Volvo Details Hybrid Plans

Volvo, with five candidates for the World Green Car Of The Year, says it is putting the finishing touches on a number of hybrid-electric vehicles that the company intends to put into production in the next three years. Building off of last year's ReCharge Concept and the DRIVe concepts at this year's Paris Motor Show, Volvo says that it will release a "micro-hybrid" in 2011 and a diesel-electric hybrid in 2012. Additionally, the company has a plug-in hybrid under development.

Volvo's tentative steps toward hybrid vehicles won't produce a true hybrid... yet. Instead, Volvo has concentrated on incorporating hybrid technologies that are expected to improve overall gas mileage and reduce carbon emissions. These technologies include regenerative braking, better aerodynamic design, low-rolling-resistance tires and better optimized gear ratios. In addition, consumers should expect to see stop-start technology make its debut on Volvo vehicles in the coming model years.

According to the company, the diesel-electric hybrid, which many European manufacturers have shied away from, will make its debut in 2012. The company says that a hybrid model could improve fuel economy by about 15% over its conventional models. The company is also working on a plug-in electric hybrid vehicle with an all-electric range of 60 miles. Volvo did not say when it plans to bring its PHEV into production.

For the coming model year, Volvo will be adding direct injection technology in an effort to improve fuel economy.

Source: Motor Authority
Photo: Volvo