Volvo unveils groundbreaking V60 diesel plug-in hybrid

The PHEV, which will be launched in 2012, is the result of close co-operation between Volvo Cars and Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall.

Volvo says that the car is the perfect choice for the buyer who wants a carbon dioxide-lean vehicle packaged in a genuine sports wagon.

The front wheels are driven by a five-cylinder 2.4-litre turbo diesel, which produces 215 horsepower and maximum torque of 440 Nm. The rear axle is driven by an electric motor producing 70 horsepower, which receives its power from a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The car features a six-speed automatic transmission.

Three driving modes

The driver chooses the preferred driving mode via three buttons on the instrument panel: Pure, Hybrid and Power.

In Pure the car runs only on its electric motor. If the battery has been recharged using electricity from a renewable source supplied by Vettenfall, the driving range is up to 32 miles with zero emissions of carbon dioxide.

Hybrid is the default mode whenever the car is started. The diesel engine and electric motor interact to provide the optimal balance between driving pleasure and low environmental impact. Emissions of CO2 are 49 g/km (EU Combined), corresponding to diesel fuel consumption of 150 mpg. The car's total range is up to 746 miles.

In Power mode the technology is optimised to provide maximum performance. The diesel engine and electric motor have a combined power output of 215 + 70 horsepower and maximum torque of 440 + 200 Nm. The electric motor's lightning-quick torque delivery contributes to the car's 0 to 62 mph acceleration time of 6.9 seconds.

Volvo says that the cost of the battery pack means the PHEV will be more expensive to buy than a V60 with a conventional combustion engine. Fuel costs, however, are expected to be one-third of a conventional V60.

Pushing the AWD button in the centre stack activates electric four-wheel drive. Instead of the mechanical power transmission of the conventional AWD system, the central control unit manages torque distribution to the diesel-driven front wheels and the electrically powered rear axle.

Using the car setup menu, the driver can key in the planned route's distance (short, medium or long). The control system calculates the balance between diesel and electric power to obtain the lowest possible CO2 emissions for the given distance.

Smart features

The driver has the possibility to preheat or cool the cabin during the recharging process so that more battery capacity can be used for powering the car. This pre-conditioning is programmed via a timer in the car's setup menu or remotely via a mobile phone.

Via the mobile app, it also gives the owner access to a number of smart features, such as a reminder to plug in the charging cable if this hasn't been done at a certain pre-set time.

Work is still progressing on the V60 PHEV - in parallel with development of the pure electric Volvo C30 Electric.