Volvo to introduce plug-in diesel hybrid in 2012
Volvo V70 plug-in hybrid demonstrator - Click above for high-res image gallery
Several months ago, Volvo revealed a demonstration prototype of a plug-in hybrid car based on the current V70 wagon. Today, the Swedish brand announced that it would start building a production car with a plug-in hybrid diesel powertrain in 2012. At this point, there is no indication about which body style or model would form the basis of the PHEV, although the next-generation V70 would seem to be a suitable candidate.
The V70 demonstrator uses a through-the-road hybrid configuration where the internal combustion engine drives the front wheels and an electric motor drives the rear axle. Volvo plans to follow a similar pattern for the production car since the cost of developing and building such a system is lower – for instance, there is no need for a fancy power split transmission. It also provides the capability for on-demand all-wheel drive when road conditions are poor. Volvo is projecting that the production PHEV will manage carbon emissions of less than 50 g/km along with an electric driving range of about 30 miles per charge. Hit the jump to read the press release.
[Source: Volvo]
PRESS RELEASE
Volvo Car Corporation to put plug-in hybrids on the market in 2012
Volvo is introducing a series-produced plug-in hybrid as early as 2012. Pure electric power from the battery will cover the daily transport needs of 75 percent of European drivers. For longer distances, an efficient diesel hybrid engine automatically takes over. The combined range is about 1200 kilometres. Carbon dioxide emissions will average out at 49 grams per kilometre, with fuel consumption of 1.9 litres per 100 km.
Volvo is convinced that in the future, customers will continue to want safe, comfortable cars with good driving properties and generous load-carrying ability. Irrespective of whether they are powered by electricity or other fuels.
Plug-in hybrids are an attractive car type offering the user the best from both electric power and conventional drivelines: extremely low fuel consumption and CO2 levels, combined with a long range and high performance.
"The new Volvo plug-in will be a truly enjoyable car to drive, featuring Volvo's high safety and comfort standards. At the same time, CO2 levels and fuel consumption will be as low as half that available on the market today." says Stephen Odell, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.
Volvo plug-in hybrid advantages:
* Fuel consumption, running costs and CO2 emissions are very low
* The car is a "normal" Volvo, with all its customary good properties
* It is conveniently recharged at home via a regular wall socket
* It is an enjoyable car to drive, offering high performance
Electric power with CO2 levels close to zero
Electricity is highly suited as a car fuel. The electric motor has a high efficiency rating and consumes about one-fifth as much energy as a corresponding engine running on fossil fuel. Volvo's plug-in hybrid cars will be propelled by a robust electric motor that receives its power from a lithium-ion battery. What is more, additional electricity is generated every time the car brakes.
The battery is conveniently recharged at home via a regular wall socket. Electricity as a fuel is far cheaper than petrol or diesel, which results in low operating costs. The battery will take about five hours to recharge.
The range will be about 1200 kilometres, just like in a conventional diesel car. It will be able to be driven up to 50 kilometres on pure electric power and when running on the battery, emissions from the exhaust pipe will be non-existent. If the battery is recharged using electricity from renewable sources, the net emission of CO2 will be close to zero, even in a lifecycle perspective. Volvo's dealers will offer customers who buy a plug-in hybrid a special contract for the supply of renewable energy. This agreement has been created in cooperation with the company's partner, Swedish electricity supplier Vattenfall.
Efficient diesel engines as a complement
As a complement to the electric motor, one of Volvo's fuel-efficient diesel engines will also be fitted under the bonnet. It will be optimised to run on renewable synthetic diesel and will meet the tough forthcoming exhaust emission requirements.
The diesel engine can be run separately or in combination with the electric motor for optimal power and energy utilisation. For example, the diesel engine can support or replace electric power at high speeds or when the battery charge drops, while the electric motor can offer additional torque at low engine revs. Being able to combine these two power sources makes it possible to offer high performance and trouble-free use by the owner.
Most car trips cover short distances, to and from work. This means that the forthcoming Volvo plug-in hybrid will cover the transport requirements of most people. For longer distances, the diesel engine starts up automatically, giving the car the same properties and range as a conventional diesel car.
According to the standardised NEDC certification driving cycle, CO2 emissions from Volvo's plug-in hybrid will be lower than 50 grams/kilometre. Cars with emissions below 50 grams of CO2/kilometre will probably have the most favourable incentives in many European countries. In addition to tax relief, these countries will offer a discount of about 5000 euros on the purchase price, a move that is expected to set the standard for the rest of Europe too.
