By 2024, all cars from the Rüsselsheim company will have a twin on tap
by Giulia Paganoni
By 2024, all cars from the Rüsselsheim company will have a twin on tap
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“Opel goes electric”. This is the promise contained in the PACE plan of the Rüsselsheim brand belonging to the Psa group which by 2024 will offer an electrified variant for each model in the range. The appearance in the PSA world (Peugeot, Citroën and DS) certainly gave a boost in providing important knowledge in order to update research and development and propose vehicles more in line with current trends. In fact, remember that the new Corsa has a lot in common with the new generation of Peugeot 208 and Ds3 Crossback E-Tense (and the new Citroën C4). Last but not least, all three adopt the same e-Cmp (Common Modular Platform) multi-energy platform and share 100 kW (136 hp) electric drive technology powered by a 50 kWh lithium-ion battery that guarantees an autonomy of over 300 kilometers. Among the electrified models, there is the Grandland X plug-in hybrid, Opel’s first plug-in hybrid car and is available in both all-wheel and front-wheel drive versions. With a 1.6 turbocharged petrol powertrain and an electric motor, the Opel Grandland X Hybrid produces a system output of 165 kW (224 hp) and up to 360 Nm of torque. Driving in electric mode, you can travel up to 57 km in the WLTP cycle.
Finally, news of these weeks, the new Mokka-e, the second vehicle 100% on tap of the brand and built on the e-Cmp platform. Aesthetically it now shows a brand new and very muscular style with a good presence on the road. The traction, in addition to the thermal engines (diesel and petrol), is also given by an electric variant. To power the 136 hp (100 kW) engine there are 50 kWh batteries (placed under the floor so as not to take up space in the trunk) that can be recharged from 100 kW public columns in 30 minutes for 80%.
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The electrified version of the Astra is coming next year.
Opel’s offensive in the field of electrification also includes commercial vehicles: Combo will be available at dealerships from next year. And the new Vivaro-e will be delivered as early as in the fall. Next year, however, it will be the turn of the electrified Combo Life. Finally, the announcement of the electric Opel Movano also marks the next step in Opel’s continued drive towards electric mobility and the reduction of CO2 emissions. The latter issue is very dear to the car manufacturers who are working to comply with the rules imposed by the EU. For its part, the lightning brand has already reduced the average emissions of its fleet by 20 grams in 2019 compared to 2018. In addition, in the first half of 2020, Opel was able to reduce the CO2 emissions of its vehicles in Germany of 13.5% compared to the same period of the previous year, the largest reduction of all manufacturers with at least 2% market share.
With a view to reducing costs, together with the Psa group and Total, through its subsidiary Saft, Opel has signed an agreement for the creation of the “Automotive Cells Company” joint venture. With this partnership, the parties are creating a world-class player in the development and production of high-performance batteries for the automotive industry starting in 2023. The Bordeaux R&D center and the pilot site in Nersac (France) they have already started developing new high-performance lithium-ion technologies. At the end of the R&D phase, production was planned for launch in two “gigafactories”, in Douvrin (France) and Kaiserslautern (Germany).
What’s more, the Rüsselsheim carmaker has already installed 350 charging points for its fleet of electric vehicles in its hometown