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Back to January 2012 Motorsports News Archive
| 16-01-2012 at 09:00: XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept | |
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“No other manufacturer delivers fuel economy and electrical range on this level in a capable performance car with a total of 350 horsepower (257 kW),” said Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO, Volvo Car Corporation. “The beauty with this plug-in hybrid technology is that you can keep all the power and capacity of your present car, combined with an even better range. “The XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept gives you up to 35 miles all-electric range (56 km according to the U.S certification driving cycle), or you can drive it as a super-efficient hybrid with a fuel economy of over 100 miles per gallon (2.3l/100 km) according to the European driving cycle.” The XC60 includes an electric motor producing 51 kW and combines a 206 kW four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine which gives the car a muscular power plant packing a total of 257 kW. “The XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept features an engine from our all-new, state of the art, four-cylinder engine family. Our new four-cylinder powertrains will get performance on today’s six-cylinder level. At the same time, they will also give consumers better fuel economy than present four-cylinder engines,” finished Jacoby. The XC60 is like having three cars all in one. The driver chooses the driving mode via three buttons on the instrument panel. The buttons give the car three distinct temperaments: Pure, Hybrid or Power. In Pure mode the car is powered solely by its electric motor. The operational range is up to 45 km (European certification driving cycle NEDC) / 56 km (charge depleting range, U.S certification driving cycle) with zero tailpipe emissions in urban traffic.Hybrid mode is the standard setting whenever the car is started. The petrol engine and electric motor cooperate to provide maximum driving pleasure with minimum environmental impact. According to the European certification driving cycle NEDC,the average fuel consumption rate is just 2.3 l/100 km with CO2 emissions just 53g/km. The car has a total operating range of up to 960 km.In Power mode, the technology is optimised to create maximum possible power. The petrol engine with 206 kW and 380 Nm is combined with the electric motor with 51 kW and 200 Nm to deliver a total of 257 kW. The electric motor’s instant torque delivery contributes to the car’s acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds.The front wheels of the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept are powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine from the forthcoming Volvo Environmental Architecture (VEA) engine family. This engine produces 206 kW and maximum torque of 380Nm. Power delivery to the wheels comes via a newly developed eight-speed automatic transmission. “In the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept we demonstrate that our forthcoming four-cylinder engines offer the same high performance as today’s sixes. At the same time, their fuel consumption will be lower than in current four-cylinder engines,” says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research & Development at Volvo Car Corporation. The concept car carries a “T8″ badge in-line with Volvo’s new nomenclature, which emphasises the combined 257 kW of the high-performance four-cylinder engine and the electric motor. This moves the car into territory previously only occupied by eight-cylinder engines. “It’s time to stop counting cylinders,” Peter Mertens says. “Four-cylinder engines are the most effective way to quickly reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption without compromising customer expectations when it comes to driving pleasure and performance.” The engine in the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept has no conventional starter motor or alternator. Instead, there is an Integrated Starter motor and Generator (ISG) connected to the crankshaft, which is located between the engine and the transmission. The ISG is capable of delivering an extra 34 kW during acceleration. It also charges the battery during braking. The rear axle of the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is driven by an electric motor producing 51 kW. It is supplied with power from a 12kWh lithium-ion battery pack installed under the floor of the load compartment. The battery pack is recharged from a regular power outlet, at home or at a parking place. Recharging time varies with the current. If 220V is available a full charge with 12A takes just 3.5 hours. With 110V/12A a full charge takes 7.5 hours. It is also possible while recharging the car to heat or cool the passenger compartment in order to make the start of the journey more comfortable. This also means that more battery power is available to propel the car. The Volvo Sensus infotainment system in the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept keeps the driver constantly updated on everything that makes the journey easier, more efficient and more entertaining. A few examples of available information: Best route to the destination depending on whether the driver prioritises low energy consumption, the fastest route or the shortest distance.Low Emission Zones where sufficient capacity is needed for running on pure electricity.Charging stations with access to renewable electricity.Locations along the route with access to quick-charging facilities.The driver also can connect to the car via a mobile phone application. This offers convenient access to a wide range of data, such as the battery’s charge level, remaining range, and the location and capacity of the nearest recharging station. Via the app, it is possible to verify if the charger cable is hooked up and it is also possible to pre-program the car’s interior climate. The Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is painted in a special white colour and the 21-inch wheels enhance the muscular appearance. The interior features unique detailing and colours, such as dark-blue leather upholstery and inlays of blue-grey wood. The instruments have been tailored to give the driver all the necessary information about petrol and electricity consumption, battery charge level, remaining range and so on. The electric four-wheel drive in the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is activated by pressing the All Wheel Drive (AWD) button. Instead of the mechanical power transfer of conventional four-wheel drive, the central control unit distributes power between the petrol-driven front wheels and the electrically driven rear axle. The electric four-wheel drive system has been designed to provide better traction when starting and when driving on slippery roads, for instance in snow or mud. The driver can choose to save battery power for later in order to drive on pure electricity later in, for example, an urban green zone or in the heart of a city. When ‘Save’ is activated, the generator charges and tops up the battery pack if necessary. The aim is to ensure sufficient battery power for about 20 km of driving on electricity. Of course the cars with electrification technology inside come with Volvo Car Corporation’s uncompromising approach to safety. “We use all our world-class knowledge to ensure that they are as safe as all other Volvos,” Stefan Jacoby said. “Our holistic approach includes every aspect of the day-to-day usage. And these cars go through our stringent test program, ensuring that the battery and high-voltage system are properly protected in collision scenarios that can happen in real-life traffic.” |
Volvo Car Corporation unveiled the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept at the North American International Auto Show, which features a new benchmark in hybrid technology.
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