Ampera (Volt sibling in EU) is Europe’s best selling passenger electric vehicle

Nice.

I'm finalizing my deal to get the Ampera. Maybe I'll have it by the end of the week.

Before the 85km/h EV limit for EU PiP, PiP was my no. 1 car to buy, but after driving the Ampera, I knew, which one I want. I'll just have to take care of the pavements to not scratch the paint from the front bumper at the front wheels as it doesn't have the kind of protection as a Volt has.

 

Yes, I was thinking of some sort of protection, but do you think that this thin layer would protect the paint when sliding the bottom of the bumper (near the tire) against the pavement? It's certainly better than nothing.
Thank you for the advice!

 

And that's what makes me worry about how biased the article is.

Germany and Switzerland both had low roll outs of EV's as neither Governments offered any EV incentives when EV's like the Leaf first came out, whereas in the UK we have a £5,000 grant and other Countries have similar. So a 20% increase is based against what exactly? Also, the Germanic Countries sell very few Japanese cars compared to markets like the UK.

It is interesting to note the popularity of the Ampera in Holland though as they are very pro EV and many Leafs have been sold there. In the UK we got the Ampera a month or so ago in RHD form and they are selling - surpringly when you consider the price! But I think that has a lot to do with Toyota mispricing the PIPrius making it about £6,000 more expensive than in the USA even after adding duties and sales tax/vat. Do you pay £28k for a PIP with 10 miles EV or £30k for a Volt with 35 miles? No brainer really.

Personally I like the Ampera/Volt and just wish it were a bit cheaper and had 5 seats. It's a fine car and here in Europe it isn't tarred by politics, so sells on its merits. I'd be curious to see 12 month sales figures though.

 

My Ampera

I'm waiting for the approval of the government agency for the incentive money (4.000 EUR) as it has to be approved before the purchase :-(

 

American Volt sales were up again this month as well (to 1760 up from 1680 in May and 1462 in April). Year to date sales are more than triple the total this time last year (8817 from 2745), and close to triple the total sales of Nissan leafs this year to date (3148).

I understand Toyota sold a couple hundred Pips this month too (695), good on 'em.

 

My Precious:

 

Thanx! With the demo Ampera, I could easily do 80km.

 

Oh yeah you're going to have to keep us all updated with the facts and figures and pictures.

What you need is a nice road trip up through Denmark, over the Oresund Bridge to Sweden, then to Norway, over to England, down to the Channel Tunnel and back home through France. Always wanted to do that trip myself but it would be a great week vacation and put the car through its paces.

 

Sure thing.
First longer trip will be to island of Pag in Croatia - 250+km. Today, I will pick up my Thule roof base rack. I already have the Thule ocean 780 roof box, so I can put a child stroller in there and other stuff that won't fit into Ampera.

And here's some more photos I took yesterday:

 

That has to be a monster stroller not to be able to fit. My babies jogging stroller fits fine in ours

 

+ there's the luggage we have to take with us, it's not only the stroller.
However, I may convince the better half to leave the stroller at home, since the daughter is 20+ months old and completely capable of walking by herself.

 

I'm going to install a roof box. I already have this one (from before):

Aanbieding: Thule Ocean 780 | Van: € 289,00 voor: € 239,00

 

Any mountains in that lot?

 

Not to get all guy-with-no-kids-preaching-to-parent but I remember reading some time that although toddlers can walk, it's hard work for them to keep up with adults, so they shouldn't be expected to walk all the time. So, if you're going to do a lot of walking a stroller makes sense.

 

Mountains?

Other than driving up from where ever it is he lives, there are no particular mountains on that route I described. The bridge from Denmark to Sweden is supposed to be something - it is a bridge then onto an artificial island and then another large bridge. A nice drive up through Sweden to Norway which might have some mountains on the route. The UK motorways will be flat and then the channel tunnel link is an experience.