If it’s true that big cities need small cars, then the Rocks E stands at the start to a triumph. Because the flash cubicle is the city champion par excellence: simple, tiny, cheeky. At 2.41 meters, 28 centimeters shorter than the original Smart and, on top of that, electric. Whether parking space or alley – where there is a lack of space, Opel‘s smallest is king. Okay, the dwarf king.
Even if the tiny one is built in Morocco – basically it could come from Sparta. Finally the part is the frugality on wheels. Just 45 kilometers per hour slow, the seats made of hard plastic – and even the sun visor costs extra. In the past, people would have laughed out loud at a rolling obstacle designed like a cable car gondola and got into their SUV, shaking their heads. But earlier was earlier.
Today you can actually imagine a tot like the Rocks-e in everyday life. The free space in the cities is dwindling and the first metropolises are starting to slow down. In Paris, for example, where the mini-vehicle drives around as a Citroën Ami, the speed limit is 30 everywhere apart from the main roads. Who still needs a thick ship, with which one does not come to the courses in the to-counter and does not find a parking space on top of that? And if you think France is far away, just go to the city center of Mainz.
But no matter what else German politicians intend to do with the car – in the Opel Rocks-e you can remain reasonably relaxed. It’s not a car at all. Even if he remotely looks like it. Officially, you get into a class L6e-BP “light four-wheeler for passenger transport”. In plain language, this means that a class AM driver’s license is sufficient, and you can drive the little box from the age of 16 – in some federal states even from the age of 15. Like an e-scooter with a glass roof. Just safer and more comfortable. Not just in the rain.
The entrance is as unusual as the whole car. First, because the Opelchen looks from the front as from behind – and then because the doors are hinged in opposite directions. The wing opens at the front for the driver and at the back for the passenger. This is not a GAG and certainly no chicane, but simple mathematics. What is identical, does not cost extra. And so rich the Rock-E around the 250 components. In “right” cars is relaxed the tenfold.
Even with the rest, the craimel souls have prevailed against the designers. Because of steering wheel adjustment, ABS or even airbag. All superfluous. Instead of door handles, there are loops as in racing, instead of sprung seats hard plastic planked pipe frames reminiscent of garden chairs from the hardware store. In most city buses you sit comfortable. However, the Rocks-E did not come near the 7990 Euro, for which he is sold since November. At least they did not save the straps at Opel. Namely, there would be no provision. There is a small reminiscence to the Stellantis sister Citroën: The side windows of the Rock-E flap high as in the legendary “duck”. Decades ago also a merciless cheap beginner model.
And maybe you have to adopt this philosophy and see the Rocks-e as a starter kit for e-mobility. After all, Bonsai-Blitz isn’t just good for people in the city, but also – and possibly even better – for young people in the country who don’t want to or aren’t allowed to drive mopeds. And not a few parents should be happy to escape the second job as a driver of a call taxi. Four wheels are somehow better than two for novice drivers, not to mention the protection of the steel frame all around. And to decelerate, Opel‘s smallest educates on top of that.
In any case, a little composure while driving can’t hurt. You don’t just sit at the rear window and have practically the whole car in front of you. Whole car sounds exaggerated. Steering wheel, tacho and range display, pedals for propulsion and brake – and left, next to the seat, the keys for the direction of travel. Plus turn signals, light switches, mini rear-view mirrors, horn and a touch of heating. That’s all. Oh yes: a shelf between the valance and the front glazing plus hooks for a backpack or whatever. Other luggage has to be in the passenger footwell or the door panels – there is only space behind the backrests for a small bag.
If you want to rise a little above the Spartan level – two special models can be ordered for 8790 euros. With chic hubcaps, black decorative strips and panels on the front and rear aprons as well as color accents in the interior. At the “Klub” in cosmic gray, at the “TeKno” in electric yellow. A smartphone holder on the center console is also included. Highlight in terms of extras: a Bluetooth hands-free system.
When you start it gets loud instead of fast. The nine-kW motors (in continuous operation it does six) sounds more like battery mowers, but then ensures reasonably propulsion. Finally, the vehicle with battery brings just 471 kilos on the scales. Ideally, the power store is enough for 75 kilometers, realistic are more than 50. Especially when the route leads uphill. Namely, the subsequent gradient is hardly benefited because the Rocks-E is only minimally recuperated. More elaborate technology would have been too expensive.
The electric flea is loaded on the normal household socket – the three meter long cable is simply pulled out of the holm of the passenger door. After just under three and a half hours, the 5.5 kWh battery is completely full again. There is an adapter for public charging columns.
