The Vauxhall (Opel) Corsa-e Electric Hatchback: The Complete Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The Corsa-e Electric Hatchback

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Vauxhall Motors (Opel) is part of the Netherlands based Stellantis N.V., which was formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (Italian/ American) and Groupe PSA (French). You may not be familiar with these names, but the automotive brands in the portfolio would be well known to most consumers. These include: Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Jeep, FIAT, Alfa Romeo etc. The Vauxhall electric vehicle (EV) portfolio includes both, battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models:

• Vauxhall Mokka-e SUV
• Vauxhall Corsa-e Hatchback
• Vauxhall Grandland Plug-In Hybrid SUV
• Vauxhall Astra Hybrid-e hatchback
• Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer

Vauxhall (Opel) announced the launch of a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) Corsa in December 2018. The all-electric Corsa-e looks very similar to the hugely popular internal combustion engine (ICE) Vauxhall Corsa supermini. But this is where the similarity ends. The Corsa-e is fully electric and has zero-tailpipe emissions. It also has a longer wheelbase compared to the petrol variant.

The Corsa-e is available in only one EV battery size (50 kWh) with a claimed zero-emission electric range up to 222 miles. Real-world e-range will be lower, impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, weather, road condition, tyre size, onboard services used and more. An EV range closer to 190 miles is more realistic. Of course, the EV also incorporates regenerative braking to improve efficiency and electric range.

The electric car can be fast charged up to 100 kW DC (charged up to 80% in 30 minutes) and incorporates a 11 kW AC three-phase onboard charger as standard. The Corsa electric car can be fully charged in 5 hours via a dedicated three-phase EV charger like myenergi zappi. For single-phase EV charging it will take up to 7 hours and 30 minutes to fully charge.

Though the EV can be charged via a domestic 3-PIN plug, we at e-zoomed do not encourage using a domestic plug for charging an electric car. The EV will take up to 21 hours and 45 minutes to fully charge via a 3-PIN socket. We at e-zoomed recommend charging overnight when the electricity prices are lower. We also recommend charging on a regular basis. This way charging times are reduced and regular charging is good for the long-term maintenance of the onboard EV battery. The manufacturer offers a 8 years/ 100,000 miles warranty. 

In terms of performance, the front-wheel drive Corsa-e electric car can achieve 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds (maximum power: 136 ps/ torque: 260 Nm). The top speed for the EV is 93 mph. Of course the electric car also benefits from instant torque.

The EV offers three driving modes: Sport, Normal and ECO. The ECO model is for maximum range and energy efficiency. The ECO mode deactivates all unnecessary energy-consuming features and reduces the top speed, torque and overall performance of the vehicle.

The Corsa-e offer the following features and technology (some as standard and others as options): 7-inch colour touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, panoramic rear-view camera, lane positioning assistant, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, automatic emergency city braking, speed sign recognition, forward collision alert and more. In terms of practicality, the electric hatchback offers a 267 L boot space.

The Vauxhall (Opel) Corsa-e electric hatchback is not available in India.

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PROS	CONS
Decent electric range	For those seeking a more futuristic design, this BEV will disappoint
11 kW onboard charger	Interior lacks inspiration
100 kW DC charging	Infotainment system could be improved

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The All-Electric Vauxhall Corsa-e (credit: Vauxhall)

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Vehicle Type:	Hatchback
Engine:	Electric
Available In India:	No

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Trims (3 Options)
GS Line
Anniversary Edition
Ultimate

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 50 kWh
Charging:	100 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 5 hrs)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (CO2/km)
Warranty:	8 years/100,000 miles/70% capacity

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Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):	6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):	3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):	0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):	0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)

• Note 1: SoC: state of charge

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1433
Width (mm):	1765
Length (mm):	4060
Wheelbase (mm):	2538
Turning Circle (m):	10.6
Boot Space (L):	267

