Volvo C30 BEV prototype – Click above for high-res image gallery
We haven't touched on the battery-powered Volvo C30 in quite some time now, but in no way does that indicate that plans aren't moving along. In fact, Volvo expects to have the first ten C30 BEVs on the road this fall. Dibbs on the first batch of C30s has been called out by Goteborg Energi of Sweden. The energy company will put the the C30s through the rigors of daily fleet use and Volvo will collect data via instruments added to the cars.
The measurements taken from the test fleet should help Volvo fine tune the prototype vehicles and ready it for a production debut in 2013. In its current form, the C30 boasts a range of 90 miles, a top speed of 81 miles per hour, and the ability to dash to 60 mph in less than 11 seconds while packing a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Parts of the vehicle's powertrain were designed and developed by EnerDel, Inc. Hopefully, the electric-version will retain the attributes that make the gasoline-powered C30 such a joy to drive.
[Source: Volvo]
PRESS RELEASE
Volvo C30 Electric ready for delivery
Volvo Cars and energy company Göteborg Energi yesterday signed a letter of intent regarding cooperation in the area of electrical vehicles and recharge infrastructure. Within the terms of the agreement Volvo provides ten Volvo C30 Electric cars with delivery start during the autumn.
"This is a landmark first step," says Lennart Stegland, director of the Volvo Car Corporation's Special Vehicles division.
The Volvo C30 Electric project has attracted immense international attention. Volvo Cars has received visits from many potential overseas customers, but the first confirmed user is Swedish.
"Ten cars will be delivered starting this autumn. The Volvo C30 Electric is a natural part of our focus on DRIVe products, with the aim of promoting a sustainable society. We are happy with the cooperation with Göteborg Energi. What is more, it's happening in Volvo's home town of Göteborg," says Lennart Stegland.
The cars in the demo fleet are equipped with advanced measuring instruments. It is important for Volvo Cars to build up additional know-how about how parameters such as driving habits and charging patterns affect the battery and its lifetime in the electric car.
The Volvo C30 Electric has the same safety, comfort and interior space as the standard Volvo C30. The difference is that the C30 Electric is powered solely by electricity - so it has absolutely no exhaust emissions on the road.
150 km on one charge
If the car is recharged using electricity from renewable sources, travel is virtually free from carbon dioxide emissions. The range is up to 150 km on a single battery charge.
"That's way further than 90 percent of commuters in Europe cover on a daily basis. The car could be used for the average family's everyday commuting needs," says Lennart Stegland.
The Volvo C30 Electric is powered by a lithium-ion battery that is charged from a regular mains power socket. A completely depleted battery takes about eight hours to recharge.
The car has a top speed of about 130 kilometres per hour and accelerates from zero to one hundred in 10.5 seconds. Volvo Cars' electric car project currently encompasses about 250 vehicles.
"However, with more customers we would of course be able to expand our production series," says Lennart Stegland.
Electric cars are the future
He is convinced that electric cars will gain a major foothold in the market.
"By 2020 about 5-10 percent of cars in Sweden are expected to be electric. By 2020-2025 we believe that electric cars will account for 3-10 percent of the market share in the EU countries. Different markets have different preconditions," adds Lennart Stegland.
Göteborg Energi comments the letter of intent signing and the cooperation with Volvo Cars to build its first ten electric cars as follows:
"We believe in the future of the electric car and are extremely proud that we will be the first recipients of electric vehicles from Volvo Cars. We work to promote a sustainable society in Göteborg so to participate in the development of new infrastructure for safe electric cars and cooperate with Volvo Cars at such an early stage feels absolutely right," explains Anders Hedenstedt, President of Göteborg Energi.
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