| Ford Motor Company's Volvo Cars division is | | | | with a battery pack made of lithium-polymer |
| poised to introduce a brand new concept model | | | | that features an impressive longevity. Each |
| at the upcoming 2007 International Motor Show | | | | wheel of the C30 ReCharge Concept comes with |
| (Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung, IAA) | | | | electric motors that provide independent |
| in Frankfurt. The Swedish automaker will | | | | traction power to the vehicle. |
| present the ReCharge Concept, a new plug-in | | | | |
| hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). | | | | Finally, C30 ReCharge Concept comes with a |
| | | | 1.6-litre Flexifuel engine with an advanced |
| The Volvo ReCharge Concept will be equipped | | | | generator, called Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) |
| with individual electric wheel motors and | | | | that provides power to the vehicle when the |
| batteries that can be recharged through | | | | battery ran out of energy. In addition, the |
| electrical outlets. The ReCharge Concept will | | | | driver can also choose which power source |
| be installed in a Volvo C30 and will make its | | | | will be used to drive the Volvo C30 ReCharge |
| debut in front of the European crowd at IAA | | | | Concept. The driver can switch between two |
| Frankfurt. | | | | power sources: the battery or the 1.6-litre |
| | | | Flexifuel engine via a button on the |
| "A certain proportion of electrical vehicles | | | | instrument panel. |
| will be necessary to meet the CO2 emission | | | | |
| demands of the future. Since the Volvo | | | | This offers an excellent fuel economy for the |
| ReCharge Concept combines an excellent | | | | customers. When fully charged, the ReCharge |
| battery range with a backup combustion | | | | Concept only consumes about 2.8 litres of |
| engine, it is a very interesting concept." | | | | fuel for 93 miles of driving range. This |
| says Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President | | | | shows an effective fuel economy of 1.9 l |
| Research and Development at Volvo Cars. | | | | 100km or 124 mpg. |
| | | | |
| "This plug-in hybrid car, when used as | | | | Ichiro Sugioka, project manager for the Volvo |
| intended, should have about 66 percent lower | | | | ReCharge Concept concluded: |
| emissions of carbon dioxide compared with the | | | | |
| best hybrid cars available on the market | | | | "There is a considerable difference between |
| today. Emissions may be even lower if most of | | | | our plug-in hybrid and today's hybrids. |
| the electricity in intended markets comes | | | | Today's hybrids use the battery only for |
| from CO2-friendly sources such as biogas, | | | | short periods to assist the combustion |
| hydropower and nuclear power. The only | | | | engine. Our solution is designed for most |
| requirement is that the car owner has access | | | | people to run on electric power all the time, |
| to electrical outlets at convenient places, | | | | while providing the extra security that comes |
| such as at home or at the workplace. A full | | | | with having a combustion engine as a |
| recharge takes 3 hours. However, even a | | | | secondary source of electrical power. What is |
| one-hour quick charge should provide enough | | | | more, our C30 with plug-in hybrid technology |
| charge to drive about 50 kilometres." he | | | | retains its lively and sporty driving |
| added. | | | | properties. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h |
| | | | takes 9 seconds and top speed is 160 km/h." |
| Volvo engineers developed the ReCharge | | | | |
| Concept at the Volvo Monitoring and Concept | | | | Other affiliate automotive companies of Ford |
| Center (VMCC) in Camarillo, California. This | | | | Motor Company like Mazda (maker of quality |
| latest powertrain from the Swedish automaker | | | | models with quality Mazda auto parts) should |
| combines the several technical innovations | | | | also develop alternative powertrain systems |
| found today. The ReCharge Concept is equipped | | | | like this. |