Monday, May 20, 2013
2012 Volvo V60 Plug in Hybrid More Photos and Details【Video】
Volvo has released more details for the V60 Plug-in Hybrid, which will debut at the Geneva Motor Show.
Volvos safety tests take place in several different stages: at component level, for whole systems and the complete car is safety-tested virtually in the computer, and physically in Volvo Cars technically advanced crash-test centre.
2012 Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid powered by five-cylinder 2.4-litre D5 turbo diesel with 215 horsepower and maximum torque of 440 Nm that drives the front wheels, and a 70HP-strong electric motor that receives its juice from a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and motivates the rear wheels. The car also features a six-speed automatic transmission.
With the diesel engine driving the front wheels and the electric motor mounted at the rear axle, the V60 plug-in hybrid sprints to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds when in Power mode - a full second quicker than the regular V60 using the same diesel engine.
Inside, cabin has a revised instrument cluster, Elmo leather upholstery, and a new infotainment system with a variety of hybrid-specific functions.
Volvo admits the cost of the battery pack means the purchase price of the V60 Plug-In Hybrid will be higher than a conventional internal combustion model, although it says this will be offset at least partially by the savings in fuel costs, which it predicts will be around one-third that of the standard diesel. Volvo will announce pricing closer to the vehicle’s on sale date.
Press Release
Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid - a sneak preview of the production model arriving in 2012
At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Volvo Cars will be unveiling the V60 Plug-in Hybrid - a virtually production-ready car with carbon dioxide emissions below 50 g/km.
The Plug-in Hybrid, which will be launched on the market in 2012, is the result of close cooperation between Volvo Cars and Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall.
"No industry or organisation can tackle the climate challenge all by itself. It is our mission to develop carbon dioxide-lean cars, but a sustainable future must be created jointly by everyone in society. This project shows how cooperation between experts in different areas brings us closer to the transition from individually carbon dioxide-lean products to a climate-smart lifestyle," says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Cars.
In January 2007, Volvo Cars and Vattenfall launched an industrial partnership whose aim was to test and develop plug-in technology. This cross-border initiative resulted in the foundation of a jointly owned company - V2 Plug-in-Hybrid Vehicle Partnership,
Half the CO2 emissions, full driving pleasure
Development work has been jointly financed. Now the project is on the threshold of introducing the markets first diesel plug-in hybrid. Its an attractive car type that gives the user access to the very best properties of both an electric car and a diesel-powered vehicle: very low fuel consumption and CO2 levels, combined with long range and high performance.
"One important aspect of the project was to retain the Volvo V60s excellent driving pleasure, high safety standard and luxurious comfort. At the same time, average CO2 emissions and fuel consumption will be halved compared with what is available on the market today," says Stefan Jacoby, and adds:
"Were taking a giant step forward towards our "DRIVe Towards Zero" vision, that is to say the hunt for zero emissions. In fact, when the V60 Plug-in Hybrid is run solely on electricity and recharged using renewable energy, weve already reached that goal."
Cheaper fuel costs
When powered solely by electricity, the V60 Plug-in Hybrid has a range of up to 50 kilometres. The cars total operating range is up to 1200 km. Carbon dioxide emissions will be an average of 49 grams per kilometre (EU Combined) and fuel consumption will be 1.9 litres per 100 km.
The cost of the battery pack means the plug-in hybrid will be more expensive to buy than a Volvo V60 with a conventional combustion engine. On the other hand, fuel costs will be one-third compared with a conventional combustion engine. The cost of running on electricity in Sweden has been calculated at about 2.50 kronor per 10 km. The exact cost will vary from one market to another.
The plug-in hybrid can be charged via a regular household electricity socket at home or when parked somewhere else. Charging time is about five hours if the car is recharged at home.
Electric power offers a range of benefits
Electrification of the transport sector is an important step in the fight against climate change. Electricity is a highly beneficial fuel:
- An electric motor is almost four times as efficient as a regular combustion engine. This means that an electrically powered car consumes less energy and thus produces lower emissions, even if it is powered by a blend of electricity sources that include fossil fuels.
- European electricity production has an emission ceiling. This means that even if all vehicles were to run on electricity, electricity production itself is not allowed to produce more carbon dioxide. This emission ceiling will be gradually lowered over a period of time.
- Electricity is an excellent source of energy. It does not risk running out, and it can be produced virtually without any CO2 emissions. For instance, Vattenfall is working towards halving the companys emissions by 2030 and becoming climate-neutral by 2050.
- Emissions from millions of exhaust tailpipes are transferred to a small number of production facilities, which are easier to control and which will operate on the basis of the EUs trade in emission rights, something that does not apply to the transport sector at present.
