At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Volvo Car Corporation will present a battery-electric Volvo C30 with a range of 150 km. The show car represents the first step toward building a test fleet of at least 50 electric Volvo C30s that will be on the road in 2011.
Volvo Cars first presented a basic, driveable electric car prototype in September, 2009. The C30 to be shown in Detroit takes the company one step further in the development process as this vehicle features a complete interior, full instrumentation and as well as enhanced battery packaging.
"The first prototype helped us identify the main technological challenges, such as battery packaging and safety issues," says Lennart Stegland, Director of Volvo Cars Special Vehicles. "We have addressed these challenges without compromising the C30's cool and fun-to-drive personality. I am very happy with the result. The electric C30 in Detroit is a much more complete product."
The next step in 2010 is a factory-built series of test cars. Selected users will drive the test fleet during a two-year trial period during which time Volvo Cars will collect valuable, real-world technical data as well as feedback on the user's driving behaviours with an electric car.
The Swedish Energy Agency is supporting the project by contributing SEK 150 million towards its funding.
Valuable field data
A pure electric car has different characteristics compared to a car with an internal combustion engine. With the test fleet, Volvo Cars engineers will have the opportunity to study how users handle these differences.
"Our test fleet data will be valuable in Volvo Cars' development of electric cars," says Stegland. "It will also provide crucial input for the infrastructure planners and help define which services are needed to make rechargeable cars the most attractive choice in the future."
New instruments and graphics
The electric C30 looks like a regular Volvo C30 and it offers the same safety, comfort and roominess as the standard car. The most obvious difference is inside the car with unique instruments, which is largely limited to communicating road speed and energy consumption. However, it also integrates a number of new symbols such as a gauge for battery charge status.
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Volvo Cars first presented a basic, driveable electric car prototype in September, 2009. The C30 to be shown in Detroit takes the company one step further in the development process as this vehicle features a complete interior, full instrumentation and as well as enhanced battery packaging.
"The first prototype helped us identify the main technological challenges, such as battery packaging and safety issues," says Lennart Stegland, Director of Volvo Cars Special Vehicles. "We have addressed these challenges without compromising the C30's cool and fun-to-drive personality. I am very happy with the result. The electric C30 in Detroit is a much more complete product."
The next step in 2010 is a factory-built series of test cars. Selected users will drive the test fleet during a two-year trial period during which time Volvo Cars will collect valuable, real-world technical data as well as feedback on the user's driving behaviours with an electric car.
The Swedish Energy Agency is supporting the project by contributing SEK 150 million towards its funding.
Valuable field data
A pure electric car has different characteristics compared to a car with an internal combustion engine. With the test fleet, Volvo Cars engineers will have the opportunity to study how users handle these differences.
"Our test fleet data will be valuable in Volvo Cars' development of electric cars," says Stegland. "It will also provide crucial input for the infrastructure planners and help define which services are needed to make rechargeable cars the most attractive choice in the future."
New instruments and graphics
The electric C30 looks like a regular Volvo C30 and it offers the same safety, comfort and roominess as the standard car. The most obvious difference is inside the car with unique instruments, which is largely limited to communicating road speed and energy consumption. However, it also integrates a number of new symbols such as a gauge for battery charge status.
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