The V60 Plug-in Hybrid is three cars in one

MANILA, Philippines - How about integrating the very best properties from three different car types into one, single attractive sports wagon? By simply pressing a button you can choose which car you want to drive: An electric car with a range of up to 50 kilometers. A high-efficiency hybrid with carbon dioxide emissions averaging just 49g/km; A muscular fun-to-drive car with a combined output of 215+70 horsepower; A car with 440+200 Nm of torque and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h of just 6.9 seconds.

Volvo presents the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid. Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid will reach the showrooms 2012.

“The second-generation hybrid is the perfect choice for the uncompromising buyer who wants a superbly carbon dioxide-lean car packed with driving pleasure,” says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Cars.

The front wheels of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid will be driven by a five-cylinder 2.4-liter five-cylinder turbodiesel, which produces 215 horsepower and maximum torque of 440Nm. The car features a six-speed automatic transmission.

The rear axle is powered by an electric motor producing 70 horsepower. The electric motor receives its power from a 12kWh lithium-ion battery pack, located under the load floor. The sophisticated and exceptionally compact battery pack consists of 10 modules with 20 cells in each module. It has an integrated computer that monitors and compares the temperature and charge level in each of the 200 cells. The battery pack also has an integrated water-cooling system, which is connected to the car’s climate control unit.

Three driving modes - three cars in one

The driver chooses the preferred driving mode via three buttons on the instrument panel: Pure, Hybrid or Power. The interaction between diesel and electric power is handled via a control system.

“In order to get true car enthusiasts to think green, you have to offer them the opportunity to drive with low carbon dioxide emissions without taking away the adrenaline rush that promotes genuine driving pleasure. The V60 Plug-in Hybrid has all the traditional properties of a genuine sportswagon. What we’ve done is to spice it up with spearhead technology that allows the driver to choose: zero emissions, high-efficiency hybrid or full-on performance. Just select the mode that suits best,” says Stefan Jacoby.

The different temperaments

The Pure, Hybrid and Power driving modes give the V60 Plug-in Hybrid three different temperaments:

In Pure the car runs only on its electric motor as much as possible. If the battery has been recharged using electricity from a renewable source, the driving range is up to 50km with zero emissions of carbon dioxide. Battery range varies with terrain, climate and driving style.

Hybrid is the default mode whenever the car is started. The diesel engine and electric motor interact to provide the optimal balance between driving pleasure and low environmental impact. Emissions of CO₂ (NEDC, Combined driving cycle for certification) are 49g/km, corresponding to diesel fuel consumption of 1.9L/100 km. The car’s total range is up to 1,200km. The driver has the possibility to key in the planned route’s distance (short, medium or long) in the car setup menu, The control system calculates the balance between diesel and electric power to obtain the lowest possible CO₂ emissions for the given distance.

In Power the technology is optimized to give the car the best possible performance. The diesel engine and electric motor have a combined power output 215+70 horsepower and maximum torque of 440+200Nm. The electric motor’s lightning-quick torque delivery contributes to the car’s 0 to 100km/h acceleration time of 6.9 seconds.

The majority of all European car drivers cover less than 50km a day, for instance, to and from work. On longer trips, the diesel engine gives the car the same range as a conventional hybrid.

Recharging at home

The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is recharged via a regular power socket (230V/6A, 10A or 16A) at home or in a parking lot. The charging time depends on the level of the current. A full 10A charge takes 4.5 hours. The time is shortened to 3.5 hours with 16A, while a charge in a 6A socket takes 7.5 hours.

To get a comfortable start of the journey, the car driver has the possibility to preheat or cool the passenger compartment during the recharging process. This also means that more battery capacity can be used for powering the car.

The pre-conditioning also includes the possibility to cool the batteries. The battery pack has an ideal working temperature of 20-30°C. This means that the pre-cooling is highly important for maximizing the charging capacity and thereby the driving range on each charge. The timing is programmed via the car’s setup menu or remotely via a smart phone application.

The V60 Plug-in Hybrid has two heating possibilities. When running on electricity a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) air heater is used. The car also has a Fuel Operated Diesel heater.