Some fleets have ordered up to 20 vehicles, the manufacturers claim, with many including the Ampera in choice lists alongside conventional petrol and diesel models. The Association of Car Fleet Operators has also named it as Green Vehicle of the Year, in recognition of its ability to meet the requirements of fleet users.

Unlike a pure electric vehicle, the Ampera offers a range of up to 50 miles on electricity before a 1.4-litre petrol engine is used to drive a generator and keep the battery from running flat. Power is always supplied to the wheels using its electric motors.

Opel vice president sales, marketing and aftersales, Alfred Rieck, said: ‘We now have proof that it is attracting a rapidly growing number of fleet customers. We are confident that this development will continue because fleet customers understand that the Ampera is one of the very few electric vehicles that is truly suitable for everyday use. Additionally, it is has significantly lower operating costs than equivalent internal combustion engine cars.’