Volvo’s car electrification programme progressing well

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Volvo Car Corporation is now taking the next step in the company’s electrification strategy by producing test cars with range extenders. Technically, range extenders are electric cars that are fitted with an independent combustion engine to increase their effective range. These internal combustion engines are not part of the drivetrain and their role is limited to generating electrical energy for the battery pack. The projects, supported by the Swedish Energy Agency and the EU, encompass three potential technology combinations. Tests of the various concepts will get under way in the first quarter of 2012.
“This is an exciting expansion of our increasing focus on electrification. Battery cost and size means that all-electric cars still have a relatively limited operating range. With the range extender, the electric car has its effective range increased by a thousand kilometres - yet with carbon dioxide emissions below or way below 50 g/km,” says Derek Crabb, vice president, powertrain engineering at the Volvo Car Corporation.
The company’s technological developments in this area currently encompass three different technology combinations, with three-cylinder petrol engines being installed to complement electric drive to the front wheels. All variants feature brake energy regeneration. The engines can run on both petrol and ethanol (E85). Two of the solutions are based on the C30 Electric and Volvo is said to be testing both series and parallel-connected range extender systems. Although, commercial sales have not been ruled out at a later stage, Volvo will begin leasing these electric cars soon in Sweden.