Volvo C30 Electric Car Fleet Review-An Unbiased Review

The Volvo C30 Electric Car claims third place in top 2010 green cars. It stands out in the current market as it looks like a regular family car at first glance.

Driving the Volvo C30 Electric Car Driving the Volvo C30 Electric Car reminded me of the fact that when we have more electric cars on the road, I will have to remember the Green Cross Code again, and not just listen out for oncoming cars, but look as well. It is so quiet that when I turned on the engine I didn’t even know it was on!

It has no gears, but the motor’s power is there on tap and is delivered seamlessly. It runs from 0 to 60 mph in under 11 seconds and features a limited top speed of just over 80 mph.

It has a usable range of 93 miles between charges and the 24 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery can be charged in about eight hours via a 220-volt household outlet.

The Volvo C30 Electric Car as A Fleet Car
Expected to be on general sale in 2014, the results of prototype tests are very promising for the Volvo C30.

There are cars in the demo fleet which are equipped with advanced measuring instruments. This is so that Volvo Cars can build up additional information about how parameters such as driving habits and charging patterns can affect the battery and its lifetime in an electric car.

The C30 does not have the expected whine of an electric car, and with exhaust emissions which are zero, it would appear that the only downside is that its range is limited to 75-95 miles in normal driving conditions. Therefore for around town fleet use and trips that fall within the range this car is a promising fleet candidate.

It is expected to be priced at £22,500. If British Government support is forthcoming as we expect then, it could make an interesting choice.

Passengers and Luggage
The Volvo C30 Electric has the same safety, comfort and interior space as the standard Volvo C30. The only difference is that the C30 Electric is powered solely by electricity, so therefore it has absolutely no exhaust emissions on the road.

Security and Safety
The C30 electric has received plenty of care to ensure it is safe and highly capable of passing the high crash standards of Volvo. Also a lot of work has gone into ensuring that if the car is hit that the battery doesn’t go up in flames.

Volvo C30 Electric Car at a Glance
- Appearance like a regular family car
- Almost silent engine
- High Volvo safety standards
- 0 to 60 mph in under 11 seconds
- No gears but seamless motor power delivery
- Usable range of 93 miles
- 24 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery which can be charged in about eight hours via a 220-volt household outlet

NEW DRIVELINES FROM VOLVO TRUCKS

Volvo Trucks is introducing a new range of engines and transmissions that give up to three percent lower fuel consumption, 40 percent lower emissions of carbon dioxide and higher power outputs. At the start of the year, the company launched the world’s most powerful truck, a Volvo FH16 with a power output of 700 hp and is now introducing some of the market’s most fuel-efficient trucks. The focus is on the Volvo FH and Volvo FM with 13- and 11-litre engines, which account for the vast majority of Volvo Trucks’ sales. Volvo’s 7-litre engine, which powers the Volvo FE and Volvo FL, is also being launched in a new version.

All new Volvo Methane Trucks 2011

Volvo Trucks’ long-term product development focuses strongly on sustainable transportation. The company’s stand at IAA 2010 includes a Volvo FM with an engine that runs on methane and diesel, thus combining the diesel engine’s high efficiency rating with the benefits of gas power. The truck offers up to 40 percent better fuel efficiency than the gas-powered trucks currently on the market. During next year, Volvo Trucks will start limited production of trucks featuring this technology.

Volvo Cars crash test of electric cars

Volvo is currently conducting extremely wide-ranging and thorough analysis of a variety of safety scenarios for cars with electric power. Through advanced automatic monitoring of battery status and by encapsulating the battery and protecting it effectively in a collision, the result is a comprehensive safety package. Everything from the way the cars are produced, used and serviced to the way they are recycled is analysed thoroughly and the information obtained is used to shape the development of the final production car. All Volvo’s existing safety systems will also be available in the company’s electric cars. However, electric power also adds new possible safety scenarios to the overall picture and these too must be dealt with. Available video includes edited packages, general views of electric car crash test and soundbites from Thomas Broberg, Senior Technical Advisor, Volvo Cars Safety Centre.

Volvo Hybrid Vehicle 2012

Including driving and fueling footage, battery and hybrid technical animation.

Volvo Recharge Concept takes the road

Saab and Volvo launch a cooperation for the plug-hybrid veichle

Nya Volvo V70 1.6D DRIVe

This is a swedish TV-spot for the new fuel efficient Volvo V70 1.6D DRIVe. Taking you 1400 kilometers on one single fill-up. The new Volvo V70 1.6D DRIve. Only 4,9 litres per 100 km.

Fuel Efficient Trucks From Volvo

The world’s primary source of fuel for different industries comes from the reserves of fossil fuels which is a non-renewable source of energy. Since fossil fuel is non-renewable, the world is in danger of running out of supply. While the current amount of fossil fuel reserves can still last a long time, steps have been taken by different industries to lessen their dependency on petroleum products. The automotive industry is one of the major sectors in the global community that has taken a step towards not only in the development of alternative fuel but in implementing the use of such fuel as well. Several car manufacturers now produce vehicles that run on alternative fuel or alternative fuel mixed with gasoline.

