An electric Volvo? Why not?
The gist is that any respectable automobile maker has a pitch or two about working on an electric vehicle, EV in the research and development labs. Few actually have something to show for and when one, such as Volvo talks about plug-in hybrid, PHEV plans, it is worth considering.
Volvo Gets The Electric? Though we always have to be careful about hyped news, especially from a company on the border of collapse, Volvo says it will be ready to sell its PHEV by 2012. It has also selected its lithium-ion battery systems that is designed and produced by Ener1, Inc.. In fact, it will provide power for its plug-in diesel-electric hybrid (PHEV) V70 demonstration platform, via GreenCarCongress.
Technically Speaking. What is so interesting about Volvo’s PHEV? For one thing it will be a diesel hybrid, which should make it even more thrifty and it will use a parallel drivetrain. It will be able to run 31 miles on electricity alone before the diesel engine kicks in. It will not be a series hybrid design, opting for a less costly parallel system where the front-wheels will be driven by the diesel engine. The rear-wheel will have an electric motor, powered by an 11.3 kWh Li-ion battery pack. It should recharge in about five hours and be 32A fast charge capable.
This is particularly interesting from Volvo at this crucial stage of its business state. Not only it by passes the mild hybrid design by going directly to a more sophisticated one without developing a full blown more complex series drivetrain. It makes sense, since it will save on the over all design. With news of the company working with Ener1, it makes the possibility ever so closer.
[...] 123 Systems And Volvo. If the Volvo PHEV will use Ener1 for its battery pack and drivetrain, its buses and trucks will use Magna Steyr division that is [...]
Pingback by Electricnick, The EV Revolution » Brick by brick cometh the electric car — July 15, 2009 @ 11:33 am
Great post. I am just starting my blog as well. Do you find it hard to have something to say, because I don’t feel like natural writer and it seems to come natural for you.
Electricnick answers: Hi Terry, the main idea behind a blog is to educate and raise questions. When you see, or hear about something happening ask yourself questions about it means and its implications. Then you can write something that people wil want to read… hopefully
In the meantime, there are plenty of blogs you can read and hook up with associations.
Comment by Terry Smith — August 8, 2009 @ 11:19 pm