Vauxhall Ampera takes top ACFO Green Award

THE rather brilliant Vauxhall Ampera snatched the ACFO Green Vehicle of the Year Award at the 30th Anniversary Awards held recently by the Association of Car Fleet Operators.

ACFO mainly represents big car fleet operators, but small fleets from SMEs are also involved, as are leasing and contract hire companies. So one way or another they know a thing or two about running company cars.

The Vauxhall Ampera is a hybrid vehicle with a 300-mile range. It features an electric motor that drives the front wheels and a range-extending petrol engine that charges the batteries when they run flat. Unlike many hybrids, the back-up engine never drives the wheels – it simply powers the electric motor, which in turn sends energy directly.

As a result, the Ampera is capable of 235.4mpg and emits just 27g/km of CO2.

It’s no slouch either, and can hit 62mph in just 8.7 seconds thanks to the lump of torque being available from zero rpm.

Thanks to the low CO2 rating, the Vauxhall Ampera makes a great company car – and in fact we’ve just made it one of our Top 5 low emissions company cars.