Zero Hero

28/09/2011

Vauxhall has taken the honour of winning the overall most eco-friendly car of 2011 in What Car? magazine with its Ampera model. Its 40 mile range running on just electricity means it's exempt from road tax and the London Congestion Charge.

Its introduction of the Ampera has allowed it to scoop the prestigious prize.

By early 2012, drivers will be able to travel for 50 miles on a single charge (which takes four hours to charge completely from a 240 volt socket) with no environmental impact. For those who wish to go for longer, the rest of the power will be supplied by a tiny petrol generator that offers enough of a charge to take the car for a further 260 miles – giving a total range of 310 miles per charge. Additional energy is supplied by converting the power stored from regenerative braking and any excess energy from the extended range mode.

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