"We are focusing strongly on plug-in hybrids in order to meet the demands for low CO2 emissions and to provide sustainable road transportation. We naturally expect that the relevant authorities will offer subsidies to boost developments, speeding up the creation of a market for this type of car," says Stephen Odell.
Today's electricity capacity covers requirements
Plug-in hybrids consume less electricity than most people believe. The fact is that a single medium-sized wind-power station can produce renewable electricity to cover the annual consumption of 1000-2000 plug-in hybrids in normal use. Even a large number of plug-in hybrids on the roads would be able to be supplied within the framework of the electric grid's existing capacity. If 15 percent of Europe's cars consisted of plug-in hybrids, this would mean that total electricity requirements would only increase by between 1 and 3 percent.
Through simple household energy savings, for instance by switching off the PC and TV overnight and using low-energy bulbs, the total energy requirement would probably be able to be kept at current levels. To put this into perspective, the energy-efficiency improvements that Volvo Cars has implemented in its factories in Ghent and Göteborg over the past four years correspond to the annual electricity consumption of 15,000 plug-in hybrid cars.
Plug-in hybrids - market potential
The purchase price of a plug-in hybrid is expected to be considerably higher than for a conventional diesel car since the batteries are still expensive. Fuel costs on electric power will be about one-third compared with driving on diesel, and this partially compensates for the higher purchase price, although not fully.
Volvo Cars assesses that plug-in hybrids will be commercially viable for certain customer categories in 2012, gradually widening in appeal as battery price and performance continuously improve.
Skipping stages in technological development
For the time being, Volvo Cars is postponing its plans to produce what is known as a full-hybrid based on a diesel engine.
The strategy that Volvo is adopting to start series-producing plug-in cars as early as 2012 is to exploit already existing, tried and tested platform architecture for major components such as the body and engine. Instead of waiting for an entirely new generation of car models, the company is saving time by using innovative solutions to install the battery and electric motor beside a conventional driveline. In this way, the new technology will get out to car buyers that much sooner.
Plug-in hybrids the result of industrial cooperation
In January 2007, Volvo Cars and energy supplier Vattenfall launched a joint project with the aim of testing and developing plug-in technology. A new company was founded, V2 Plug-in-Hybrid Vehicle Partnership, as a result of this cross-border initiative.
The formation of the joint company with Vattenfall creates entirely new preconditions for developing next-generation green technology in a highly efficient way. Working in partnership is something that the company regards as an absolute necessity in the drive towards a sustainable future.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mark Kiernan 4:28PM (9/25/2009)
30 miles isn't great but it isn't bad either considering it is the V70. It is great though that companies like Volvo are building EVs.
Reply
Boyprodigy1 1:44PM (9/27/2009)
I wonder when Aston Martin is gonna realize their failure... Literally everyone else who is serious about selling cars is engineering electric drive trains.
Kumar 5:28PM (9/25/2009)
I still think the VW twin drive model works better for most US drivers. 30-40 miles on battery alone would work for many commutes. Lugging around a diesel engine to power you on any distance after that and keeping that dream alive that you can road trip at any time will be the main selling point.
Reply
Thunderbuck 6:49PM (9/25/2009)
Diesel hybrid? NOW you're talkin! Where do I sign up?
Reply
Matt234 10:10PM (9/25/2009)
If they can get this on the market in 2012, Volvo will be in good shape. Unless the price is something completely unreasonable, this could be a perfect replacement for my family. Please bring this car to the US!
It's smart to build a car with range extender, and even smarter to make that a diesel. Range anxiety is real, and it is justified. A small diesel would solve that problem gracefully. Hopefully there will be algae diesel available within the lifespan of a 2012 model.
I own two Volvos today and would easily buy this to replace the wagon I have. Just thinking of the driving my family does, this car would run on electric power about 90% of the time. It would essentially be an electric car designed and tested by Volvo, and Volvo safe. And it's a wagon. How sweet is that?
Reply
Dave 3:46PM (9/26/2009)
"Just thinking of the driving my family does, this car would run on electric power about 90% of the time."
Then a diesel is silly.
If you drive 15,000 miles per year and only 10% of it is gas/diesel powered:
At 30 mpg, you use 50 gallons of gasoline.
At 45 mpg, you use 33 gallons of diesel.
