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Grain of salt

Why we choose “this is allowed and this is not allowed” has mainly to do with the fact that some of Opel’s advice is rather “cautious. For example, Opel indicates that you should not use an extension cord to charge the Rocks. Well, we always did that and it never caused a problem. Of course then it is important to use an extension cord that is safe and of good quality. You also can’t always park a Rocks Electric inside in the big city to charge it. That’s often just done on the street. And that’s exactly when you need an extension cord. So don’t worry too much about this.

Important: do not use a power strip or inverter

Using a power strip or inverter is also not recommended. Okay, we can understand that. Because with rain, that’s asking for trouble and it’s not convenient on the street. Do not connect the charging cable to a damaged outlet either. Preferably use a direct connection between the plug and the socket. If that is not possible, then an extension cord is also fine, but make sure the connection stays dry. For example, we always put a container above the plugs. This keeps everything neatly dry with rain. Electricity and water are not friends.

Opel Rocks Electric – Don’ts

• Ensure that the 12V battery does not become fully discharged, otherwise it will no longer be possible to start the engine or charge the 48V battery.
• Do not hold down the accelerator pedal while switching to another driving mode. Always select the desired mode first. The buttons for driving modes D (drive), N (neutral) and R (reverse) are located on the left side of the driver’s seat or – on newer types – on the dashboard.
• Never start your Rocks Electric while the charging cable is still connected to the wall socket. Also, do not use a charging cable other than the integrated 24V cable.
• If the temperature of the battery is below -5° C, the Rocks Electric cannot be charged. Since the exact temperature of the battery is difficult to control, you can use the ambient temperature as an indication. In other words, plan your charging sessions smartly.
• If the temperature of the 48V battery is below 5° C, charging is slower. Therefore, in cold weather, allow for longer charging time.
• Do not use snow chains. These are not allowed for the Rocks Electric. And it also seems particularly uncomfortable to us.
• You cannot carry luggage on the roof; the construction is not designed for that.
• Never use a pressure washer or drive your Rocks Electric through a car wash. Just hand wash it. The Rocks is so small, you’ll be done with that in no time.

Opel Rocks Electric – Do’s

• If you do not use your Rocks Electric for more than a month, Opel recommends disconnecting the 12V battery. If so, first remove fuse F7 (50 A) and then disconnect the 12V battery. Note that the 48V battery charge level must be at least 50% before you do this. This will prevent the 12V battery from draining completely. If you don’t do this, you may need to recharge the 12V battery via an external charger before you can recharge your Rocks Electric’s battery.
• Charging your Rocks Electric is only possible when the battery temperature is between -5° C and +53° C.
• As far as possible, always park your Rocks Electric in a garage or covered area with a temperature between 5° C and 40° C. This helps to keep the battery capacity and charging speed optimal. In the big city this is of course impossible, but for people who live outside the big city and still drive a Rocks, it is often possible.
• The maximum speed of your Rocks Electric may be significantly limited in certain situations. This depends, among other things, on the remaining energy, ambient and battery temperature and certain driving conditions, such as high altitude. Especially when the battery is cold, the “turtle” symbol appears.

Another update soon on our endurance test with the Opel Rocks Electric.