Vauxhall Corsa Electric range, battery & charging
The ability to charge at up to 100kW from public rapid points is standard across the Corsa Electric range, and home charging times are reasonable, too
| Range | Wallbox charge time | Rapid charge time |
|---|---|---|
| 222 miles | 7hrs 45mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 28mins (10-80%, 100kW) |
As with the Corsa Electric’s Peugeot e-208 and DS 3 Crossback E-TENSE sister models, there’s currently only one battery option available. However, given the car’s diminutive size, few would wish for more – especially when you consider the 220-odd mile range on offer.
If you need to charge up while out and about, the Corsa's battery can be replenished to 80% capacity in about half an hour from a 100kW rapid charger. These are getting more common in the UK, but many public points are still 50kW – taking near-enough twice as long to perform the same task.
Vauxhall Connect – a feature of the MyVauxhall smartphone app – allows you to access information such as the remaining range and the cheapest recharging option, as well as pre-conditioning 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, there’s only the one 50kWh battery available for the Corsa Electric. Initially, the zero-emissions hatchback had an official range of up to 209 miles for the car, but following some technical updates in December 2021, the figure for cars built since then is 222 miles.
When we drove a 2022 model year Corsa Electric in warm weather, the Vauxhall’s range predictions were relatively good, so we have no doubt you'll be able to cover more than 200 miles on a full charge if you're gentle with the throttle and in similar conditions. But expect the range to drop once winter arrives.
Charge time
Every version of the Vauxhall Corsa Electric comes with a Type 2 cable for public charging, but you have to pay extra for a conventional three-pin plug, which seems a bit stingy given the car’s £29,300 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 15-80% charge time of three hours and 20 minutes, compared to five hours for the 7.4kW setup. 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.
