A few days ago we revealed that Volvo would introduce a plug-in hybrid car by 2012 (see article) – and now we have details of a much wider plug-in hybrid project from the company.
According to reports, Volvo will make all its future driveline architectures have the ability to accommodate a rear-axle electric motor and battery, thus enabling a plug-in hybrid option.
Volvo’s vice president of business development and electrification strategy, Paul Gustavsson, outlined that Volvo’s current plug-in architecture is used on its V70 diesel plug-in hybrid electric vehicle prototypes and that it combines a front-wheel drive engine with an axle-integrated rear-wheel drive electric motor. It supports a 31mile all-electric range and carbon dioxide emissions average just 49g/km with fuel consumption at 124mpg.
Now Gustavsson has stated that the plug-in hybrid is the “perfect bridge” to an electric society and that while they are expensive they take consumers away from range anxiety. He thinks that while battery electric cars will still have range limitations for several years, a small range extender could be a long term alternative option.
Volvo is planning to launch its plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in all markets and is working on a petrol engine model. It is also said to be evaluating the introduction of diesel-engine plug-in hybrid electric vehicles into the US market. Gustavsson did state however, that government support would be crucial particularly with the cost of meeting US emission requirements.
