Volvo announced that it has started work on a new plug-in hybrid that will hit the market by year 2012. The new Volvo hybrid is being developed in collaboration with Vattenfall, a Swedish energy company.
The 2012 Volvo hybrid will be powered by an electric motor and an efficient diesel that will offer a fuel economy of 2.0l/100km and a CO2 emissions level of 50g/km. You'll be able to "fuel" the 2012 Volvo hybrid from a household wall socket in around 5 hours which will give you a 50 km autonomy.
In the new partnership Volvo will develop and manufacture the cars while Vattenfall will develop the charging systems and supply the cars with electricity.
Volvo Press Release:
A Volvo that can be fuelled with electricity from a standard wall socket will be a reality by 2012.
In January 2007, Volvo Car Corporation and Swedish energy company, Vattenfall, launched a joint project with the aim of testing and developing plug-in technology.
Now their cooperation is being taken to the next level with plans to introduce plug-in hybrids to market, powered by electricity and an exceptionally fuel efficient diesel engine that will see fuel consumption drop to under 2.0l/100km and C02 emissions under 50g/km.
"We are investing in an industrial joint venture to series-produce plug-in hybrid cars in Sweden in 2012, cars that can be powered by both electricity and diesel. This is an important business development for us and our partnership with Vattenfall allows us to take a giant step toward offering our customers cars with an even
smaller environmental footprint," says Stephen Odell, President and CEO of the Volvo Car Corporation.
Vattenfall and the Volvo Car Corporation believe that series production of plug-in hybrid cars and the development of infrastructure can generate new jobs and help Sweden maintain its position at the cutting edge of advanced pro-environmental technology.
The car can be charged at home
This ground-breaking technology will considerably lower the environmental impact of day-to-day motoring, and offers owners a convenient environmental solution thanks to the ability to 'fuel up' your plug-in hybrid at home from a regular household wall socket. A single charge will take approximately 5 hours and offer a 50 km range.
"We want to reinforce electricity's importance in society and its key role in solving climate issues. Through this cooperation we hope to be able to speed up the introduction of electric cars. Together we are developing the next-generation technology based on plug-in cars and
various charging alternatives," says Lars G Josefsson, President and CEO of Vattenfall.
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.
Innovative environmental technology
Electricity is very well-suited as a power source for cars. An electric motor has a high efficiency rating and consumes roughly one-fifth the energy needed to power an engine that runs on fossil fuels. 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 with diesel power.
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. Lars G Josefsson sees many benefits from chargeable plug-in hybrids, even in cases where the electricity does not come from renewable energy sources.
"Through electric power, we avoid the emissions from each individual car. Instead of petrol or diesel, the energy is derived from a few large power sources and Vattenfall is working hard to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from all electricity production. In Sweden, virtually all Vattenfall's electricity production is emission-free," explains Lars G Josefsson.
The plug-in hybrid cars will be driven by a powerful electric motor fuelled 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.
"Most car journeys are short trips, for instance to and from work. We will be able to offer a product that fulfils this transportation need. In order to cover longer distances as well, the car will also be equipped with one of Volvo's fuel-efficient diesel engines," says Stephen Odell.
Demonstration cars on show this summer
In the summer of 2009, three Volvo V70 demonstration cars will be presented. The demonstration cars will be used to gather information about the wants and needs that drivers may have of the new technology, to determine their driving habits and to establish how they want to charge their cars.
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 cars that are planned to go into series production in 2012 will feature somewhat different technology, but the launch of the demonstration vehicles is a step towards series-producing plug-in hybrid cars specifically tailored to market needs.
