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Volvo's latest concept actually has a shot at making it stateside

When it comes to hybrid vehicles, Volvo is finally stepping up its game. The company, which in the past has been known for its tasteful styling and safety reputation, is now looking to pack its vehicles with fuel-efficient drivetrains to stay ahead of strict fuel economy regulations.
 
Last month, Volvo revealed the official specs for its V60 plug-in diesel hybrid wagon. That vehicle can travel 31 miles on battery power alone, or up to 621 miles when used in "Hybrid" mode. Today, Volvo is following up with the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept.
 
While the V60 plug-in hybrid makes use of a 215hp, 5-cylinder turbo diesel engine, the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept uses a 260hp (280 lb-ft), turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine. The gasoline engine drives the front wheels while a 70hp (148 b-ft) electric motor provides power to the rear wheels. The electric motor is fed by a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack -- it can be charged in 3.5 hours with a 220V outlet or in 7.5 hours with a 110V outlet.

 
In addition, the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept features an Integrated Starter motor and Generator (ISG) which can provide an additional 45hp during acceleration. While many of today's hybrids employ a continuously variable transmission (CVT), Volvo's concept uses a more traditional 8-speed automatic transmission.
 
Volvo says that the vehicle can travel up to 35 miles on battery power alone, and can scoot to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds.
 
"The technology in the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is as ingenious as it is unique," says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation. "You can make really green progress on the road without compromising on any of the luxury car's renowned properties. No other manufacturer has succeeded in delivering fuel economy and electrical range on this level in a capable, spacious performance car with 350 horsepower on tap."

 
The XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept will be officially unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show next week. Unlike its V60 plug-in diesel hybrid sibling, this vehicle actually has a shot at being available for U.S. consumers.

Source: Volvo


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Technology!?
By tanjali on 1/4/2012 4:42:19 PM , Rating: 2
I don’t understand why nobody is making them with all electric motor or motors, with a fuel electric generator that charges battery or even big capacitor, that feeds those electric motors? thus avoiding costly hybrid crossing with combustion engine pushing wheels and making them much cheaper and more efficient that way.




RE: Technology!?
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 1/4/2012 5:23:06 PM , Rating: 2
$$$, that's why :)


RE: Technology!?
By hankw on 1/4/2012 6:13:24 PM , Rating: 2
Isn't that the Chevy Volt?


RE: Technology!?
By tanjali on 1/4/12, Rating: 0
RE: Technology!?
By hankw on 1/4/2012 7:40:22 PM , Rating: 2
Not sure how that is relevant. The Volt meets the requirements of your original statement. :)
1. It uses only electric motors to move, the ICE is only used for electricity generation
2. Fuel is only used to power the electric motors with small excess going to the batteries
It's actually not a bad design since it minimize use of fuel.


RE: Technology!?
By tanjali on 1/4/2012 8:12:39 PM , Rating: 2
the gas engine contributes propulsion power via the planetary gear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80E1fOp95rA&feature...


RE: Technology!?
By Jedi2155 on 1/4/2012 9:52:23 PM , Rating: 2
The gas engine contributes to propulsion power ONLY when the battery is "DEPLETED." From 0-40 miles, it NEVER turns on the gas engine. After 40 EV miles, the gas engine ONLY CONNECTS at high speeds AND high accelerations. This is to reduce the RPM of the electric motors to provide greater efficiency.

This vehicle and the Prius Plug-In can do so technically at any driving distance, which means you can burn gas even when you didn't want to.


RE: Technology!?
By tanjali on 1/5/2012 8:48:38 AM , Rating: 1
Well its still made to help propulsion so its much heavier and more maintenance and use more fuel for that "just in case" situation. Why not place more powerful electric motors and not wait for battery to get depleted? if you know what I mean.


RE: Technology!?
By tanjali on 1/4/2012 8:19:16 PM , Rating: 2
the gas engine contributes propulsion power via the planetary gear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80E1fOp95rA&feature... that gas engine is less efficient than fuel power electric generator http://powerequipment.honda.ca/generators/inverter...


RE: Technology!?
By Spuke on 1/4/2012 11:30:42 PM , Rating: 2
Did you seriously post a link to a portable 4 stroke generator and say that was more efficient than the Volt's engine? Post a link to the test that compared the efficiency of the two engines with the results. Thanks.


RE: Technology!?
By Spuke on 1/4/2012 11:33:11 PM , Rating: 2
And BTW, that's NOT an electric generator. It's a four stroke ENGINE powering an inverter.


RE: Technology!?
By tanjali on 1/5/2012 8:57:46 AM , Rating: 2
Are you serious comparing fuel efficiency in engine having to do mechanical power output and the other one just producing electricity? The first one is heavier more expensive and using more fuel.
And that is electric generator working an hour spending 0.97 liters of fuel or you have some better example of an electric generator.


RE: Technology!?
By BZDTemp on 1/5/2012 6:15:55 AM , Rating: 1
That would be the Fisker Karma. It's not cheap as such but when compared to similar traditional cars it's not expensive either.

Eventually that solution will be cheaper due to fewer mechanical parts ie. gearbox, differential(s), clutch but for now it is new tech where as the old tech is so mass produced it's still cheaper when it comes to price.


RE: Technology!?
By btc909 on 1/6/2012 1:54:09 AM , Rating: 2
Shut the hell up. Somebody send the black helicopters to tanjali house. I've been saying the same thing for years. AFS Trinity Power modified a 2007 Saturn Vue Hybrid Greenline that did the very same thing using ultracapaciators but this setup can also use the gas engine for power. Batteries lifespan lasts much longer if you have a constant even draw. With a dual ultracapaciator setup one charged ultracapaciator can be used as a draw for motion, the other is being charged by the fuel based generator. You can get fantastic efficiency out of a small diesel motor if it's running at a constant RPM.


How much?
By curelom on 1/4/2012 3:56:52 PM , Rating: 2
One thing that is almost always left out in these articles is how much dough? This car is interesting, but only depending on the price point.




RE: How much?
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 1/4/2012 4:06:45 PM , Rating: 2
It's still a concept, no pricing yet.


RE: How much?
By Breathless on 1/4/2012 4:29:20 PM , Rating: 2
they need to conceptualize a different back side. I hate the rear ends on all these hybrid / electric cars


RE: How much?
By Spuke on 1/4/2012 11:31:23 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
they need to conceptualize a different back side. I hate the rear ends on all these hybrid / electric cars
The regular XC60 looks the same.


RE: How much?
By Nanobaud on 1/4/2012 4:35:35 PM , Rating: 2
Well, in US at least a conventional XC60 is positioned several $K higher than a feature-matched Highlander, and I don't see any reason to think the Volvo would have less of 'hybrid premium' than the Toyota. So optimistically high 40s plus whatever mandatory trim level is required.

nBd


RE: How much?
By Shig on 1/5/2012 6:53:45 PM , Rating: 2
High 40's to mid 50's is my guess.


Concept
By texbrazos on 1/6/2012 1:02:42 PM , Rating: 2
I am sick and tired of all the BS concept vehicles that they never make. Dangling this tech in front of us for years. It is like smoke and mirrors.

Here is a guy who did it all himself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=369h-SEBXd8

Guys like this need to run these companies.




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