Error parsing XSLT file: \xslt\FacebookOpenGraph.xslt Our Fleet Test Drive: Vauxhall Ampera - 10th Report
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Our Fleet Test Drive: Vauxhall Ampera - 10th Report

Date: 21 February 2014   |   Author:

We tried a charge point at Renault's offices, but actually do a lot of recharging at our own office
Mileage: 10,705
P11D price: £35,440
Our average consumption: 97.0mpg
Official combined consumption: 235.4mpg
Forecast CPM: 59.6p

As electric vehicles grow in popularity, more and more charging points are popping up.

Although almost all of my charging has been either at home or at the office,  I've sometimes found other places to refill the battery that have helped keep the economy figure healthy.

My parents held their 40th wedding anniversary meal at a Best Western hotel and restaurant in Sussex, and I was pleased to spot a charging point I could use free of charge. Although it only added a few miles to the range while we were eating, it all helps.

Likewise, during an appointment at Nissan's HQ, I managed to draw some power from sister brand Renault.

I haven't really engaged with public charging points during the past half-year I've been running the Ampera.

Personally, I think they're a red herring in terms of establishing EVs as drivers can't rely on them being available, and will do their charging at home and/or work.

Plus the combination of finding a convenient charging point and working out the payment method for using it was something I was too lazy to do when you have a car like the Ampera, which will run just fine and pretty economically on petrol once you expend all the battery power.


Verdict


  • Industry leading technology...
  • ...not matched by the driving experience

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