Volvo and Vattenfall will soon unveil the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid with carbon dioxide emissions below 50 g/km.
Vattenfall and Volvo have already collaborated on electric versions of the C30 and V70. The latest model, the V60 plug-in hybrid, will be displayed for the first time at the Salon de Genève on 1 March 2011, and will be released in 2012.
The 2012 Volvo V60 plug-in hybrid is designed to give the driver a range of options on how they want to drive by choosing the driving mode via three buttons on the instrument panel: pure, hybrid and power. The interaction between diesel and electric power is handled via a control system.
The new hybrid has carbon dioxide emissions of 50 g/km with a fuel consumption of 1·9 l/100 km (149 mpg Imperial). It will also be able to cover distances of up to 32 miles on battery power alone.
Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volvo Cars, said, “to get drivers to think green, we have offered both, in one traditional genuine sports wagon”.
He also added that, “the technology is still undergoing development and testing, however, the car already points very clearly to what our customers can expect when the plug-in hybrid enters showrooms next year. What we’ve done is to spice it up with spearhead technology that allows the driver to choose zero emissions, high-efficiency hybrid or full-on performance. Just select the mode that suits best.”
The plug-in hybrid will use a six-speed automatic transmission. It will also feature a unique powertrain made from a 2.4-litre, five-cylinder D5 turbo-diesel engine producing 215 HP and 400 Nm of torque and an electric rear axle (ERAD) generating 70 HP which is linked to a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery.
Vattenfall’s CEO Øystein Løseth, who is pleased with the latest hybrid model from Vattenfall and Volvo, said, “with renewable electricity from Vattenfall, the plug-in hybrid can be driven with minimised climate impact and local emissions. The result of the project emphasises that the future of the car lies in electrification”.
All safety systems in the Volvo V60 will also be available in the plug-in hybrid version.
