Opel boosts the range for the new Mokka Electric

Opel/Vauxhall is now bringing the new electric drive generation from the Astra Electric to the electric Mokka. The small SUV has been renamed from Mokka-e to Mokka Electric and now comes with a range of over 406 kilometres (252 miles) according to WLTP.

The drive of the Mokka Electric is an evolution of the previous electric drive of the Stellantis vehicles based on the e-CMP and EMP2 platforms: as in the Peugeot e-308 and Astra Electric, the 100 kW electric drive from Vitesco Technologies is replaced by a 115 kW unit from a Stellantis joint venture with Nidec.

The energy content of the battery increases from 50 to 54 kWh (gross). However, the familiar charging performance remains the same: the battery can be charged to 80 per cent in just under 30 minutes at a 100 kW fast charging station. For AC charging, an 11 kW onboard charger is still installed.

The fact that the WLTP range increases by an impressive 20 per cent from the current 338 kilometres to up to 406 kilometres is not due to the four kilowatt-hours more, however, but to the (on paper) significantly higher efficiency of the electric drive. In the Mokka Electric, electricity consumption is still said to be 15.2 kWh/100km. However, only test drives will show how big the difference to the 100 kW drive is in practice – although the previous drive was not exactly considered a miracle of efficiency, Opel is not changing anything about the aerodynamics with the steep and angular front section of the Mokka.

Whether other Opel electric vehicle models will be renamed and equipped with the new drive after the Astra Electric and Mokka Electric is likely, but not yet confirmed by the manufacturer. For the time being, the Corsa-e, Combo-e and Zafira-e with the familiar 100 kW drive and 50 kWh battery will remain.

“e’ becomes ‘Electric’. With the new name suffix we underline that the Opel Mokka offers more electric driving fun than ever,” says Opel CEO Florian Hüttl. “And with a new electric drive and larger battery, we are now making the Mokka Electric even stronger, more efficient and better. That’s what we at Opel mean by well thought-out ‘greenovation’.”

stellantis.com, adwwadw (Vauxhall)