Volvo C30 BEV zero emissions plug-in hybrid announced
Following the recent announcement of the 99g/km Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe, and the plans to introduce a plug-in hybrid in 2012, Volvo has announced it is also evaluating the viability of an entirely electric-powered C30 known as BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle).
Unlike some battery-powered cars, the Volvo C30 BEV features the same safety, comfort and space as the standard car, including four seats, in much the same way Ford's Focus BEV (announced yesterday) does.
The difference is that the C30 BEV is powered solely by electricity, emits no carbon dioxide emissions, and has a range of up to 150km/h. It also features a limited top speed of 130km/h and can reach 0-100km/h in less than 11 seconds.
In 2009, a small number of prototype versions of the C30 BEV have been built and tested internally by Volvo. In addition to focusing on performance and safety, much of the emphasis is on integration of the electric propulsion system with the rest of the car.
"The consumer must feel that this type of car is attractive both to drive and own. In order to ensure this, we feel that electric cars will have to be as comfortable and safe and offer similar levels of performance as cars with other power sources," says Paul Gustavsson, Director of Electrification Strategy at Volvo Cars. "The learning from the C30 BEV project will help us to fulfill all these criteria's and showcase Volvo's determination to drive developments in the field of electrification."
The Volvo C30 BEV is powered with a Litium-Ion battery that is charged via a regular domestic power socket. Recharging an entirely depleted battery via the regular household power supply system will take about eight hours.
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