The first official road test drive with the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid will take place in Berlin on May 18 as a part of the 11th Michelin Challenge Bibendum.
All in all, Volvo enters the sustainability rally with three cars that emphasise the company’s environmental technology: the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid, the Volvo C30 Electric and the Volvo V50 DRIVe.
Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid
The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid, which makes its official road test debut at Michelin Challenge Bibendum, integrates the very best properties from three different car types into a single attractive sports wagon.
The car’s front wheels are driven by a five-cylinder 2.4-litre turbodiesel producing 215 hp/440 Nm. The rear axle has a 70 hp electric motor, which receives power from a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The driver chooses the preferred driving mode via three buttons on the instrument panel: Pure, Hybrid and Power.
In Pure the car runs only on its electric motor as much as possible. If the battery has been recharged using electricity from a renewable source, the driving range is up to 50 km (32 miles) with zero emissions of carbon dioxide. Battery range varies with terrain, climate and driving style.
Hybrid is the default mode whenever the car is started. The diesel engine and electric motor interact to provide the optimal balance between driving pleasure and low environmental impact. Emissions of CO2 (EU Combined) are 49 g/km, corresponding to diesel fuel consumption of 1.9 l/100 km (124 mpg US).
In Power the technology is optimized to give the car the best possible performance. The diesel engine and electric motor have a combined power output 215 + 70 horsepower and maximum torque of 440 + 200 Nm. The electric motor’s lightning-quick torque delivery contributes to the car’s 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time of 6.9 seconds.
Volvo claims the car has an overall range of up to 1200 km (750 miles), a top speed of 200 km/h or 125mph (100 km/h or 62mph in all-electric mode) and will cover the 0-100km/h (0-62mph) dash in 6.9 seconds.
Volvo C30 Electric
The Volvo C30 Electric is as well-equipped, comfortable, sporty and safe as the standard C30 – while at the same time offering the driver a range of up to 150 kilometers (93 miles) per charge with almost zero carbon dioxide emissions.
The car has a 111 hp electric motor delivering 220 Nm of torque. The 24 kWh lithium-ion battery pack is recharged via a regular 230 volt power socket. A full 10-ampere charge takes approximately 10 hours. This time drops to less than seven hours with 16A.
The certified range according to the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) is 163 km (101 miles). However, Volvo Cars specifies up to 150 kilometers (93 miles) as the car’s practical range. The energy produced during engine braking is used to regenerate the battery.
Volvo V50 DRIVe
The Volvo V50 DRIVe is equipped with a 1.6-liter common rail turbo diesel featuring start/stop and several other refinements that bring CO2 emissions down to 99 g/km. The engine produces 115 hp/270 Nm and fuel consumption (EU Combined) is 3.8 liters per 100 km (61.9 mpg US).
