According to Volvo, the project received support from the Swedish Energy Agency and the European Union. For this, Volvo developed the concept of three combinations of technology and expected to be piloted in the first quarter of 2012.
"This shows that we become more focused in the development of electric cars. During these electric cars have limitations, namely the price and size of the battery charge. As a result, the mileage to be very limited, depending on battery type and size. With the Range Extender, electric cars could effectively increase distance of up to thousands of kilometers, but its emissions could be below 50 g / km, "expressed by Derek Crabb, Vice President of Power Train Engineering Volvo Car Corporation.
Development of technology leads to the unification of three different technologies, with 3-cylinder gasoline engine assist electric motor turning the front wheels. All are equipped with brake energy concept renegeration or brake energy regeneration.
Gasoline engines that are used can also be given intake of ethanol (E85). Two concepts tested on the Volvo C30 Electric. For this, Volvo must make modifications, such as battery size is reduced so that the gasoline engine and fuel tank can be installed without creating new problems.
Concept I: Relationship Series
Using an electric car the Volvo C30. For that, use 3-cylinder gasoline engine-powered 60 PS (945 kW) are placed in the rear trunk. Gas tank capacity of 40 liters.
Machine connected to a generator 40 kW. Power it generates is used to rotate the electric motor with power or 111 PS (82 kW). The driver can also select and use a generator to charge the battery.
In this way, the mileage to the battery also increases. The total mileage of 1,000 km of this composite. If you only rely on pure battery energy, the result is about 110 km.
Concept II: Parallel Relationships
Cars get power from the 3-cylinder engine placed behind the gas tank is also 40 liters. The difference with the first draft, a source of energy in this version are connected in parallel. For this, use the turbo 190 PS petrol engine that works rotate the rear wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission.
In this way the efficiency of the car when it accelerated on the highway better. Because the car only rely on electricity from batteries, gasoline engines are also produced by the generator. For this, use 40 kW generator.
Electric motors are used to produce power 111 PS (82 kW). The second source was the driving force when combined will produce 300 PS and is expected to sprint from 0-100 km / h in 6 seconds. Range Extender 1000 km, while the battery is only 75 km.
Concept III: Parallel V60
In this concept, the whole package is the front drive (engine room). The electric motor is equipped with a 111 PS turbo gasoline engine that produces 140 kW, 2-stage automatic transmission, and generator 40 kW. Power from the gasoline engine drive the front wheels through a transmission and recharge the batteries when needed.
Up to speeds of 50 km / h, the car always using electricity. Gasoline engine will work at high speed. In addition, the gasoline engine is also tasked to charge the battery when its energy is below the specified limits.
The battery is placed in the rear trunk and produce mileage of 50 km (energy from the battery alone). Larger tank capacity, 45 liters, and is designed to use gasoline and ethanol. Total mileage of 1,000 km.
"Three of the project allowed us to evaluate the possibilities of the Range Extender, including C30 and hybrid electric cars plug-in V60. The goal is to suppress carbon dioxide emissions without compromising the needs, comfort, and practicality in using the car," says Derek Crabb.
