Volvo C30 Plug-In
Jun 3rd, 2008 by gmoran
Going Green, Volvo style. Jacob Gordon of Treehugger.com presents a great review of the Volvo C30 Recharge concept car. Plug-in hybrids have a small gas engine that serves as a backup generator or power assist. The Chevy Volt is one such car. However, Volvo placed electric motors in each wheel rather than from a central motor and drive shaft. The backup flex-fuel engine works to charge the battery, not to drive the wheels. Eliminating the transmission requires less battery and also allows each wheel’s independent motor to run at a higher efficiency. The electric motors become generators when turned in reverse and slow the C30 without disc brakes. “With wheel motors, close to 100 percent of the energy from slowing the ReCharge is returned to the battery.” Nine seconds is what it will take to hit 60 mph. Obviously, emissions reduction is huge. Volvo is using lithium-polymer batteries. They are lighter than lithium-ion and more crashworthy. Okay, the big question is … how long will they run and will they be powerful enough for the American family.