Volker Simon is what is called an “early adopter”. He likes to be among the first to try new things. When he was one of the first to order a battery-electric Opel Corsa-e two years ago, he retrofitted his home in Nierstein with solar cells, energy storage and a wall box so that he could charge the electric car with solar energy. Now he has dared to take the next step and completely banned the combustion engine from the private fleet of four-person households. He relies exclusively on a pure Stromer.
His choice fell on the Opel Mokka-e. Last October he received the winner of the “Golden Steering Wheel 2021”. And he was in good company: That month, the Opel Stromer was the best-selling electric car in the B-SUV segment in Germany – after all, 56 percent of all Mokka customers opted for the battery-electric, locally emission-free variant. Volker Simon presented the Stromer to his family and announced: “It’s the first time that you can go on a skiing holiday with it.” After Austria, to the Hohe Tauern National Park, the family of four’s preferred holiday destination for years.
The roof box, which increases air resistance while driving, requires additional electrical power capacity.
Volker Simon had therefore planned four loading stops on the way there. “I was deliberately overcautious.” Three stops would have been enough, which was confirmed on the return trip.
“E-cars don’t have to be second cars: They can completely replace the combustion engine.”
The Opel engineer, who is responsible for airbags, steering wheels and belts in the “Supplier Quality” department, was aware that such a 600-kilometer drive in the cold season would be the ultimate practical test. Not only because additional energy is needed to heat the battery and the interior. The full load and above all the roof box, which increases the air resistance while driving, also require additional electrical power capacities. “By about a third”, as he had researched beforehand. He therefore calculated the charging stops on the planned route very carefully: 200 kilometers for the first stage and then 150 kilometers each.
Ultimate practical test
Otherwise, what Volker Simon has long since made a requirement for trips with the Stromer applies. At the latest when the battery indicator shows only ten percent reserve, drive to the next charging station. The on-board computer reports from twelve percent remaining capacity – and the built-in navigation system shows the nearest possible charging stations. Volker Simon: “Since I only recharge to about 80 percent – the final 20 percent take the longest charging time – a charging stop never takes longer than half an hour, even in winter.”
The Mokka-e can be charged to 80 percent within 30 minutes on a 100 kW direct current battery, even in winter. The compact SUV is equipped as standard for the fast charging option.
“A wonderful family holiday”: The four-person drive on a skiing holiday reinforced the engineer’s conviction that the Mokka-e is a fully-fledged family car.
“I always recharge to about 80 percent – so a charging stop never takes longer than half an hour, even in winter.”
The engineer set out on the journey in a relaxed manner – and was not disappointed. The fast charging network is now well developed, in Germany and in Austria. Particularly practical in winter: the Mokka-e has a “pre-heating” function. The battery is warmed up while the car is still connected to the power grid. A standard heat pump simultaneously heats the passenger compartment and de-ices the windows. The function can be pre-programmed with a mobile phone using an app or started spontaneously from the breakfast table. When things get going, the vehicle is already at temperatures that make passengers and technology equally comfortable.
Family-friendly everyday car
When braking and when driving downhill in the mountains, the Mokka-e shows additional strengths – through energy recovery. The electric motor converts thrust energy into electricity. If the driver also shifts the automatic transmission to gear B, recuperation and braking torque increase. The 50 kWh battery is recharged “for free”. All in all, it was a wonderful ski holiday. And we went home with the certainty that the Mokka-e will continue to prove itself as a family-friendly everyday car.
“Thanks to the heat pump, the Mokka-e has a kind of auxiliary heating,” says Volker Simon. The pre-temperature control of the battery and the interior can be conveniently controlled via remote control using the myOpel app.
February 2022
Text: Eric Scherer, photos: Andreas Liebschner, private