Japanese car maker Toyota has initiated the move on producing a plug-in hybrid with its Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid and now Swedish car maker Volvo follows suit. What Volvo has in store is its Volvo ReCharge PHEV Concept vehicle. This is based on its Volvo C30 and it is a plug-in hybrid car that brings together a flexible-fuel 1.6-liter engine and it is linked to an auxiliary power unit or APU. This APU is the one that powers the in-wheel motors.
Swedish car maker Volvo informs that when its plug-in hybrid concept vehicle is fully charged, it can run for over 60 miles. Its charging time takes approximately 3 hours on a standard power outlet. Also, regenerative braking while driving can also help in charging the battery pack. The battery pack that Volvo installed in its ReCharge PHEV Concept is a lithium-polymer battery that’s made and designed to last longer than the operating life of the car.
One good thing about the Volvo ReCharge is that drivers can opt to just make use of the back-up combustion engine to save on the car’s battery charge. Also, when the battery charge becomes insufficient for driving, the APU steps up to distribute power to the in-wheel motors when it detects the battery’s insufficiency of charge. The combustion engine also only fuels the APU, thus, it can operate in the best possible operation, both for the regulated emissions and CO2, according to a press release from Volvo.
Volvo elaborates more the specs and how its Volvo ReCharge PHEV Concept works more in its press release:
An electric motor at each wheel
The Volvo ReCharge Concept combines a number of the latest technological innovations into a so-called "series hybrid" where there is no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels.
The battery pack of the PHEV Concept of Volvo makes use of the lithium-polymer battery technology. The ReCharge model also has four electric motors that are located in each of its wheels for independent traction power. Aside from the battery, there is a 4-cylinder 1.6-liter Flexifuel engine. This was equipped in the model for use when the battery has been depleted as this propels an advanced generator which will then power the wheel motors.
"There is a considerable difference between the Volvo plug-in hybrid and today's hybrids. Today's hybrids use the battery only for short periods to assist the combustion engine. Volvo's solution is designed for most people to run on electric power all the time, while providing the extra security that comes with having a combustion engine as a secondary source of electrical power," says Ichiro Sugioka, project manager for the Volvo ReCharge Concept.
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