The driving experience is also different to that in a conventional car. The electric C30 has no transmission gears and the motor's power is delivered seamlessly, with maximum torque available immediately.
"Sailing along virtually without a sound is a very special experience," says Stegland. "The power is there instantaneously. We need to spend a lot of time verifying a transmission system that is both comfortable and safe for the driver to handle and at the same time utilizes the battery's capacity optimally at different speeds."
Like a regular C30 - all the fun but with no emissions
An electric motor uses approximately one-fourth as much energy as an engine running on fossil fuels. This superior energy efficiency suggests that interest in electric cars will increase as fuel prices rise and demands for low CO2 emissions become increasingly stringent.
The Volvo C30 shown in Detroit is powered by Lithium-Ion batteries that can be recharged via either a regular household power socket or special roadside charging stations. Charging the battery fully takes about eight hours. If the car is recharged with renewable electricity, CO2 emissions could be almost zero from a well-to-wheel perspective.
Top speed with a fully charged battery pack is about 130 km/h. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes less than 11 seconds and maximum range is up to 150 km. These performance figures cover the daily transport needs of more than 90 percent of all motorists in Europe.
As safe as all other Volvo vehicles
The electric motor is fitted under the hood while the two batteries (24 kWh) are installed in the propshaft tunnel and in the space normally occupied by the fuel tank; meaning outside the passenger compartment and away from the deformation zones.
"What is more, they are well encapsulated and the structure around them has been reinforced," says Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Cars. "Electric cars represent yet another interesting challenge in our dedication to building the world's safest cars. An electrically powered Volvo must be as safe as all other new Volvos. And the very same standards also apply to ownership, driving and protection in the event of an accident."
Market prospects for electric power
When it comes to electric-only cars, there are several factors that determine their appeal in the future.
"The consumers must feel that this type of car is attractive both to drive and own," says Paul Gustavsson, Director of Electrification Strategy at Volvo Cars. "That is why electric cars have to be as comfortable and safe and offer the same sort of performance as cars with other power sources. We believe in this technology and our field test aims to demonstrate that electric cars have considerable market potential. However, offering an attractive car is not enough. What is also needed initially is a system of subsidies to make the electric car's expensive battery technology financially viable for the car buyers. We hope that the authorities and the rest of the society will follow Volvo Cars in our ‘Drive Towards Zero' - Volvo Cars' journey towards zero emissions."
photo:Volvo Canada
"Sailing along virtually without a sound is a very special experience," says Stegland. "The power is there instantaneously. We need to spend a lot of time verifying a transmission system that is both comfortable and safe for the driver to handle and at the same time utilizes the battery's capacity optimally at different speeds."
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Like a regular C30 - all the fun but with no emissions
An electric motor uses approximately one-fourth as much energy as an engine running on fossil fuels. This superior energy efficiency suggests that interest in electric cars will increase as fuel prices rise and demands for low CO2 emissions become increasingly stringent.
The Volvo C30 shown in Detroit is powered by Lithium-Ion batteries that can be recharged via either a regular household power socket or special roadside charging stations. Charging the battery fully takes about eight hours. If the car is recharged with renewable electricity, CO2 emissions could be almost zero from a well-to-wheel perspective.
Top speed with a fully charged battery pack is about 130 km/h. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes less than 11 seconds and maximum range is up to 150 km. These performance figures cover the daily transport needs of more than 90 percent of all motorists in Europe.
As safe as all other Volvo vehicles
The electric motor is fitted under the hood while the two batteries (24 kWh) are installed in the propshaft tunnel and in the space normally occupied by the fuel tank; meaning outside the passenger compartment and away from the deformation zones.
"What is more, they are well encapsulated and the structure around them has been reinforced," says Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Cars. "Electric cars represent yet another interesting challenge in our dedication to building the world's safest cars. An electrically powered Volvo must be as safe as all other new Volvos. And the very same standards also apply to ownership, driving and protection in the event of an accident."
Market prospects for electric power
When it comes to electric-only cars, there are several factors that determine their appeal in the future.
"The consumers must feel that this type of car is attractive both to drive and own," says Paul Gustavsson, Director of Electrification Strategy at Volvo Cars. "That is why electric cars have to be as comfortable and safe and offer the same sort of performance as cars with other power sources. We believe in this technology and our field test aims to demonstrate that electric cars have considerable market potential. However, offering an attractive car is not enough. What is also needed initially is a system of subsidies to make the electric car's expensive battery technology financially viable for the car buyers. We hope that the authorities and the rest of the society will follow Volvo Cars in our ‘Drive Towards Zero' - Volvo Cars' journey towards zero emissions."
photo:Volvo Canada
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