Fab-brew-lous! Vauxhall unveils concept car with built-in coffee machine
Waiting for your electric car to charge can be a numbing experience. But Vauxhall thinks a caffeine boost could be a welcome distraction.
The British car company has launched a new electric car called the Mokka Coffe-e, which features a compact coffee station in the 310-litre boot.
From the front seat, owners can open the barista-quality kit with the touch of a button before stepping out to serve a latte.
According to Vauxhall, the portable coffee maker will provide ‘barista-quality’ coffee even if drivers are miles away from their favourite coffee shop.
It gives both drivers and their car the chance to recharge: a moment when the car receives energy again from a charging point.
Vauxhall’s 310-litre Mokka boot has been converted into a café with a slide-out drawer housing barista-quality tools
The British company’s new electric concept car offers both drivers and their vehicles the chance to charge
“The Vauxhall Mokka Coffe-e is a unique concept vehicle designed to offer electric vehicle drivers the perfect coffee break,” the company said on its website.
‘Refuel with award-winning barista coffee and charge your Mokka Electric on the go.’
Just like you press a switch in a normal car to open the trunk, you operate the coffee station in the car with a single press of a button in the center console.
The Coffe-e concept has not one but two coffee machines: one for freshly ground beans and one for pads.
There is also a coffee grinder, a knock-out bin for used espresso coffee, a milk frother and a refrigerator for storing milk.
Just like you press a switch in a normal car to open the trunk, you can operate the car’s coffee station with a single press of a button in the center console
Vauxhall is calling this a concept car, meaning it’s not on sale yet, but it shows a new idea that could appear in vehicles in the near future.
A sleek Vauxhall-branded slide-out drawer stores the ‘barista-quality’ tools, including the handles of the portafilters and the pods themselves.
But from the outside, the coffee mug symbol is the only sign that there is anything special about this vehicle.
Vauxhall has also partnered with Cafeology, a Sheffield-based artisan coffee roaster, to create a range of coffee blends ‘to suit all coffee tastes’.
Examples include ‘cosmic red’ with a hint of stone fruit acidity, ‘contrast grey’ with a spicy, earthy body and ‘voltaic blue’ with a sweet and lively fruity flavour.
Vauxhall is calling this a concept car, meaning the car isn’t on sale yet, but it does show a new idea that could potentially be available on cars in the near future.
Drivers and passengers can choose their favorite coffee from a menu before stopping at a charging station and brewing their cup of coffee
Despite this, electric car manufacturers are increasingly adding gadgets to keep owners entertained while charging.
Charging an electric car can take several hours, depending on the size of the battery. This means that refueling a traditional petrol car is usually slower.
The British government plans to stop selling diesel and petrol cars by 2030. Instead, they will switch to electric cars. These cars run on energy from a charged battery, just like a smartphone.
The Mokka Electric is just one of many electric Vauxhalls, with the new Grandland EV specs just confirmed and a new Frontera due to hit UK roads later this year.