Related articles
-
Opel Rocks-E: A new city electricity for the mobility of the future
Completely different, completely new, completely electric – Opel presents with the Rocks-E its first SUM. The abbreviation stands for Sustainable Urban…
-
Opel: From E-SUV to E-SUM – Focus on Opel Rocks-e
Opel is turning away from the electric SUV and focusing on the electric SUM. The people from Russelsheim have succeeded in creating a whole new vehicle…
-
Opel Rocks-E already from 7.990 euros orderable
Completely different, completely new, completely electric – Opel presents with the Rocks-E its first SUM. The abbreviation stands for Sustainable Urban…
-
Opel looks back on five decades exploring electric drives
With the new Corsa-E and the Grandland X Plug-in-Hierbrid, the latest Opel electric cars come on the street these days. This year, the purely…
-
Opel Grandland X Phev with front drive drives from the band in Eisenach
“Opel becomes electrically” with this motto, the automobile manufacturer opened his trade fair presence at the IAA 2019 in Frankfurt. Earlier we were…
-
Opel Teasert his future on, electric drives from 2019
From 2019 , a new SUV is to be built in the Opel plant Eisenach, for which an electrified variant is in planning, as Opel boss Michael Lohscheller had…
-
Opel drives E-offensive progressing: More E-vehicles announced
Still in April 2020 it was called “Opel looks at five decades of exploration of electric drives back” – but since then the look is consistently directed…
-
Opel Corsa-E in “Quick Test” – Potz Lightning
Working in the light of lightning was a symbol of heavy weather for a long time for a long time. In combination with GM Opel has little sun – and after…
-
Electric van Opel Zafira-e starts with environmental bonus at 45.825 euros
Electrifying growth in the large vans: The new Opel Zafira-e Life can now be ordered. The “e-lounge on wheels”, as the manufacturer calls its van, is the…
-
Opel Mokka-E: Cancellation for too much demand in 2020
Electric, emission-free, full of energy: This is the new Opel Mokka-E. The next mocha generation, which builds on the platform of the PSA Group and will…
When two drunken teenagers are driving on the highway in the evening and the typical Tesla retireer who sees nothing more with his Model Y with 130 kmh, hardly any parts over DIN A4 will be left over.
I would be that for all who have to move here about this “cableway gondola” or “Missgebirth” Echaufen a week by bus, train, bike, train or on foot – best in the worst november shing weather. And after this week you will be asked if you either suffer another week by public transport and muscle power or if you want to drive optional rocks e.
Back to the roots!
The part becomes cheaper, still 1 year waiting for from China and then strike – idea and concept in the urban area more than just meaning!
The 8.It is still not worth 000 € ..
That’s all since 2012 to buy us at the same price. And is called Twizy 45. Looks better and sells bad.
First of all an important info.
The youngsters can so for 3 years Drive with Opel Rocks-e and the upcoming L6e class e-cars before switching to L7e (motorway-ready) or the “normal” e-cars.
In the cities, the times of wide roads with plenty of parking spaces at the side of the road should come to an end, then the small 45 km/h vehicles will be gone fast enough in the 30 km/h zones.
With the covered 4-wheel pedelecs (up to 25 km/h with electric pedal assistance) I hope that the startups will finally put their vehicles on sale at (hopefully) reasonable prices.
The company behind Bio-hybrid (covered 4-wheel pedelec for 2 persons or 1 person plus transport case) was in bankruptcy this year. Their price of almost 10.000 euros would also have been too high if L6e vehicles were already available for 7.000 to 8.000 euros – here should 5.000 to 6.000 euros are enough.
It would be nice if they had mentioned that it is a Citroen Ami with an Opel logo and a word about a possible. price difference would have lost. Now I’m as smart as before..
Oops… sorry, missed it. But price difference would have been nice anyway..
Why does someone write articles where you can clearly hear that they prefer driving SUVs (or rally cars !) and anyway nothing to do with the whole turnaround in traffic has any articles about new traffic concepts and their vehicles ?
The Rocks-E, as well as of the Ami, remember – with its edgy body and its reduction to the absolutely necessary – hardly known in Europe, Brazilian Electric Car, which the designer João Augusto Conrado do Amaral Gurgel already designed in 1974 Had and made in small series:
the Gurgel Itaipu E150, which probably wasn’t convincing not only because of the battery technology at that time. Here is a link to a Brazilian newspaper report with some pictures:
https://www.Sabo.com.br/caderninho/curiosidades/primeiro-carro-eletrico-foi-brasileiro/
As in EVERY driving report or test report on the e-rocks, concrete information on the climbing ability of the vehicle is also missing here. Incidentally, Opel is also silent on this on its website, nowhere can you find useful information. It would be all the more important that a tester simply pulls out of the parking lot and gives specific information about the behavior on inclines. If the rocks-e manages a 20% incline ? If yes, at what speed ? What about common climbs with 5 or 10% incline ? Actually, really not a single “tester” comes from alone that such information is more important than the 100., always the same description of the loops to contract the doors ?