One of the more prominent car manufacturers that attend to the need of decreasing the consumption of gasoline is Toyota. The Japanese outfit has introduced their first hybrid car in Japan and eventually also produced such in the US. This vehicle is the Toyota Prius. The car is now the most popular hybrid car in production with a buyer base that is exponentially expanding in number. Another car manufacturer committed to the environmental protection cause is the Ford Motor Company subsidiary Volvo. The car manufacturer known for producing safe cars are also taking steps forward in the development of alternative fuels which is evident in their three models in that are already in production. These units employ the FlexiFuel technology thus allowing them to run on a combination of bio-ethanol and gasoline which is called E85.

Their FlexiFuel technology being already used by some of their models already is also being sold in selected European markets. This is not the only technology being developed by the Sweden-based car manufacturer. They are also following in the steps of Toyota and Honda which have been using hybrid technology in their cars. The vehicles employing the hybrid technology runs not only on gasoline alone but is also powered at some point by electricity via an electric motor that is capable of giving enough torque and horsepower to the vehicle. This technology is what Volvo is developing not for application on their passenger cars but actually for the use of their trucks.

Volvo is the world’s second largest manufacturer of trucks behind General Motors, but they are making their bid for supremacy in that segment. In the process, they have developed a hybrid truck that they aim to sell to different industries especially those with a large fleet of trucks. In the development of their hybrid trucks, they have teamed up with the US Air Force which will be the first to use the hybrid truck technology. The US Air Force has already ordered four of the said trucks and the construction of the units is already underway. The government agency can save on their fuel consumption by as much as 35 per cent depending on driving conditions and application.

The technology behind the hybrid truck which was developed hand in hand by Volvo and the US Air Force and such is known as the I-SAM or Integrated Starter Alternator Motor. This uses the big Volvo alternator which doubles as an electric motor to help the truck’s diesel engine to drive the truck. The use of the alternator as an electric motor results to a better fuel economy over trucks which are powered only by a diesel engine. Thanks to relatively lesser fuel consumption, emissions are reduced therefore helping in preservation of the environment. The exhaust system further cleans the gas emitted by the engine a fact that makes the hybrid electric truck from Volvo not only fuel efficient cut is also clean.

The use of the alternator as an electric motor is already being employed by the Saturn Vue hybrid car. The technology is almost similar except for the vehicle being driven since the I-SAM technology is made for a much heavier vehicle. The alternator or electric motor takes over the operation of the truck during idling and when less power is needed. It can also be used to give added boost to the truck’s diesel engine.

Increased Fuel Efficiency for Volvo Trucks

With the prices of fuel steadily rising, car owners are looking for ways to ease the pressure on their wallets. An answer provided by car manufactures, most notably Toyota and Honda, are hybrid vehicles which use an electric motor to drive their car along with whatever engine they are equipped with. These cars have been making great progress in terms of sales, focusing on the budget-conscious public. Fuel economy is significantly increased while still delivering great performance. Cars such as the Toyota Prius, which is the first mass produced hybrid automobile, are also environment friendly due to its lower emission levels.

Not only individuals are looking for ways to decrease their fuel consumption but also large companies which need trucks to transport their goods. On of these is Wal-Mart which recently announced that they are making a research on the possible use of hybrid technology in their truck fleet. Companies can increase their profits significantly if they can cut down their fuel consumption considerably. This is especially true for companies with a large fleet of trucks or buses. The answer, of course, is a hybrid truck that will use an electric motor to help its diesel engine – and that is just what Volvo has developed recently.

Joining forces with the US Air Force, Volvo has developed a hybrid truck technology using their I-SAM or the Integrated Starter Alternator Motor technology. The technology uses the starter alternator which doubles as an electric motor that will help a truck’s diesel engine drive the car thus increasing fuel economy as much as 35 per cent. The fuel efficiency is, of course, just like that of hybrid cars. It actually depends on the application and the driving conditions. But nonetheless, the hybrid truck has reduced fuel consumption compared to natural diesel engine-only trucks. The Volvo Group will start production of four of these hybrid-powered trucks this year for the US Air Force.

The actual mass production of the said trucks for civilian use will follow after field testing to assess their real capability under varying road and weather conditions. Scheduled for 2008 through 2009, the company aims to produce 300,000 units for the waiting market. Much anticipation can be expected from potential buyers for the release of the technology which will greatly help in the protection of the environment. Not only will these trucks have lower emissions than the natural trucks but their fuel efficiency will take lesser toll on the decreasing fossil fuel reserves available.

The technology employed by Volvo’s heavy-duty hybrid trucks, which is the use of the alternator as an electric motor, is currently employed by the Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid car. With this technology, the alternator/electric motor takes over the operation of the car during idling and other circumstances where less power is needed. This not only decreases the fuel consumption but also adds power to the truck. Volvo’s hybrid truck’s electric motor can give out a maximum of 160 horsepower and works through an electronic box, an energy storage box, and a powertrain control unit.

The truck will also have high performance parts on all its systems from steering to suspension, with high quality Volvo shocks, down to the exhaust system which will further decrease the emission from the truck’s engine. The comfort of the driver will also be given attention aside from the safety features that Volvo is known for.

Green Cars : Green Car: Volvo C30

The Volvo C30 offers 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway, as it is a smaller model than other dependable Volvos. Understand the attraction for a smaller green car with information from a green car specialist in this free video on eco-friendly vehicles.

Next Page »