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Corsa-e
EV Battery Capacity:	50 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	222 miles
EV Operation Efficiency (kWh/100km):	16.5 – 16.8 kWh
Charging:	100 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 5 hrs)
Top Speed:	93 mph
0-60 mph:	7.6 seconds
Drive:	Front-wheel drive
Electric Motor (kW):	100 kW
Max Power (PS):	136
Torque (Nm):	260
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Kerb Weight (kg):	1,530
Colours:	7
NCAP Safety Rating:	Four-Star

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Types Of Electric Vehicles (EVs)

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“Electric vehicle” is an umbrella term, and a broad one at that. There are a number of different types of electric vehicles (EVs), each with its distinct characteristics and advantages. These include:

• BEVs: Battery-electric vehicles (pure electric)
• PHEVs: Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) combined)
• MHEVs: Mild hybrid electric vehicles (internal combustion engine (gasoline or diesel) along with regenerative braking)
• FCEVs: Fuel cell electric vehicle (electric with hydrogen as fuel)

The above “types” are powered either entirely or partially by electric energy and have different environmental impacts.

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Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

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Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), also known as pure electric vehicles, are powered entirely by electricity (i.e. the vehicle does not have a conventional internal combustion engine). BEVs have zero-tailpipe emissions and help improve local air quality.

BEVs are also very economical to drive. A BEV can cost as little as Rs 50 per 100 kilometres to drive. Examples of best-selling EVs include, the all-electric Tesla Model 3 and the all-electric Renault Zoe. A BEV is charged by plugging in the electric vehicle to a dedicated electric car charging station (home or public charging stations). BEVs are well suited for those living in towns, cities and urban centres. Of course, battery-electric vehicles are also suitable for those living in rural settings.

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Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) differ from battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), in that, PHEVs use both a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric engine for propulsion. Plug-in hybrid vehicles combine the advantages of electric driving and internal combustion engine driving.

On shorter distances, the PHEV uses the electric mode to drive emission-free, using the on-board EV battery and regenerative braking. For longer distances, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles switches to using the internal combustion engine. With a PHEV, the vehicle can cost as little Rs 50 per 100 kilometres to drive on e-mode, without any tailpipe pollution, and also be driven long-distances, without the fear of range anxiety! Most PHEVs have an EV battery of up to 15 kWh and can achieve a zero-emission electric range of up to 50 kilometres. No wonder PHEVs are fast becoming popular globally, with much potential or India. Like a BEV, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is charged by using an external power source (EV charging point) for charging.

PHEVs are suitable for those that drive long-distances on a regular basis but want to lower the negative environmental impact from tailpipe pollution. PHEVs are also suitable for those individuals and families that are seeking to save money by taking advantage of electric driving. The Volvo XC40 PHEV and the Volkswagen Golf 8 are good examples of PHEVs.

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Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs)

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Mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs) are a limited form of electric driving. These vehicles also use hybrid technologies (electric driving and internal combustion engine), but the EV battery is much smaller than a BEV or PHEV. Moreover, in a mild hybrid, the EV battery cannot be charged via an external source (i.e. EV charging station). In a MHEV, the battery is charged by capturing the energy released during braking, a process known as regenerative braking. MHEVs have lower tailpipe emissions, and are more economical to own, run and maintain than petrol and diesel cars. MHEVs are a better option than a petrol or diesel car, but not as good an option as a BEV or PHEV. Mild hybrids are well suited for those living in regions with limited charging infrastructure. Again, MHEVs have great potential in India, given the limited public EV charging infrastructure.

The Toyota Prius is a good example of a mild hybrid electric vehicle.

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Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)

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Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) also called hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, have a fuel cell stack that uses hydrogen to generate the electricity needed to power the electric vehicle. The fuel cell generates electricity and pure water vapour that can escape via the tailpipe. It is capable of generating electricity as long as there is a steady supply of hydrogen. Fuel cell electric vehicles can be refuelled with hydrogen at purpose built filling stations. Filling an FEC takes no more than five minutes.

FCEVs have a range of about 500 kilometers or more between refueling. Today, the only and major limitation is the very limited hydrogen refuelling station network globally. The Toyota Mirai FCEV is a good example of this type of EV.

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While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.

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