Volvo C30 Hybrid

Volvo is developing a plug-in hybrid electric version of the C30 at their California development centre. A concept of the C30 hybrid called the ReCharge was shown in September 2007 at the Frankfurt auto show, and Volvo plans call for a prototype to compete in the Michelin Challenge Bibendum during 14-17 November 2007 in Shanghai, China.

The hybrid C30 will be a flex-fuel or diesel-electric hybrid with a powertrain design similar to General Motors' E-Flex platform and its Chevrolet Volt concept vehicle. That is, it will use a series-hybrid design in which the vehicle is driven directly by electric motors powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. A small internal combustion engine will have no direct connection to the drive train, but will function only as a backup generator when necessary to recharge the batteries. The C30 hybrid will have a range of approximately 100km (62 miles) on battery power alone, and will recharge from a standard home electrical outlet in about three hours.

German auto website, Autobild, is reporting that Volvo is working on a plug-in diesel-electric hybrid with a similar powertrain design to the Chevy Volt concept unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in early January. Like GM's E-Flex platform, the C30 will be driven by electric motors which run off a battery pack with a range of 50 to 60 kilometers. Once the batteries run down, a diesel engine fires up to run a generator which in turn recharges the batteries. Additionally, the C30 will have plug-in capabilities for overnight charging.