- Electric vehicles use relatively little electricity and the increase in consumption will be more than covered by ambitious expansion plans for renewable energy sources throughout Europe. A single wind-power station, for instance, produces sufficient renewable energy to power 3,000 electric cars. Vattenfall will offer buyers of the plug-in hybrid a contract including electricity from renewable sources.
Rapid expansion of renewable electricity production
Electricity production is undergoing rapid expansion. Wind-power is being commercially introduced on a large scale and is continuing to expand, biofuels will replace fossil fuels on a broad front, wave-power is expected to enter commercial operation within ten years, and new technology to clean CO2 emissions from coal-fired power stations is currently under development.
At Volvo Cars, work progresses on the V60 Plug-in Hybrid in parallel with development of the Volvo C30 Electric, which runs entirely on electricity.
"These two car types complement one another. With a plug-in hybrid the driver is entirely independent of recharging stations when driving long distances. The future electric-car market will feature a mixture of both all-electric cars and plug-in hybrids," says Stefan Jacoby.
The third leg in Volvo Cars electrification strategy is empowering the upcoming engine generation with hybrid technology.
2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Specs Reviews And Pictures
Friday, May 17, 2013
Toyota Prius Hybrid Exterior and Interior Review
Exterior
The most important thing about the Toyota Prius to look at is the fact that driving this particular hybrid is a fashion statement all of its own. At least 57% of Prius owners seem to think that the fashion statement is a good one, and the exterior of the car only helps aid that argument. At first glance, the exterior lends the opinion that the Prius is a great car, and when you look closer, the Priuss exterior characteristics are quite intricate and outstanding.
Reviewers and experts alike have given the Prius fantastic rankings and scores just based on the Priuss exterior. Considering how sleek and stylish most hybrid cars look, being able to win them out for style has shown that the exterior must have some major kudos to turn that many heads.
First of all, the Toyota Prius is not at all a vehicle designed simply for one purpose. No, the Prius was definitely designed to impress its audience, as well as create its own fashion statement that is loud and visible. Like the Chevy Tahoe, another hybrid vehicle, the Priuss body is designed to reduce wind resistance, allowing the car to move faster and smoother on the road. A particular design, the Kammback design, was developed to help reduce air resistance and the very shape of the car has a low coefficient drag and is functionally and aesthetically pleasing.
Oddly enough, the Toyota Prius has actually prompted its own jargon, such as the rise of "Prius politics," wherein a driver often purchases a hybrid car so that they can show off. The cars exterior is incredibly unique and innovative, and so the Prius is easily identifiable by the style and make of the vehicle, and not nearly as much for the fuel-efficiency that the vehicle boats. Granted, the Prius is still a green car, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so drivers who buy the Prius are not only making a fashion statement, but are also helping to make the country more eco-friendly.
In dealing with hybrids, tires are just as important as the rest of the vehicle, and in the case of the Prius, this is no different. The tires used on the Prius are much better at reducing friction while on the road, given a lower rolling resistance. Thankfully, not only are the tires better with resistance, but they also have a firmer grip on the road, making driving much safer and easier to handle.
Who is the Prius for? The Toyota Prius is for the driver interested in contributing to the reduction of environmental issues. Yet, for the majority of Prius drivers, this vehicle is still a fashion status, and the Prius can be seen as a badge of social ranking as well. In fact, most know that Priuss are not cheap vehicles, but what sells the Prius even through the price tag is that the exterior just looks that good. If considering a Toyota Prius, the reasons youre probably doing so are for picking fuel-efficient and a stylish vehicle.
Interior
The basic construction of the Prius utilizes very lightweight materials, and the actually driving experience and the seating arrangement for the passengers is a great compliment to the car. The design for the car is that of a D-segment which means the Prius has plenty of room for driving and riding comfortably. In fact, the interior makes for a very pleasant and cosy ride.
The rear seats can deal with a 60:40 split or completely fold flat, making storage much easier in what seems like a smaller vehicle. In this car, luggage storage wont be problematic. The Priuss front seats are based on being of hip-point height to reduce stressful body positioning, enabling a much more comfortable ride. This height makes getting in and out of the car much easier and much more comfortable. I dont know about you, but I like being able to actually move around after I get into the car.
The Prius hybrids interior design is based on being able to utilize a higher position to drive by. This particular positioning is better for the driver by enhancing visibility and comfort. The instrumentation and control panel in the interior give easier control over many of the features. Buttons and controls are all centralized right at the drivers fingertips around the steering wheel so that you dont have to stretch across the car anymore just to change the radio station. Even some of the engines features are now controllable by the dashboard.
There is no mistaking that Toyota has given a great deal of time and consideration in order to create a comfortable and worthwhile control panel and interior. Many of the design features and technological benefits, such as being able to integrate the Bluetooth cell phone interface, make driving the Prius much safer, convenient and enjoyable experience.