Opel is ramping up the rapid electrification of its entire range in 2022 and will offer no less than eleven electrified models by mid-2022, including Opel’s entire light commercial vehicle range. En route to an emissions-free fleet, today, the celebrated German brand further announced that the Opel Combo Life, Vivaro Combi and the Zafira Life will now only be available to customers as emissions-free, 100% electric models, dropping ICE engines from the mix, and effective from January 2022 orders. The announcement is a clear illustration of Opel’s firm intent to exclusively sell battery-electric vehicles only in Europe from 2028.
“There is no alternative to electrification. From 2024, we will offer an electrified version of every Opel model, without exception. In other words, the successors to Crossland and Insignia will also be electrified. Our statement is clear: From 2028, we will exclusively sell battery-electric vehicles in Europe,” said Opel CEO Uwe Hochgeschurtz.
The Opel Combo-e Life and the Opel Zafira-e Life are already very successful in the market. Both MPVs are powered by a 100 kW/136 hp electric motor. With its 50 kWh lithium-ion battery, the Combo-e-Life achieves a range of up to 280 kilometres in accordance with the WLTP, depending on the driving profile, outside temperature and use. When necessary, it takes around only 30 minutes for the battery to reach 80% state-of-charge at a public DC fast charging station.
With the large Opel Zafira-e Life, the customer can choose between a 50 kWh lithium-ion battery (230 kilometres range according to WLTP) and a battery with 75 kWh for a first-class range of up to 330 kilometres according to WLTP. The Zafira-e Life is available in three vehicle lengths with space for up to nine people.
With the plug-in electric hybrid Grandland due imminently, the new generation of the Opel Astra will be the linchpin of the Rüsselsheim-based brand’s electrification offensive. After celebrating its premiere in September 2021, the new Astra will arrive in late spring and will be available as a plug-in hybrid right from the start. In 2023, the purely battery-electric Astra-e will complete the range.
In addition to plug-in hybrid and battery-electric models, Opel can also already offer a plug-in fuel cell electric vehicle. The Vivaro-e HYDROGEN is based on the existing battery electric Opel Vivaro-e, the International Van of the Year 2021. The newcomer has a fuel cell drive combined with a plug-in battery and with full tanks of hydrogen to give a driving range of more than 400 kilometres (WLTP). The first Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN off the production line will begin its emissions-free work in the fleet of the German manufacturer of premium domestic appliances, Miele.
Opel is not only on the way to a CO2-neutral future with its models and drive alternatives. This year, Opel and Stellantis are pushing ahead with the plans to build the battery cell gigafactory in Kaiserslautern. In Rüsselsheim, a project is taking shape to transform the Opel headquarters into a green campus as the future German headquarters of Stellantis.
