It has been clear since last year that Stellantis is increasingly focusing on the electrification of car and minibus models for the Peugeot, Citroen and Opel brands. The combustion engines are now only obsolete models in the coming years. Opel specified the plans again at the beginning of the year. This year, the Opel Combo Life, Vivaro Combi and Zafira Life models can now only be ordered with an electric drive.
“There is no alternative to electrification. In the future, Opel will score even more with environmentally friendly innovations. And what shows us the rapid change again very clearly: From 2024, without exception, every Opel model will also be electrified - in other words: also the successors to Crossland and Insignia. Our statement is clear: From 2028 we will only be selling battery-electric Opel in Europe, ”is the official message from Opel CEO Uwe Hochgeschurtz.
Electrification offensive
This offensive is obviously only intended to be the beginning of a full electrification. The new Astra five-door model will be launched in spring as a plug-in hybrid. The all-electric version will follow in 2023. The Combo-e Life and the Opel Zafira-e Life with the 136 hp electric motor are already available. With its 50 kWh lithium-ion battery, the Combo-e-Life achieves a range of up to 280 kilometers in accordance with the WLTP, depending on the driving profile, outside temperature and use.
With the larger Opel Zafira-e Life, the customer can choose between a 50 kWh lithium-ion battery (231 kilometers range according to WLTP) and a battery with 75 kWh for a range of up to 329 kilometers according to WLTP.
The Vivaro-e HYDROGEN is the first vehicle with a hydrogen fuel cell in the portfolio. According to Opel, the hydrogen Vivaro has a range of up to 400 kilometers according to the WLTP.
Conclusion
Like all other manufacturers, Opel is struggling with delivery bottlenecks and correspondingly long delivery times. In the statistics for the environmental bonus, the Rüsselsheim-based company does not even appear in the top 10 list of manufacturers. In this respect, Opel is now also relying on the signals of the future with the plans to build the battery cell gigafactory in Kaiserslautern and the plan to convert the Opel headquarters into a green campus as the German headquarters of Stellantis.
Addendum
Cover picture - Opel Zafira e Copyright Opel
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