Ampera drivers get charging point boost
Vauxhall Ampera drivers could be able to access nearly 400,000 UK electric charging points by 2017, according to new research.
Frost & Sullivan (F&S) believes the UK will have 390,000 charging points within five years because of the increase in the number of electric cars sold.
According to thegreencarwebsite.co.uk, Vauxhall along hopes to sell 5,000 Amperas in the UK every year after its launch in March 2012.
The Vauxhall Ampera is considered by many to be one of the most practical cars on the road that uses electricity to power it.
The Ampera is capable of travelling up to 60 miles on purely electric power which comes from a standard electric charging station.
However, once the range has run low a small petrol engine kicks in, recharging to battery while the car is on the move and extending the range by a further 310 miles.
The Vauxhall Ampera is eligible for the government's electric car grant and costs from £29,000 in the UK for the first of three different trim levels.
The five-door, four-seat hatchback has been included on a shortlist of seven cars for the prestigious European Car of the Year, the biggest award for new cars in Europe.
In 2009, the new Vauxhall Insignia won the award while the new Vauxhall Astra and new Vauxhall Meriva finished in third place in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
Other Vauxhall cars such as the Vauxhall Corsa (2007) and the Vauxhall Zafira (2000) have finished in the top three for the prestigious award, making Vauxhall one of the most successful new car makers in terms of the Car of the Year award in the past decade.