the next city and that is another 57 miles

  • @nosuchthingasshould4175
    @nosuchthingasshould4175 8 лет назад +1

    Does anyone know if there is a generator in the works that would go on the roof of an electric vehicle, like one of those aerodynamic luggage things? You could rent one when going on long distance trip, like a holiday, and stick to battery power in daily commutes/ shopping.

    • @oliverxenophon824
      @oliverxenophon824 8 лет назад

      +nosuch thingasshould Great Idea, if they could make enough room for the engine and the tank in a compact container.

    • @nosuchthingasshould4175
      @nosuchthingasshould4175 8 лет назад

      I think the engine could be really small, like a mower motor or chainsaw. Largish scooter at most. You just keep it running, in optimum gear, steady, charging the battery. as long as it has an output slightly greater then the energy consumption in regular cruise, it might make up for the greater consumption when accelerating or going uphill (Depending on your driving. Got to give the thing a chance). Between that, the re-gen. and running it during stops, a long trip is suddenly less daunting. And you don't have to carry a heavy engine when you don't need it.

  • @gene978
    @gene978 13 лет назад

    SO COOL! I wish we had that here in the States! DAMN US! lololol

  • @electrictroy2010
    @electrictroy2010 11 лет назад

    Funny..... I thought he was driving a Chevrolet Volt. HINT: General Motors uses different names based upon market location. In fact most carmakers do. (Example: Toyota's Prius C is america is called Prius Aqua in Japan and Prius Alpha in Europe.)

  • @CAESARbonds
    @CAESARbonds 13 лет назад

    @fullychargedshow
    Exactly this planetary gearset beeing similar to the Toyota hybrid system is very simple compared to a regular automatic grearbox.
    It is very unlikely to fail.
    I think there is only one or two known cases of the first prius with a bad tranny.

  • @greyareaRK1
    @greyareaRK1 12 лет назад

    What I don't understand, and this is a bit tangential, is the styling. Why not go with a body that says 'exclusive saloon car,' rather than 'mid-size family car?' a) The cost to produce is about the same, b) it has loads of cool high-end features, and c) it's priced in that category. It perpetuates the myth that electric/hybrids are compromises for guilt-ridden liberals, rather than desirable/exclusive objects.

  • @girochin007
    @girochin007 13 лет назад

    @sappha58 The generator would have to be bigger than the car.

  • @ttjph
    @ttjph 13 лет назад

    @realcomputergenius Why do you see this as a problem?
    Having the engine driving a generator, to drive a motor, to drive the wheels, will give a total efficiency no better than around 80% (90%×90%=81%) - that's nearly as bad as a mechanical CVT!
    A geared transmission to connect the engine to the wheels when cruising could transfer the power at 95% efficiency or more - over long distances this might be a better approach.

  • @electrictroy2010
    @electrictroy2010 11 лет назад

    The official EPA rating is 95 MPGelectric and 38MPGgasoline
    .

  • @Alvord1430
    @Alvord1430 12 лет назад

    What are you going to do when it runs out of petrol? LOL GM should adopt the Ampera body style in the U.S.

  • @curtisducati
    @curtisducati 4 года назад

    Not one AMPERA has been back to Vauxhall for a repair ! NOTHING , not even a battery has been replaced under Warranty...WOW ...I am buying one over xmas 2019-20

    • @Simon-wn2id
      @Simon-wn2id 4 года назад +1

      Mine has had the dreaded steering lock replaced but yeah, 2014 plate, 54,000 miles and had no problems with it apart from the lock.

    • @curtisducati
      @curtisducati 4 года назад

      @@Simon-wn2id That is the first time I have heard of a problem with them , steering lock breaking is very minor but still a pain on any car , I love mine , just a pity the silly sods didn't put a generator in it to charge the battery as you drive , stupid designer , they messed up on that bit ! Still a great cool looking car !

  • @ThorMaxx
    @ThorMaxx 12 лет назад

    where do you get these specs from?

  • @terrythomas1690
    @terrythomas1690 11 лет назад

    Yer I am from NZ they are called holden ! so GM are chevrolet isuzu holden opel & vauxhall ! I think thats it ! What a great way to confuse the public !

  • @newbridgefsl
    @newbridgefsl 4 года назад

    Do we know why the Ampera was discontinued, it doesn't make sense?

    • @HermanWillems
      @HermanWillems 4 года назад

      Too expensive, and full EV has now evolved towards having a great range. With the same weight and cost of this car. The solution for the time was great though. And it's still a great car to buy second hand.

    • @Simon-wn2id
      @Simon-wn2id 4 года назад

      It was brought out at the wrong time, around 2012 when there wasn’t as much electric or hybrids about. If it had come out now, it would of sold a lot more.
      Also it wasn’t advertised very well

    • @ewartmatthias6454
      @ewartmatthias6454 4 года назад

      @@Simon-wn2id I think it is still available in the US as a Chevy, is that the case?

  • @gene978
    @gene978 13 лет назад

    @Lasse3333 Hi there! You're right, but our version looks bland compared to your version :( I see your a GTA IV Lover same here. I am anticipating with much enthusiasm the release of GTA V.

  • @Marciaus007
    @Marciaus007 12 лет назад

    No one seems to tell how much electricity it eats to get charged. I mean the kwh.

  • @ra5928
    @ra5928 11 лет назад

    MPGE is only what the car can drive in miles per KWH. The Toyota plug in prius gets better MPGE than the Volt. But the Volt's battery is 4 times the size. The plug in Prius can only go 11 miles on a charge and has to stay under 62 mph.
    The Volt gets 40+ miles per charge easily and can go 100 mph in full electric.
    MPGE means nothing. It is the size of the battery. Size matters.

