It might not seem like the most beautiful car in the world, but the Opel Ampera-e (and its cousin, the Chevrolet Bolt) has much to say in electric mobility. The small crossover is presented as an alternative firm to firm and does Elon Musk promising real autonomy approved by both the NDEC cycle as the Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure (or WLTP).

If at first we were promised 500 km of capacity for their batteries according to the typical NDEC, but the reality is often very far from the ideal scenario of the homologation cycles. For this is the new WLTP cycle, which under real driving conditions assures us approximately 380 km. You know, because the energy stored in the batteries is not always spent the same, it is subject to external factors or the additional energy consumption.

60 kWh and almost 400 km in real conditions

All this wrapped in a kind of electric compact of 204 hp of power and 360 Nm of torque from 0 rpm is worth, may not be able to rival against the Tesla Model S and Model X, but against the future Tesla Model 3, its Maximum rival. The latest Model S 100D according to NDEC homologates 632 km, more than Opel for a price five times higher.

The purpose in the implementation of WLTP cycle is that manufacturers are not columpien both among the figures homologated and the customer is at the end of the day. This new approval is understood as more reliable and should be landed within approximately one year.

Looking at the European market we could compare (but little) with the new Renault Zoe ZE 40 that we tested on the roads of Portugal. The homologous 400 km according to NDEC that stay between 200 and 300 km in real conditions and with a limited speed to 125 km / h (150 km / h in the Ampera-e, more than enough), although it is smaller and less able.

Nissan Leaf, Volkswagen e-Golf and BMW i3 are also below in terms of autonomy and in line or above in price (between 30,000 and 35,000 euros for Opel). The lithium-ion batteries of the Ampera-e have a capacity of 60 kWh and if what we know so far is true, it is postulated as the most reasonable purchase within zero emissions vehicles.