Volvo hybrid on sale next year

Volvo has announced its intention to begin selling its V60 Plug-in Hybrid wagon in 2012.

The world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid will join a host of cars from other car makers embracing green technology including hybrids, pure electric vehicles and even hydrogen fuel cells over the next few years.

First revealed as a “concept” vehicle by Volvo at the 2011 Geneva motor show, the V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the first fruit of a partnership between Volvo and Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall that was signed off in 2007. A jointly owned company, V2 Plug-in-Hybrid Vehicle Partnership HB, was formed as a result.

According to Volvo Car Corporation President and CEO Stefan Jacoby: "No industry or organisation can tackle the climate challenge all by itself. It is our mission to develop carbon dioxide-lean cars, but it is the society that is responsible for creating a sustainable future. This project shows how cooperation between experts in different areas brings us closer to the transition from individually carbon dioxide-lean products to a climate-smart lifestyle."

The V60 Plug-in Hybrid will be sold at a premium over the regular V60 and will boast exceptional fuel economy and CO2 emissions figures. Volvo quotes a fuel consumption figure of 1.9L/100km and CO emissions of 49g/km. The company claims the car will be capable of travelling as much as 50km on solely electric power and has a total operating range of 1200km. It also says the hybrid V60 will offer high performance.

Volvo also says the higher price tag of the plug-in hybrid V60 will be compensated in part by the fact that running costs will be one third of a conventional car.

The hybrid V60 is the first step in a long-term programme aimed at halving Volvo's emissions by 2030 and becoming climate-neutral by 2050.

The V60 Plug-in Hybrid is being developed in parallel with the Volvo C30 Electric, a solely battery-powered vehicle. "These two car types complement one another. With a plug-in hybrid the driver is entirely independent of recharging stations when driving long distances. The future electric-car market will feature a mixture of both all-electric cars and plug-in hybrids," Stefan Jacoby said.

The company's press release also includes a plug for wind power: "Electric vehicles use relatively little electricity and the increase in consumption will be more than covered by ambitious expansion plans for renewable energy sources throughout Europe. A single wind-power station, for instance, produces sufficient renewable energy to power 3000 electric cars. Vattenfall will offer buyers of the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid a contract including electricity from renewable sources."

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