  • @lamogio1992
    @lamogio1992 12 лет назад

    I am just thinking ! Why don't they put a diesel engine on it, as they run more efficient than petrol almost twice the compression, and solar panels on the roof ? Imagine letting your car out in the sun and it would recharging its batteries totally free!

  • @littleman9055
    @littleman9055 5 лет назад

    Is it worth buying it second hand?

    • @minuslr
      @minuslr 4 года назад +1

      I bought one in January 2015 model I love it. Quite sporty setup low down exact steering very pokey. 8 year electric drivetrain guarantee

    • @Simon-wn2id
      @Simon-wn2id 4 года назад

      I bought mine 2nd hand from a Vauxhall dealer just under 2yrs ago. FSH (important cus Vauxhall won’t honour the 8yr battery warranty without one), 14 plate Positive version, 33,000 miles, £12,500.
      Only issue I’ve had is the dreaded steering lock failed and I had to get it replaced but apart from that, 2 yrs later, now on 53,000 miles and this year I have done 6100 miles and used 1.0 gallons of fuel. Over 6,000 miles on electric. I have a charger at home and my work has a few free chargers as well so it is really cheap to run.
      I absolutely love it. The only car I would ever replace it with, is a Tesla but I told the missus that if I do ever get one then she is getting rid of her Renault and having the Ampera! Lol

  • @dreambig121
    @dreambig121 6 лет назад

    That machine is called modern car with future recipe loaded in it.
    I think if having this car. And nearly future state of the art 🔋 role in so one can fully upgrade it to battery.
    But yeahhh that is the solution

  • @gazbmw0
    @gazbmw0 13 лет назад

    40 miles on the battery is too short for me 100 miles would have been better
    also seems pointless that the generator does not charge the battery

    • @thomaspowell3739
      @thomaspowell3739 4 года назад

      gazbmw0 you get more than 40, if you take into account the regen miles, if you allow the car to coast, and regen more miles back into the system, one can expand the 40 miles, up to 80 or more.

  • @davidmaxwaterman
    @davidmaxwaterman 8 лет назад

    I'm curious how they will enforce zero-emissions zones

    • @davidmaxwaterman
      @davidmaxwaterman 7 лет назад

      yeah, but Robert's suggestion is that you will turn your ICE off when you get to a zone. It is easy for them to tell if a (say) Tesla isn't emitting anything, because it can't. Additionally, they can tell that my Audi A1 *is* emitting something, because it always does. So, of those two types of vehicles, they can tell who to fine, simply by (automatically) reading the number plates and looking up the type of car. However, that isn't true for the EREV, since they need to know if you've turned it off (or not) in order to tell if you are emitting anything. So, number plate readers aren't going to work, and I doubt it would be possible to tell from standing near one, or from a camera.
      I don't see any deterrent there at all. They would have to be able to tell you don't have the engine on when you enter the zone, and never turn it on while your in the zone.
      Alternatively, perhaps they don't much care if you do turn the engine on when you're in the zone...just assume some level of compliance and consider it better than it was before.

  • @Archimedes555453525
    @Archimedes555453525 12 лет назад

    The way of the future

  • @anns666
    @anns666 8 лет назад

    Is Vauxhall the same as Opel ?

  • @terrythomas1690
    @terrythomas1690 11 лет назад +1

    Buy an EV-1 oops that's right they crushed them !

  • @cristianspiridon
    @cristianspiridon 9 лет назад

    I have a big question for you. If u drive with your battery empty.. how many mpg will u get???????

    • @jlghardy
      @jlghardy 8 лет назад +1

      +Cristian Spiridon
      Depends on the speed you drive. I typically get 50 mpg or so but I tend to cruise at 62mph. There is a hidden benefit here. You only use the engine on long trips so it spends most of its operating life warmed up. So you don't have the mpg-killing two mile run to the shops with a cold engine

    • @MarkAtkin
      @MarkAtkin 8 лет назад

      +TheManInDboX I'm considering buying one of these (used - I can't afford a new one). What range do you get on electric only?

    • @cristianspiridon
      @cristianspiridon 8 лет назад

      Thank you everyone

    • @Chrisb8s
      @Chrisb8s 8 лет назад

      +Cristian Spiridon the petrol engine does not run continuously. the cool thing is.. the battery is never really depleted so the generator only kicks in when needed or when the driver tells it to, via the different modes. The best test that I saw was that if you put the car in "mountain mode" with the battery @ zero juice showing... it will regenerate 40 miles of electric with one gallon of gas. so.. I guess 40 miles per gallon, but when you are driving, it is all up to your conditions and how your drive of course

    • @cristianspiridon
      @cristianspiridon 8 лет назад

      +Chris Bates I know that the engine is only generating power but at the end of the day is consuming petrol :)) Thank you for your answer

  • @LewisPhot
    @LewisPhot 11 лет назад

    its made by the same people that own chevy (GM)

  • @fj9fl61
    @fj9fl61 12 лет назад

    it's all a blur,bob....it really really really could 'appen!

  • @PistonAvatarGuy
    @PistonAvatarGuy 13 лет назад

    @credogreen Diesels are filthy and they are quite a bit more expensive than gas engines.

  • @SuperFuzzmonkey
    @SuperFuzzmonkey 5 лет назад +1

    It’s such a shame they canned this car

  • @TBman256
    @TBman256 13 лет назад

    I think you're having lag problems with the vid again :(