Volvo ReCharge Concept

Volvo ReCharge Concept - Plug-in hybrid with battery-only range of over 60 miles. 66 per cent lower CO2 emissions than best hybrids available today

The Volvo ReCharge Concept on display at the Paris Motor Show is a groundbreaking plug-in hybrid.

The specially designed Volvo C30 features individual electric wheel motors and batteries that can be charged via a regular electrical outlet. When fully charged the Volvo ReCharge Concept can be driven approximately 62 miles on battery power alone before the car's four-cylinder combustion engine is needed to power the car and recharge the battery. The concept car also retains the Volvo C30's lively and sporty drive thanks to an acceleration figure of 0-62mph in 9 seconds and a top speed of 100mph.

Operating costs are estimated to be about 80 percent lower compared to a similar petrol-powered car. The Volvo ReCharge Concept is best suited for car drivers who cover short distances every day. For example, a car owner with less than 62 miles to drive between home and work can cover the entire distance on electric power alone. Even someone who covers longer distances than the range afforded by the batteries can count on significant environmental benefits. A trip of 93 miles that starts with a fully charged battery should use less than 2.8 litres of fuel.

The only extra cost will be the electricity used during charging. The Volvo ReCharge Concept can be charged at any regular electric plug socket at convenient locations such as at home or work and a full recharge will take three hours. However, even a quick one hour charge provides enough power to cover just over 30 miles.

During a journey the combustion engine starts up automatically when 70 percent of the battery power has been used up. However, the driver also has the option of controlling the four-cylinder combustion engine manually via a button in the control panel. This allows the driver to start the engine earlier in order to maximise battery charge, for instance when out on a motorway in order to save battery capacity for driving through the next town.

There is no mechanical power transmission from the combustion engine to the wheels. The Volvo ReCharge Concept is what is known as a series hybrid featuring a number of interacting technologies:

- The battery pack installed under the luggage compartment's floor consists of lithium-ion-polymer batteries. They are designed for a lifetime longer than that of the car itself.
- Four electric motors, one at each wheel, provide individual four-wheel drive.
- A four-cylinder combustion engine drives the advanced generator that provides power for the wheel motors when the battery requires a recharge. Possible engine alternatives are for instance a four-cylinder 1.6-litre diesel or a four-cylinder Flexifuel engine.

The Volvo ReCharge Concept is a battery electric car with an efficient generator, an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), that steps in when battery charge becomes insufficient for adequate driving performance. The APU is designed to distribute electrical power to the individual motors at each wheel. Since the combustion engine only powers the APU, it can operate in an optimal fashion, both for regulated emissions and CO2. The APU is powerful enough to supply an entire house with electricity. For example it could, in principle, with minor modifications, give the car owner an electricity generator right at his front door in the event of a power failure.