Volvo is testing the water with an all-electric version of its C30 hatchback.
What is the Volvo Electric C30?
A battery-powered version of the latest C30, which competes against the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series for a slice of the premium, small family hatchback action. As the name suggests, it is a zero emission option powered by an electric motor.
Why buy the Volvo Electric C30?
The Electric C30 looks like a regular C30 and offers all the same safety and comfort of the standard version. And, aside from its electric motor, many components are borrowed from the current Ford Focus, which endows the Volvo with good ride and handling characteristics - in our initial brief test drive they didn’t seem overly compromised by the battery pack and electric motor.
Although it’s only a three-door four-seater, the C30 will be one of the first all-electric family-sized cars. And, if you trust the official figures, it’s got a longer range and better performance than electric superminis due on sale around the same time.
According to Volvo, the Electric C30 uses around a quarter of the energy of a conventional fossil-fuel engine. Top speed is 81mph, and it’ll do 0-60mph in 10.5 seconds, so it’ll be up to the challenges of city and motorway driving. And its range of up to 94 miles should be enough for most drivers - Volvo claims it’ll satisfy the transport needs of more than 90% of European motorists.
However, it won’t suit everyone because it has no back-up powertrain to cut in when the batteries run down. Vauxhall’s Ampera petrol-electric hybrid may be more appealing to regular long distance drivers, although its conventional powertrain means it won’t have the C30's zero CO2 emissions (whether fuel or electric power is better in terms of overall environmental impact is another matter).
What are the engine options?
Technically there isn’t one - the Electric C30 has a bank of lithium-ion batteries fitted into the propshaft tunnel and the space at the rear usually occupied by the fuel tank that power a 112bhp 82kW electric motor.
That’s not to say it’s bad to drive, in fact the electric motor delivers all 112bhp immediately and throughout the rev range, so power is instant and constant rather than building up progressively.
With no need for gears, there’s just a small futuristic looking blue and chrome lever where the gearlever would normally be for the driver to select forward, reverse and neutral.
And instead of the usual instrumentation, the Electric C30 has two different displays, a central information screen and a combined dial display - both give information on road speed, energy consumption and battery charge status. Charging takes around eight hours using a 13-amp household socket.
How much will the Volvo Electric C30 cost?
There’s been no word on pricing yet.
When is the Electric C30 on sale?
Volvo is planning are to test 50 Electric C30s with selected drivers in Sweden during 2011. We expect the car to go on sale soon after the data from the pilot scheme has been evaluated.
Click here to read our Volvo C30 reviews
To our guide to greener motoring, click here
For more about the Toyota Prius, click here
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