HomeVehicleCorsa E: The British electric hatchback takes on the electric hatchback sector

Corsa E: The British electric hatchback takes on the electric hatchback sector

Vauxhall is a British car manufacturer founded in 1875. This company has a long history of making automobiles for the British market. In early 2021, Vauxhall launched their first electric vehicle hatchback called the Corsa E.  The company plans to have an electric version of every one of its current models by 2024. Corsa is Vauxhall’s highest-selling vehicle. Over 2 million Vauxhall Corsa’s have been sold since its debut in 1993. Corsa would be the choice for many first-time car buyers. This made the car the best choice for electrification.

Corsa E

Corsa E: The British electric hatchback takes on the electric hatchback sector

The Vauxhall Corsa E has a range of 205 miles that is 330 kilometers. When the driver drives the car in Eco mode, this range can be extended up to 290 miles. The battery in the Corsa E can be charged to 80% capacity in 30 minutes using a fast-charging station. This electric vehicle can be charged using 11KW AC charging as well as 800V DC fast charging. The Corsa E accelerates from 0-100 kilometers per hour in just 7.6 seconds. The electric mileage of the vehicle is 4 miles per kilowatt-hour when driven in hot temperature on a sunny day which is similar to a Tesla Model 3.

Corsa E has a battery capacity of 50KWh. The car is very secretive about its electric drive train. In fact, the only way to identify whether this is an EV or not is the small a small ‘e’ insignia at the back and sides of the vehicle. This British electric vehicle is the first step in the electrification of British vehicles. Vauxhall is a sister brand of Opel. Stellantis owns Vauxhall since January 2021.

The new Corsa E is slightly wider in length than the traditional Internal Combustion Engine Corsa. Corsa E has one trunk in the back which has a boot space of 267 liters. Unlike many electric vehicles, this car doesn’t have a storage space where there would have been an internal combustion engine. The exterior of the vehicle is similar to the legacy Corsa. The car has a charging point that enables the car to be charged by ChadeMo and CCS charging ports. The hatchback is incredibly easy to drive because of its size. As a result of this, the car is incredibly maneuverable. It is easy to park and can fit into tight spaces. This is a family car and can comfortably fit 2 adults and 3 children. This car is a perfect vehicle for a family of four. The interior of the vehicle is just like a regular vehicle.

The car has a driving assistance system that is similar to cruise control. Corsa E has numerous driver assistance systems. The car uses a Traffic Sign Detection system to detect traffic signs including the LED signs using the front camera. Lane Keep Assist (a Corsa-first) applies gradual corrective steering and makes the driver’s seat vibrate if the car leaves its lane unintentionally. The system gives an additional Lane Departure Warning in the Driver Info Centre. Side Blind Spot Alert uses ultrasonic sensors in the front and rear bumpers to alert the driver to the presence of moving objects in the blind spots on either side and to the rear of the car. A warning symbol lights up in the corresponding exterior mirror. The rear end of the car hosts a panoramic camera to give a 180-degree view at the back of the vehicle.

The car has a regenerative braking system that is able to charge the car when the driver applies the brakes of the car. Corsa E drivers can choose among 3 driving modes: Normal, Eco and Sport. In Eco mode, the car has up to 40% more range than in the Normal driving Mode. The performance of the car improves drastically when the car is in Sport Mode. As a result, the battery of the vehicle discharges rapidly. These modes give the driver the comfort of driving as per the road conditions.

The car has a 10-inch infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are compatible with this touch screen display. There are several buttons provided for different functionalities. The car’s interior is in no way minimalistic. There is a digital output display in front of the driver which shows speed, battery left, and navigation. The car has IntelliLux LED lights. These smart headlights adapt to driving and road conditions and give optimum light output.

In the United Kingdom, there is a 2500 pound tax incentive on electric vehicles. There is 0% road charge and congestion charge. Due to less moving parts and less wear on the brakes there is 30% reduction in maintenance costs. The battery has an 8-year warranty. The car has 4 variants with different colors that is SE Premium (Blue), Griffin (White), SRi Premium (Gray) and Elite Premium (Orange). Vauxhall Corsa E is available in the United Kingdom and the European Union. The Corsa E factories are located in the United Kingdom, Germany, The Netherlands and Spain.

The car costs around 30000 Euros. It is quite expensive for an electric vehicle as it doesn’t have an exceptional range and large battery storage. Batteries are the most expensive component of electric vehicles but its price has reduced. Batteries are now 10 times cheaper than they were in 2010. Vauxhall has many internal combustion engine vehicles that it needs to sell to make a profit and invest in to the research for its electric vehicles. This might be a reason for the high price of the Corsa E.  The car includes a charger to charge the car at home. Due to this, the owner can charge the car at night when there is no load on the electricity grid and the costs of electricity is less than that during the day.

Raajas Joshi
Raajas Joshi
An electrical engineer passionate about electric vehicles and sustainable technologies.

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