Volvo currently has its hands in several green technology pots, and has either developed or is developing everything from electric C30s to a flywheel hybrid system to a diesel-electric plug-in hybrid system. This week, the company announced that it’s working on yet another system (three, actually): three unique range-extended electric drive setups. Volvo is doing the development with the support of the Swedish Energy Agency and the European Union. A quick refresher: range-extended electric cars are electric vehicles with an onboard power generator—whether that’s a small gas engine or diesel.
Volvo’s three “technical concepts” all employ the similar hardware—a three-cylinder combustion engine and a 111-hp electric motor—but differ in how the engine assists the electric motor. The company claims that for each of its three range-extended concepts, effective range is increased by over 600 miles over each car’s electric-only range. There is no word about when we can expect to see one of Volvo’s range extender systems powering a production model, but if one is green-lit for production, it’ll be many years until a car so equipped hits the road.
Technical Concept I
The first concept, a modified Volvo C30, uses a series-connected range extender. The system consists of a 60-hp three-cylinder engine, the aforementioned 111-hp electric motor, and a 40-kW generator. The tiny, rear-mounted engine is not mechanically linked to the drive wheels at all (the Chevrolet Volt’s engine can send power to the wheels under specific circumstances) and simply turns the 40-kW generator that charges the car’s battery pack, which the electric motor draws power from (the power flows in a series).
Technical Concept II
The second concept is also a modified C30, but utilizes what Volvo calls a parallel-connected range extender. The rear-mounted engine can also turn a 40-kW generator to enhance the car’s electric-only range. We say that it’s not a true EV with a range extender. In this case, the engine and the electric motor operate in tandem; the engine powers the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic while the 111-hp electric motor powers the front wheels. It’s a hybrid, for sure, but if the engine is driving wheels after the electric range is completed, it sounds more like a plug-in hybrid with an EV mode.
In any case, the car’s three-cylinder engine is turbocharged in a big way and is said to make 190 hp. Volvo claims that the combined powertrain output is over 300 hp, that the C30 so equipped could accelerate from a standstill to 60 mph in under six seconds.
Technical Concept III
Finally, the third range-extended concept is a Volvo V60—nevermind that Volvo’s image below uses a C30—that also uses a parallel-connected system, but packs its electric motor, turbo three-cylinder engine, and generator together in the engine bay. The whole ensemble drives the front wheels through a two-stage automatic transmission in a manner not unlike that of the Chevy Volt; the engine powers the wheels at higher speeds, which is more efficient than the electric motor spinning at a high rpm. Again, this is what we’d call a plug-in hybrid with an electric-only mode—not a true EV with a range-extending engine.
No comments:
Post a Comment