Opel is ramping up the rapid electrification of its entire range in 2022 offering eleven electrified models by mid-2022, to include its entire range of light commercial vehicles, writes Trish Whelan.
The Opel Combo Life, Vivaro Combi and the Zafira Life will now only be available as 100pc electric models, dropping ICE engines from the mix, and effective in orders taken now.
The German brand plans to exclusively sell battery-electric vehicles only in Europe from 2028. From 2024, they will offer an electrified version of every Opel model, meaning the successors to Crossland and Insignia will also be electrified.
The Opel Combo-e Life (pictured above) and Zafira-e Life MPVs are powered by a 100kW/136hp electric motor. With its 50 kWh lithium-ion battery, the Combo-e-Life can achieve a range of up to 280kms (WLTP). The battery takes around 30 minutes to reach 80pc charge at a public DC fast charing station.
Customers of the large Zafira-e Life (pictured below) can choose from a 50 kWh battery (230kms range) and a 75 kWh with up to 330kms. The model is offered in three vehicle lengths with space for up to nine people.
A plug-in electric hybrid Grandland is due shortly, while the next Astra will arrive in late spring offered as a PHEV. An EV version will follow next year.
Opel’s plug-in fuel cell EV, Vivaro-e Hydrogen, has a fuel cell drive combined with a plug-in battery and with full tanks of hydrogen can offer over 400kms.
With these imminent changes, the brand is well on its way to an emissions-free fleet.
