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Ampera Confirmed for the UK Market

General Motors has announced its Ampera model will be available for the UK market under the Vauxhall badge. The right-hand drive version of the model will begin production in 2012, most likely at the Ellesmere Port facility, telegraph.co.uk reported.

Ampera's wheels are turned electrically at all times and speeds, running on the electricity stored in the 16 kWh lithium ion battery for up to 40 miles (64 km). When this energy is depleted, the zero CO2 emission car gets its power from the on-board engine generator, extending its range to more than 300 miles (482 km).

As you all know by now, the car needs to be charged. Even if it is designed to draw its power from a 240V household outlet, it won't do you any good if you are miles away from any house and have no socket to stick your plug into.

This is why GM Europe is analyzing the requirements of a recharging infrastructure for plug-in electric cars with energy companies, including Iberdrola of Spain, parent company to Scottish Power.

Official pricing for the Ampera has not been announced, as some reported, but rumors set the tag for the car at around 20,000 pounds. Even if it will surpass that, the Ampera will have a low operating cost. Having a three hours recharge time and giving the current price of electricity, you could end up paying less than you do to use your washing machine.

“The Ampera further demonstrates GM’s leadership in the electrification of the automobile. Its ground-breaking Voltec electric propulsion system is the kind of game-changing technology the automotive industry needs to respond to energy and environmental challenges,” Carl-Peter Forster. GM Europe CEO said.
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About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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