Zipcar and Vauxhall Partnership Releases Ampera to London Fleet

For the next six months, the Vauxhall Ampera will be available for Zipcar members in London to rent under Zipcar’s pilot partnership with Vauxhall Motors.

The electric vehicle (EV), voted the European Car of the Year for 2012, was added to Zipcar’s fleet of self-service, pay-as-you-go vehicles on May 21. Members can reserve the Ampera online or by using their smartphone.

Specific for the London fleet, the Ampera will feature full-body wraps  of country meadows, transforming the vehicles into movable London landmarks.

The Ampera can travel free of tailpipe emissions for up to 50 miles and uses a petrol generator that produces electricity to keep it going an additional 310 miles.

The initiative also called for an additional partnership with five London Boroughs. Camden, Croydon, Islington, Wandsworth and Westminster will work with Zipcar to provide charging points for the EV.

“Thanks to the Ampera’s unique technology, on any given day, Zipcar members can be doing multiple short trips using only the stored electric battery power or longer trips powered by electricity generated by the on board range extender,” General Manager of Zipcar UK Mark Walker said. “For the first time in an electric vehicle, members need not worry about range or recharging.”