autonomy challenge – Opel Corsa-e

In this new autonomy challenge of #CircutorElectroChallenge we drive an Opel Corsa-e, up to the limit of its autonomy, using, as always, our best Efficient and calm Driving skills.

The Corsa has been chosen by the brand to break the ice in terms of electrification, and together with its cosite, the Peugeot e-208 are the commitment to sustainable urban driving of the Stelantis group, so they not only share a platform but also a market .

When we sit behind the wheel of the Corsa we remember our youth, since despite the evolution in design, it still breathes that young and urban spirit, everything is at hand And in this case, as in so many electric cars, even the gear selectors are where you would traditionally find the gear stick.

The screen equipment, as is the case with the rest of the group's electric models, which they have in common, is quite simple and it is very certain that it will evolve with the next revisions. With 100 kW of engine power and 260 Nm of torque, it has enough to show good agility qualities in the city.

These results show us that the Opel Corsa-e is a very balanced car since its consumption has been very similar both on the city and motorway route and on the winding road route.

It is Sunday morning, the temperatures have recovered to levels in the middle of spring, and with our friend, co-driver and fellow challenger, Pep, we are already at the CIRCUTOR headquarters, in Viladecavalls, to unplug from the Raption 50. Battery on 100% and 306 km of autonomy estimated by the system.

What challenge will we propose? With this good weather, will we head north again or continue driving south? and, finally, how many kilometers will we be able to do before recharging?

It is 09:00 am and we left Terrassa with a 100% battery thanks to the night charge with the eNext that we have installed in the community car park, 45 kWh to enjoy the good stuff.

We head north again, A7 towards Girona. The temperature is pleasant and the day sunny. The car indicates a range of 306 km but we know that this temperature can give us a little more
Our first stop and control, as always when we do this route, is the Empordà Service Area, cafelito, pipi and data collection. We have covered 126 km so far using 37% of the battery, therefore, with a consumption of 13.21 km with an average speed of 91 km/h and therefore the on-board computer indicates a remaining autonomy of 192 km. We're doing pretty well!

We arrived at the Dalí Museum, in Figueres, two hours after taking the start, where we have already completed 145 km. We still have a 56% battery, the day is radiant and the autonomy of 168 km that the car shows us makes us optimistic since expectations are being met.

On the way to Besalú, one of the most charming towns, nature and agriculture give us a gift, the rapeseed is in full bloom and our sight is lost in fields painted yellow, for hectares!

In Besalú, we have already crossed the middle of the day, 170 km of challenge with a consumption of 62% of the battery, our consumption has increased significantly, up to 16.4 kWh/100 km and, although we still see 148 km of autonomy we know that we have the most complicated part of the route ahead and that we will have to lower consumption again to complete our objective.

Half a day and we are in Olot, the capital of La Garrotxa, the temperature rises, we clearly exceed 20 C and we have had to activate the interior ventilation. They are already 194 km of route and the Opel Corsa-e notices it. We have 38% battery left, about 17 kWh, to complete the 110 km of autonomy that he indicates, however, he does not know that a few kilometers from here we have a great challenge, climbing the Bracons tunnels and its continuous ramps of 6 %.

We will get it? Can we complete our route and get home to eat without stopping to load? Will the turtle come to greet us?

In the municipal car park, known by the name of the B-CREK Olot restaurant, the council installed one of the first Raption 50. Circutor fast chargers in the region. We, in these challenges, do not charge, but we could not miss the opportunity to park and pose next to a brand new Tesla Model 3 that is connected to the team's type 2 triphasic medal.

The climb is intense and the car's engine power indicator lights up fully. At the top of the Bracons pass, the result is clear, we have covered 15 km from Olot and we have consumed 10% of the battery, at a rate of 30 kWh/100 km, at this rate the vehicle tells us that we could do little more than 50 km. We will have to make the most of the favorable terrain or we would hardly reach Centelles.

La Plana de Vic is very beautiful, with the latest rains, the fields are green and yellow and the first gangs already seem to be sticking out, also giving a dot of red.

We are in Tona, at the four-road gas station, control stop and go through the bathroom, as the Opel Corsa-e would like to recharge some kWh, but we have done quite well and we still have a 22% battery, almost 10 kWh, to maintain optimism.

We have to continue going down the C-17 to Granollers, with a lot of traffic, but with the speed limit at 80 km/h and the section radars, everyone seems to participate in our challenge for efficiency.
From Granollers, we return to the motorway and despite losing the indication of the km of autonomy on the car's dashboard when the battery has dropped below 10% and the immediate charging recommendations have started to appear, we reach our destination without any problem, even , without seeing our dear friend, the turtle, appear.

Autonomy Challenge Results - Opel Corsa-e

We have achieved a consumption and autonomy very close to homologation despite not having driven practically not a single km in the city, which is its natural territory. Frankly, a great result since it allows us to show that this segment defends itself very well in different fields.

Conclution:

The Opel Corsa-e is clearly an urban and young car, designed to move with agility between the traffic of the avenues and to park easily, but which is not far behind while being able to go out on fast roads, with a very stable and light behaviour. Ideal for trips to the sea and mountains in the coming days, demonstrating that with efficient and calm driving it reaches the homologation values.

Thanks:

Clarifications:

The Solidarity Tour is a 20 km route starting and finishing at the Circutor headquarters in Viladecavalls, which runs along very twisty secondary roads with slopes of up to 250 m.

The EcoBest tour is a 60 km mixed route that includes approximately 50% motorway, 25% city and the rest on interurban roads, very similar to the distribution of the WLTP cycle.

All our challenges are based on achieving maximum autonomy, in real traffic conditions, using efficient driving techniques and moderate speeds, always above the minimum marked on each road.