VOLVO Cars has announced what it says is the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid powered car—its V60 Plug-in Hybrid. Set to hit showrooms in 2012, the new V60 sports wagon model can be used as an electric car that has a range of up to 50 kilometers, a hybrid car with average carbon emissions of only 49g/km, or a “muscular” car that has of 215 horsepower and 70 horsepower, and 440 Newton-meters and 200 Newton-meters of torque from its two power plants, according to the carmaker.
Volvo explained the front wheels of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid will be driven by a 2.4-liter, five-cylinder turbo-charged diesel engine that’s bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission. The car’s rear axle will be powered by an electric motor that receives its charge from a 12kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The compact battery pack consists of 10 modules with 20 cells in each module, and also has an integrated water-cooling system, which is connected to the car’s climate control unit.
The car can be operated in three driving modes—Pure, Hybrid or Power—with the interaction between diesel and electric power handled seamlessly, Volvo said.
In Pure mode the car runs only on its electric motor, with range varying depending on terrain, climate and driving style. Hybrid is the default mode whenever the car is started, with the diesel engine and electric motor interacting for low emissions and fuel consumption that allows for a range of up to 1,200 kilometers. In Power the diesel engine and electric motor combine to launch the car from rest to 100kph in 6.9 seconds, according to Volvo.
The carmaker noted that the V60 Plug-in Hybrid is also equipped with an electronic all-wheel drive system that has a central control unit that manages torque distribution to the diesel-driven front wheels and the electrically powered rear axle. The electronic all-wheel drive-train is designed for better traction when starting and driving over snow or mud. FAST TIMES
