Introduction

Electric vehicles are not just for those who can afford it; it is for everybody who wants to do their share to save Mother Nature from climate change. Change is what this ailing planet needs and as a good citizen we have to our share for this change. Picking a car that is not damaging our ozone layer is one thing. In fact, choosing an electric vehicle instead of a conventional one is a huge help. Electric vehicles are definitely in the market as the need for a good EV arises every minute. Volvo electric vehicles are one of the many choices you can find in the market today. It’s sleek, durable, sporty and zero-emission, the Volvo EV is full-efficient and it will surely change your outlook for electric vehicles.

Founded in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden in 1927, Volvo Personvagner AB or just Volvo Cars is one of the world’s most successful automaker. Previously owned by Ford Motor Company, Volvo Cars was originally formed under the ball bearing maker SKF and was owned by AB Volvo until 1999. The company has a wide range of automobiles that includes sedans, SUV’s coupes, station wagons, compact executive sedans and just recently, electric vehicles. With over 2,500 dealerships around the globe in 100 markets makes this company as a global leader for automobile industry. Most of the company’s sales are coming from Europe and the rest are coming from North America, Russia, China, India and the rest of the world.  Just recently, the sales from Russia have been outstanding that the company is now one of the leading luxury car companies in Russia.

After suffering a tremendous loss in the past years, Volvo is getting back on track by unveiling its vehicles on the market by the end of 2008 under the new management of Ford Motor Company. After a year, Ford made a deal with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the parent company of the Chinese car maker Greeley Automobile. The buyout was confirmed in December 2009 and the deal is expected to be closed on the third quarter of 2010 by the amount of $1.8 billion.

The Volvo’s reputation is always about solidity and reliability. The forefront of safety engineering, the company is known for its reliable safety features. Volvo’s first experience with hybrid vehicles was when they introduced its first E85 flexifuel models in 2005. After that, they unveiled its S40 and V50 with flexible-fuel engines and C30 was introduced in 2006. The first batch of flexifuel hybrid vehicles was exclusively launched in Sweden until 2007. The latest model was released in 2008, the Volvo Hybrid V70. The company’s plug-in hybrids were introduced in 2007 in Frankfurt Auto Show and soon to be launching of series production diesel-electric plug-in by 2012.

Volvo ReCharge

Created by Volvo, the ReCharge is the new face of plug-in hybrid concept car. Designed to run purely on electricity, the ReCharge is designed with an on-board batteries for up to 62 miles (100 km) – a more than enough distance to cover most Americans daily routines which is roughly 25 miles (40 km). This hybrid concept is armed with a backup flexifuel engine that can be charged via a regular electrical outlet. The car’s design is based on Volvo C30 and the model is never been better with its new sleek design. Debuted in Frankfurt Motor Show, the ReCharge is Volvo’s representative for plug-in technology.

The hybrid concept is the perfect model that combines an excellent battery range with its backup combustion engine. Developed in Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center (VMCC), the ReCharge is a ground-breaking innovation that will surely be remembered after so many years. A great example for a sustainable transportation, the concept vehicle offers fuel efficiency as it features an exceptional electrical range from a fuel consumption angle and it comes with 66 percent lower emissions of carbon dioxide. Its carbon emission capability is one if the best in the industry compared with mainstream hybrid vehicles.

Combining the latest technological advancement and Volvo’s creativity, the result is just pure genius. Volvo’s series hybrid features no mechanical connection between the car’s engine and its wheels. Its lithium-polymer battery pack was strategically placed in its luggage compartment to provide ample space for its passengers. The hybrid concept is also armed with four electric motors scattered on its wheels to provide independent traction power. The vehicle’s built-in emergency generator was placed to step-in incase the battery runs out of charge that could affect the car’s driving performance. Volvo calls it the Auxiliary power Unit (APU) which is designed to distribute electricity to the cars four wheels. The vehicles APU is so powerful that it can light up an entire villa, an amazing technology that will surely set the vehicles apart from its rivals.

Volvo C30

According to Chelsea Sexton, a board member of Plug-in America the Volvo C30 hybrid is “uberpragmatic” – an electric hybrid that people absolutely want. This all new design brings practicality back to electric cars. The company is planning to roll out a test fleet of the Volvo C30 in showrooms by 2013. Volvo’s new prototype of electric C30 was based on the C30 hatchback; it comes with a masculine and sleeker design to cater the needs of its consumers. The new EV is even more attractive compare to other Volvo’s design with cutting-edge security features. The Volvo C30 joins the plug-in hybrid of Volvo’s electric lineup.

The C30 hybrid is based on Volvo’s full electric solution known as the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV). The vehicle is the company’s first model to sport an electric power which is an excellent vehicle for city traffic. The car’s relatively low weight is very suitable for city driving and daily commuting. Using the BEV, the C30 is expected to cover 0 – 100 km/h under 11 seconds. But the cars range is not limited to that for it has a top speed of 130 km/h, a more than enough speed for city driving and a perfect EV for European drivers.

Volvo describes its new models as the future of Volvo’s electric car. The car may look like a conventional model but it comes with a few twists. Its front and rear fascias are sleeker. Though it is still in production, C30‘s futuristic design is making headlines in the automobile industry when it was introduced in an event in Fishers, Indiana. The Event was hosted by EnerDel, the company’s supplier for C30’s lithium-ion battery. Using a biofuel to power an all-electric vehicle seems to be impossible, but Volvo’s genius engineering team made it work. This is how it works: instead of using battery power to heat up the battery or the cabin, the C30 uses a built-in small liquid-fuel heater into the car. By using ethanol the driver doesn’t have to compromise to go electric. The car’s motor is placed under the bonnet and so far the engineers are still deciding where to put the 24kWh lithium-ion battery. Just like any batteries, it can be charged in any household power sockets in about eight hours.

The C30’s system uses a gasoline heater built to adapt to E85, its ethanol fuel tank can be filled by using the same fuel used in the standard C30 to gas up. It can hold around 14 liters of fuel which is more than enough to last for two weeks. A perfect solution during the cold season as long as you plugged the car whenever possible. The company is planning to release 50 Electric C30’s to begin its real-world testing. Its research program will test the car’s technology in terms of climate, under different driving conditions and different topography. The Volvo’s goal is to ensure that the C30 can provide consistent road performance in all conditions. The C30 is your Monday-Friday  kind of commuter car, a perfect EV for a predictable driving patterns.