So, you save ~17 gallons per year, but you've paid ~$5,000 more for the diesel powertrain.
Matt234 3:53PM (9/26/2009)
@Dave: You can't calculate this stuff in dollars. It's not that simple. You have to factor in what people will feel and think. Range anxiety might be silly, but that does not mean it does not exist.
I would simply not buy a car with a 30 mile range. Won't do it. Having a range longer than that (on battery) would cost a lot more than dropping a diesel in the car. So the $5000 or whatever the diesel costs is actually a pretty cheap way of solving a real problem.
downtoearth 11:54AM (9/27/2009)
Matt234:
> @Dave: You can't calculate this stuff in dollars. It's not that simple.
> You have to factor in what people will feel and think.
Is this a merit? Based on feeling, emotions, something unmeasurable? Don't be ridiculous.
Hybrids and plug-ins don't use ordinary gasoline engines, but Atkinson cycle ones. Nearly as efficient as diesels and way, way cheaper to build and maintain.
Atkinson cycle gasoline engine has peak efficiency of 215 grams of fuel per kWh [1]. A plug in hybrid setup allows it to work in this peak point for most of the time. 215 g/kWh is what Prius III gets.
Automotive diesels get about 200g/kWh [2] and this is for engines without particulate filters and NOx reduction catalysts. All of these lower the efficiency (by increasing back pressure and require afterburning). Then is the higher mass of the engine itself. Add this together and you'll get some 1-5% advantage over simple Atkinson engine.
BUT...you have to build and install a diesel, which is much more expensive then rudimentary simple and underloaded Atkinson engine. You have to add turbos, more tight and expensive engine block, much more expensive fuel pump and injection, two more exhaust treatment devices.
Makes no sense for 1-5% gain. Or even less, because industry runs diesel. If private transportation goes diesel (like in Europe), prices go higher and additional refinery conversions are needed. This would wipe diesel over Atkinson 1-5% advantage entirely.
That's why Toyota have built the Prius as a gasoline car and NO ONE YET has built a
mainstream diesel hybrid. Why do you think Chevy Volt has a gasoline engine?
Fits pretty well my explanation, based on engineering merits, doesn't it?
So if diesels make no sense in hybrids, they make dramatically less sense in plug-in hybrids, where 80% of total mileage will be electric and for the rest 20% you need an efficient and cheap propulsion.
Volvo promotes the diesel-plug-in-hybrid because it looks good in marketing terms (a lot of naive individuals consider diesels environmentally friendly). They will never build it because they would price themselves out of the market. The end.
[1] http://www.osti.gov/bridge/purl.cover.jsp;jsessionid=502BB6DDB8F02E762C2A60A0D475EB1E?purl=/11903-1NPjBp/webviewable/
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_specific_fuel_consumption
Matt234 1:35PM (9/27/2009)
@downtoearth:
> They will never build it because they would price themselves out of the market. The end.
Maybe all you say is true. But... Volvo apparently didn't get your memo. They are building it. Are they bringing it to the US? That's the question.
wxman 8:02AM (9/28/2009)
downtoearth...
>...(a lot of naive individuals consider diesels environmentally friendly)...<
Wow downtoearth! Naive? Count me in as one of the “naive” individuals who consider diesels just as “environmentally friendly” as gasoline vehicles, at least the ones currently offered in the U.S. Problem is, I’m an atmospheric scientist and have worked in the air quality field for 25 years, including the last 6 years as a certified air quality forecaster, so "naive" doesn't really fit.
At least come up with something legitimate in your zeal to bash diesels.
Kyle 10:18PM (9/25/2009)
Its about fucking time
Reply
monica 10:38PM (9/25/2009)
we're almost there . . .
Reply
DasBoese 1:33AM (9/26/2009)
Ha. That's going to be a tough one for all the "Diesels are better than hybrids!" people.
They should make it Biodiesel compatible though. Aside from the ability to use the pure stuff, it's pretty certain that the biodiesel content in normal diesel will increase over the next decade.
Reply
FitFan 11:56AM (9/26/2009)
This is exciting news! I hope they offer this drivetrain in the C30. I prefer small cars.
Reply
VW JUNKY 9:58AM (9/29/2009)
That is about the time I will need a car to replace my 01 jetta tdi. Bigger car for thee kids would really help. I do lots of short trips durnig the week and long trips on the weekends. Sounds like a great car. Love diesel!
Reply