Report: Volvo expected to announce expansion of C30 electric test program

Sometime before week's end, Volvo is expected to announce that, in addition to the previously scheduled 250-vehicle test program of its C30 DRIVe Electric that will take place in Sweden and Belgium starting in mid-2011, the automaker intends to build "at least" 1,000 more units to partake in expanded trials in the U.S., Europe and China. Green Car Advisor spoke with Lennert Stegland, president of Volvo's special cars unit, who confirmed that an announcement is imminent.

Stegland also revealed that Volvo is "iffy" regarding whether or not the battery-powered C30 will interest buyers here in the States, but suggested that "if the U.S. test results are good" and enthusiasm for the electric hatch intensifies, then a U.S. version is, ahem, a definite possibility. Of course, Paul Gustavsson, the architect behind Volvo's electrification strategy, previously told us that the C30 electric will be headed to the U.S. at some point, but details on this electric hatch seem to change all the time. The C30 DRIVe Electric will be on display at the LA Auto Show, which opens to the press tomorrow and the general public on Friday.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]