The success of the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid, the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid, continues.
Volvo Car Group (Volvo Cars) is now ramping up production of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid by 90 percent, just to keep up with the demand.
The increased demand, especially in Holland, Belgium and Italy, means that the V60 Plug-in Hybrid production at Volvo Cars’ Torslanda plant in Sweden will be increased continuously from 150 to 282 units per week. All in all, Volvo Cars will produce 7,600 plug-in hybrids in 2013 – and the 2014 target is 10,000 units.
“We are exceptionally pleased that the V60 Plug-in Hybrid has received such a fantastic reception among consumers. However, I am not surprised. Our Plug-in Hybrid is a unique car, superior to all other hybrids on the market,” says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Car Group. “Since the Plug-in Hybrid has been integrated into the established production flow together with other car models, we have the flexibility to quickly adapt to the increasing demand.”
The driver of the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid selects the required driving mode via three buttons in the dashboard that gives the car three entirely different temperaments: Pure, Hybrid or Power.
In the default hybrid mode, the carbon dioxide emissions are 48g/km. This corresponds to fuel consumption of just 1.8l/100 km (NEDC certification driving cycle for hybrids).
At the touch of a button, the driver can also choose to cover up to 50 km on pure electric power – or use the combined capacity of the diesel engine and electric motor to create a veritable driving machine with 215+70 horsepower and 440+200 Nm of torque.
The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the synthesis of close cooperation between Volvo Car Group and the Swedish electricity supplier Vattenfall. The two companies have financed the development project jointly.
