Volvo currently makes a V60 Plug-in Hybrid electric vehicle, but it’s a diesel electric hybrid that will only be available in Europe starting in the fall of 2012. There is a straight gasoline version of the V60, but it isn’t sold in the US currently, so it’s unlikely the V60 plug-in hybrid will end up here. That would make the (possibly produced) Volvo XC60 the first plug in vehicle by Volvo to hit North American shores.
The Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid electric vehicle concept is powered by a 280-horsepower, 4 cylinder turbocharged engine. The electric motor adds another 70 hp. The battery pack is a 12 Kwh lithium-ion type battery. The drivetrain on the XC60 PHEV is rounded out with an eight speed automatic transmission.
The Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid operates in 3 driving modes:
- Pure Mode – this is 100% electric mode and allows the XC60 plug-in to travel 35 miles
- Hybrid Mode – the XC60 plug-in uses both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor with a start-stop function to get approximately 50mpg in the city.
- Power Mode – this throws all range out the window, and uses both motors for pure power with a total of 350 hp. In this mode, the Volvo XC60 plug-in will travel from 0-60mph in 5.8 seconds!
The Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid can be plugged into a traditional 120v wall socket and charged in approximately 7.5 hours. When plugged into a 220V charging station, the Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid can fully charge in about 3.5 hours. An in-car Sensus infotainment system will help drivers locate and navigate to charging stations.
While the Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid hasn’t yet been approved for production, Volvo is promising some vehicle that will use this alternative-fuel system within the next couple years. We hope they choose the XC60 as the platform.
