Volvo's ReCharge Concept, a plug-in hybrid with individual electric wheel motors, can drive an estimated 62 miles (100 km) before the vehicle's four-cylinder Flexifuel engine is needed to power the car and recharge the battery. When driving beyond the car's battery life, fuel consumption may vary from 0 to 1.45 gallons(5.5 km) per 62 miles (100km) depending on the distance driven. Volvo researchers say the ReCharge Concept can lower carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 66 percent compared to other hybrids. In addition to operating on battery energy, the ReCharge Concept can also accelerate from zero to 60 (100 km)/h in 9 seconds and reach top speeds of 99 miles (160 km)/h. The vehicle, which will debut in a specially-designed Volvo C30 at the IAA motor show in Frankfurt, was developed at the Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center in Camarillo, CA.

That's some a-grade engineering right there.

It seems so slow in the uptake for these better versions of hybrids and electric cars (the Prius isn't even as efficient as some similarly sized diesel cars), I get quite frustrated that these things are out there already.

Same goes for renewable energy sources... if money was invested and we all had solar panels and wind generators on our homes we could SERIOUSLY reduce greenhouse gases (and electricity costs).

It's all bloody political... sometimes I think we need a dictator with a heart of gold who does things for the greater good against the whinging and whining of the masses who can't see past their next paycheque.

Sweet, wonder how much it will cost ?

Well, if I had to guess, I'd say somewhere between 30k and 45k (USD)

This car is based off the new C30 platform, which even fully loaded is under $30,000.

I know the car is just a prototype but hopefully, if it ever does go into production, they will move the power socket. Having it on the front bumper isn't just ugly but it'd get full of bugs and dirt. The first time you have even the slightest fender bender you can kiss a way to recharge the car overnight goodbye.

I'll take two.

Next we need 'battery stations' instead of gas stations where you can swap out the empty battery for a fully charged one, this would effectively lower carbon emissions to almost zero (depending upon electricity supply).

Although you'd probably need bigger/better batteries as I'm pretty sure stopping every 60-odd miles would get old pretty quick.

The connector in the front is because in Sweden there are electrical outlets at the front of parking spaces. The outlets let people warm up the cabin of their car with an electric heater before they get in the car in the winter. There sometimes is a timer so that the car will be warmed up by the time you need to drive it. Without a timer people just go start it 20 min or so before they have to leave. Running the car while standing still is illegal and these small electric warmers are an efficient alternative.

Cars there all have an outlet in the front of the car and a connector in the cabin for a small heater (usually by the floor on the passenger side).

The connectors in the front do get busted but seeing as how you want to plug them in at parking spots that you park in front first it is the best solution without having excessively long cables around in the parking lots.

-Karl S.

>> ^spoco2:
That's some a-grade engineering right there.
It seems so slow in the uptake for these better versions of hybrids and electric cars (the Prius isn't even as efficient as some similarly sized diesel cars), I get quite frustrated that these things are out there already.
Same goes for renewable energy sources... if money was invested and we all had solar panels and wind generators on our homes we could SERIOUSLY reduce greenhouse gases (and electricity costs).
It's all bloody political... sometimes I think we need a dictator with a heart of gold who does things for the greater good against the whinging and whining of the masses who can't see past their next paycheque.


We might reduce green-house gases, but the electric companies wouldn't make as much money off of us. Marketing and profit are the downfall of new technologies that make things cheaper and cost-effective.

They'll trickle out new technologies little-by-little to get as much profit out of them as possible. Just take a look at the iPhone and any other Apple product.

I'm glad a cold-climate company is working on these issues. Global warming doesn't help a frozen battery in February..

*future

*dead

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