Volvo Car is convinced that in the future, customers will continue to want safe, comfortable cars with good driving properties and generous load-carrying ability. Irrespective of whether they are powered by electricity or other fuels.
Plug-in hybrids are an attractive car type offering the user the best from both electric power and conventional drivelines: low fuel consumption and CO2 levels, combined with a long range and high performance.
“The new Volvo plug-in will be a truly enjoyable car to drive, featuring Volvo’s high safety and comfort standards. At the same time, CO2 levels and fuel consumption will be as low as half that available on the market today.” says Stephen Odell, president and chief executive officer of Volvo Car.
Volvo plug-in hybrid advantages:
– Fuel consumption, running costs and CO2 emissions are very low
– The car is a normal Volvo, with all its customary good properties
– It is conveniently recharged at home via a regular wall socket
– It is an enjoyable car to drive, offering high performance
– Electric power with CO2 levels close to zero
Electricity is highly suited as a car fuel. The electric motor has a high efficiency rating and consumes about one-fifth as much energy as a corresponding engine running on fossil fuel. Volvo’s plug-in hybrid cars will be propelled by an electric motor that receives its power from a lithium-ion battery. What is more, additional electricity is generated every time the car brakes.
The battery is conveniently recharged at home via a regular wall socket. Electricity as a fuel is far cheaper than petrol or diesel, which results in low operating costs. The battery will take about five hours to recharge.
The range will be about 1200 kilometers, just like in a conventional diesel car. It will be able to be driven up to 50 kilometers on pure electric power and when running on the battery, emissions from the exhaust pipe will be non-existent. If the battery is recharged using electricity from renewable sources, the net emission of CO2 will be close to zero, even in a lifecycle perspective. Volvo’s dealers will offer customers who buy a plug-in hybrid a special contract for the supply of renewable energy. This agreement has been created in cooperation with the company’s partner, Swedish electricity supplier Vattenfall.
Efficient diesel engines as a complement:
As a complement to the electric motor, one of Volvo’s fuel-efficient diesel engines will also be fitted under the bonnet. It will be optimized to run on renewable synthetic diesel and will meet the tough forthcoming exhaust emission requirements.
The diesel engine can be run separately or in combination with the electric motor for optimal power and energy utilization. For example, the diesel engine can support or replace electric power at high speeds or when the battery charge drops, while the electric motor can offer additional torque at low engine revs. Being able to combine these two power sources makes it possible to offer high performance and trouble-free use by the owner.
Most car trips cover short distances, to and from work. This means that the forthcoming Volvo plug-in hybrid will cover the transport requirements of most people. For longer distances, the diesel engine starts up automatically, giving the car the same properties and range as a conventional diesel car.
According to the standardized NEDC certification driving cycle, CO2 emissions from Volvo’s plug-in hybrid will be lower than 50 grams/kilometer. Cars with emissions below 50 grams of CO2/kilometer will probably have the most favorable incentives in many European countries. In addition to tax relief, these countries will offer a discount of about 5000 euros on the purchase price, a move that is expected to set the standard for the rest of Europe too.
“We are focusing strongly on plug-in hybrids in order to meet the demands for low CO2 emissions and to provide sustainable road transportation. We naturally expect that the relevant authorities will offer subsidies to boost developments, speeding up the creation of a market for this type of car,” says Stephen Odell.
