Having spent a lot of time working out the most efficient way to use the car, I’ve come to the conclusion that the range-extended drivetrain really doesn’t need much to make real-world economy figures even more appealing beyond the NEDC economy test.

Most of it comes from the charging connection. The Ampera features the J1772 plug, which allows it to fully charge in around four hours on my 16 amp wallbox. Switching to the new Type 2 connector, likely to become the European standard, and offering 32-amp charging would allow it to reach full charge in two hours, or turn a one-hour stop into a useful charging opportunity.

Better still, equipped with the new Combo Charging Standard plug, which would add two DC pins below the Type 2 connector, the Ampera could offer the same rapid charging ability as the BMW i3 – an 80% charge in half an hour. It would also allow the Vauxhall to take advantage of the growing network of charging points which offer this connection.

Arguably it’s a luxury with a petrol engine as backup, but getting the most from an Ampera means spending as much time in electric mode as possible. Faster charging and wider compatibility with public infrastructure would mean more miles with the engine turned off, making better use of the rest of the drivetrain.

However, this can still offer huge benefits for the right drivers.  It’s occurred to me that it perfectly suits my wife’s driving patterns. Not only does she love driving it, but she could easily do her 25-mile commute on electricity, even based on a reduced cold-weather range of 30 miles, and most of her journeys are within battery power too.

I reckon she’d get through one, maybe two tanks, of petrol per year – which as a rough calculation is around 642mpg, or “fuel” costs equivalent to 128mpg if you count the electricity used.