Volvo V70 diesel plug-in hybrid in 2012
Volvo has built the first prototype for a future 2012 model that that can be fueled with electricity from a standard wall socket. Swedish energy company Vattenfall and the Volvo Car Corporation are launching an industrial joint venture partnership to introduce plug-in hybrids on the market.
The development of the cars is being carried out and financed jointly by the two companies. The Volvo Car Corporation will manufacture the cars and Vattenfall will develop charging systems and supply the cars with electricity.
An electric motor has a high efficiency rating and consumes roughly one-fifth the energy needed to power an engine that runs on gasoline or diesel. The purchase price of the plug-in hybrids will be higher than that of cars with conventional technology. Batteries are still expensive but with the car running on electricity, its fuel costs will be cut to roughly one-third compared to diesel power, at least in terms of higher Swedish pricing.
Vattenfall will offer customers the opportunity to sign an agreement for renewable electricity sourced specifically from windpower or hydropower, as an alternative to the regular mix of electricity sources.
The plug-in hybrid cars will be driven by a powerful electric motor fueled by a lithium-ion battery. The battery takes about five hours to charge from a standard wall socket, and the battery is also charged every time the car’s brakes are applied.
In the summer of 2009, three Volvo V70 demonstration cars will be presented. The demonstration cars will be used to gauge consumer reaction towards the technology. Vattenfall will, among other things, test various concepts for high-speed home charging and also for charging stations in public places, where owners pay to fuel with electricity instead of petrol or diesel. The production cars will only go into regular production in 2012.
Posted: June 2nd, 2009
at 9:22am by The Editor
Tagged with Electric Cars, EV, hybrid, Volvo V70
Categories: European Cars, Future Cars, Green Cars
Comments: 1 comment
One Response to 'Volvo V70 diesel plug-in hybrid in 2012'
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Using solar electricity plugged into the PHEV Volvo is roughly = $1.79/gallon. Eliminates arguments about power plant pollution.
Richard Poor
27 Jun 09 at 12:17 am