Volvo will unveil the world's first diesel-electric plug-in at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.
Volvo will introduce what it bills as the world’s first diesel-electric plug-in hybrid at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.
The system, which will be used to power the Swedish maker’s V60 wagon, will differ significantly from current hybrid powertrains, including traditional systems used in the Toyota Prius and more advanced plug-ins found in the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Volvo’s plug-in will create a virtual all-wheel-drive system, using the diesel to drive the front wheels and the electric motors to drive the rear.
The V60 plug-in will be the first electric drive model from Volvo – though the maker is also working up a pure battery-electric vehicle based on the smaller C30 — and its lithium-ion battery pack is expected to yield about 32 miles when running solely in battery made. The rear-mounted electric motor can produce a maximum 70 horsepower.
But when the battery runs down – or extra power is needed – the 215-horsepower diesel kicks in. When they’re both operating together in Sport mode, the two power sources can produce 285 hp and a full 472 lb-ft of tire spinning torque, launching the V60 diesel plug-in from 0 to 60 in just 6.9 seconds.
The Volvo design uses the diesel to power the front wheels and the electric motor to drive the rear.
“In order to get true car enthusiasts to think green, you have to offer them the opportunity to drive with low carbon dioxide emissions without taking away the adrenaline rush that promotes genuine driving pleasure,” said Volvo Cars president Stefan Jacoby.
Alternately, a driver can choose “Pure” mode to remain in battery-electric mode as long as there’s a sufficient charge, or “Hybrid,” to put the emphasis on fuel efficiency and range. In that mode, Volvo is claiming a range of 745 miles and the equivalent of 125 mpg, though it remains to be seen if that figure would be vouched for by U.S. regulators.
In fact, it’s unclear whether the Volvo V60 plug-in will make it to the States, where diesel power has yet to gain much acceptance. Part of the problem is the premium for after-treatment systems needed to meet tough NOx and particulate standards. Add on the cost of the hybrid portion of the driveline and Volvo may simply have to charge too much green despite the V60 plug-in’s green credentials.
The battery pack is a relatively modest 12 kilowatt-hours, about half the size of the Lion pack in the fully-electric Nissan Leaf, and a quarter smaller than the Volt’s 16 kWh of batteries. Volvo claims the V60 plug-in will be able to recharge in as little as three hours using a 16 amp 220-volt charger.
Volvo actually won’t be alone in going the diesel-hybrid route. Peugeot
Peugeot is working up a diesel-electric version of the 3008, but that model will be a conventional, rather than plug-in, hybrid, which means only limited range on battery power alone.Volvo Readying Diesel Plug-in Hybrid