Volvo ReCharge Concept

Posted on October 2nd, 2008 by Robert Adams | Posted under: Electric cars, Future/Concept, Volvo

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The Volvo ReCharge Concept on display at the Paris Motor Show is a specially designed Volvo C30, that features individual electric wheel motors and batteries that can be charged via a regular electrical outlet.

When fully charged the Volvo ReCharge Concept can be driven approximately 62 miles on battery power alone before the car’s four-cylinder combustion engine is needed to power the car and recharge the battery.

This plug-in hybrid car, when used as intended, should have about 66 percent lower emissions of carbon dioxide compared with the best hybrid cars available on the market today. Emissions may be even lower if most of the electricity comes from CO2-friendly sources such as biogas, hydropower and nuclear power. A person driving less than 60 miles per day will rarely need to visit a filling station. Quick one hour charge provides enough power to cover just over 30 miles.

Operating costs are estimated to be about 80 percent lower compared to a similar petrol-powered car. The Volvo ReCharge Concept is best suited for car drivers who cover short distances every day. For example, a car owner with less than 62 miles to drive between home and work can cover the entire distance on electric power alone. Even someone who covers longer distances than the range afforded by the batteries can count on significant environmental benefits. A trip of 93 miles that starts with a fully charged battery should use less than 2.8 liters of fuel.

During a journey the combustion engine starts up automatically when 70 percent of the battery power has been used up. However, the driver also has the option of controlling the four-cylinder combustion engine manually via a button in the control panel. This allows the driver to start the engine earlier in order to maximise battery charge, for instance when out on a motorway in order to save battery capacity for driving through the next town.