Vauxhall Corsa Electric: range, battery & charging
The choice of two battery sizes and standard 100kW DC rapid charging means the electric Corsa is more capable than you might think
| Model | Range | Wallbox charge time | Rapid charge time |
| 50kWh | 221 miles | 7hrs 45mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 28mins (10-80%, 100kW) |
| 51kWh | 251 miles | 7hrs 45mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 28mins (10-80%, 100kW) |
The Vauxhall Corsa Electric shares a number of its parts, as well as its basic platform, with the Peugeot E-208. Like its sibling, the Vauxhall has undergone a facelift and now provides the option of a slightly larger 51kWh battery, which it shares with the Jeep Avenger. This means top models now have a maximum WLTP Combined range of 251 miles, while a price cut makes the 221-mile base model slightly better value than before.
Vauxhall Connect – a feature of the MyVauxhall smartphone app – allows you to access information such as the remaining range, as well as offering the option to pre-condition the interior to a set temperature. Smartphone users can also see the charging status of their car, remotely start the air-conditioning, and select the charging time required.
Vauxhall Corsa Electric range
As mentioned, the electric Vauxhall Corsa is now offered with two battery sizes. The smaller of these has been offered since the car was launched, but after several technical updates since then, the 50kWh Vauxhall Corsa Electric is capable of up to 221 miles on single charge.
Having driven this model in warm weather, we’re pleased to report that Vauxhall’s range predictions are pretty accurate. Don’t floor the accelerator and we have no doubt you’ll easily be able to cover over 200 miles on a single charge. Although this will drop slightly in winter, the good news is that all Vauxhall Corsa Electric models come with a heat pump as standard.
If range is your priority, the larger 51kWh battery is more efficient, boosting range to a maximum of 251 miles. During our time with the large-battery Corsa, we were able to average roughly 4.6 miles per kilowatt-hour, which translates to a range of 235 miles – not far off Vauxhall’s estimates.
Charge time
Every version of the Vauxhall Corsa Electric comes with a Type 2 cable for home wallbox and slower public charging, but you have to pay extra for a conventional three-pin plug, which seems a bit stingy given the car’s high list price.
The Corsa is available with either a 7.4 or 11kW on-board charger, which affects how quickly it can charge from a domestic charging point. However, you need three-phase domestic electricity to take advantage of the 11kW upgrade, and this isn't very common in UK homes, so check before stumping up the cash.
If you do, Vauxhall quotes a 0-100% charge time of five hours and 15 minutes, compared with seven and a half hours for the 7.4kW set-up. Regardless, all Corsa Electric models come with a CCS port, ensuring an 80% top-up in as little as 30 minutes from a 100kW rapid charger.