Opel Rocks-e – the perfect urban mobility solution?
The Opel Rocks-e is not a typical car you know. Despite its four wheels, steering wheel and motor, the Opel Rocks-e is by definition not a car at all. It’s a so-called light motor vehicle as Opel calls is SUM (Sustainable Urban Mobility) that does not even require a car licence. All you need is a moped driving licence. So Opel tries to reach a completely new target group. At the age of 15 you are allowed to go around with the Opel Rocks-e. What is way more handy than with a moped, on rainy days you are not getting wet. And even on colder days as you have a heating system. Is the Opel Rocks-e the perfect urban mobility solution?
The Rocks-e is less than 2.50 metres long, 1.39 metres wide (without exterior mirrors), has a turning circle of only 7.20 metres and is up to 45 kilometres an hour fast. It has an electric drive, so you are locally emission-free on tour. With the compact size you definitely haven’t a problem with finding a parking spot in dense environments. The top speed of 45 km/h is not an issue at all in the city. But if you are used to driving a car, the last 5 km/h are kind of missing. The Opel Rocks-e promises a range of up to 75 kilometres (according to WLTP), which is absolutely fine for the city. The 5.5 kWh battery can be recharged to 100 percent in around 3.5 hours via a standard household socket. The charging cable is permanently stood in the passengers door.
The Opel Rocks-e is extremely compact also expressed in the exterior design. Front and rear are kind of the same. The doors open in opposite directions. So the door of the driver opens to the rear and the passenger one to the front. This efficient design saves money in production. And that’s one reason why the basic version is already available for 7.990 €.
The design definitely stands out – also due to the colour accents. When driving through the city of Frankfurt, the Opel Rocks-e was kind of a magnet. People stopped and looked at the Rocks-e. All versions have LED headlights and LED turn signals as standard. In addition to the basic version, Opel offers two further equipments, the Opel Rocks-e Klub and and the Rocks-e TeKno for a price of 8.790 €. They differ in some more features in the exterior and interior.
Let’s talk about the interior of the Rocks-e. Inside it offers enough space however it is spartanly equipped. Between the two seats you only have a manual handbrake. A little bit hidden and on the right of the driver’s seat, you will find the three gear selector buttons. The heating is only a window heater, which is quite loud and during a while a bit annoying. When it’s colder outside, the windows misted up quite quickly. So we had to open the side windows to get the windows clear again. On colder days it’s not that comfortable to have the fresh air coming in. But at least when it’s raining you are not getting wet. Only the models Klub and TeKno offer a central smartphone holder on the centre console and DAT connectivity as standard. On request it can also be equipped with a Bluetooth hands-free system for the driver's smartphone. Optional is also a Bluetooth Soundbox so you can enjoy your favourite music while driving the Opel Rocks-e. With the MyOpel app you can directly connect to your Rocks-e and see information such as remaining charging time, battery capacity, the mileage or when the next maintenance is due. The panoramic glass roof, which is as standard creates a nice and bright atmosphere. All in all you have a good all-round view through the large windows. When you are driving alone, you have plenty of space as you can also use the legroom on the passenger seat to place your storage.
All in all: it’s fun to go around with the Opel Rocks-e. In the city you do not have to be afraid of finding a parking spot. You can even park crossways. The interior is very spartan and the heating system is not ideal but you can’t expect the comfort and all the features your are used from other vehicles. With the Opel Rocks-e, the brand tries to close the gap between car and moped. However you feel more safe than on a moped and besides you can also be on tour in bad weather conditions. And besides think about the safety you might not feel when being late around in the city – that you might not have when walking, with using public transport or other mobility solutions. Women are often confronted with that. With the Opel Rocks-e you have your own mobility solution that makes you feel much more comfortable when being around late by night in the city. And you are on the road in a sustainable way.
Pictures: Opel for ellectric
Text: Britta Reineke