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In model year 2014 Volvo wants to set the volume for the V60 Plug-in Hybrid to 4,000 to 6,000 units per year

From now on the new Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the assembly line. The installation of the worlds first diesel plug-in hybrid is built at the Volvo headquarters in Gothenburg Torslanda into the existing production line.

The production of the so-called Pure Limited Edition, which is limited to 1,000 units, is carried out on a band with other vehicles, the Volvo brand. With the beginning of the model year 2014, the start of production is scheduled for the spring of 2013, Volvo is increasing the volumes for the Volvo V60 Plug-in hybrid then to 4,000 to 6,000 units per year. The V60 develops 215 hp (158 kW) + 70 hp (51 kW). The maximum torque of 440 + 200 Nm. According to the manufacturer, the fuel consumption (combined) at 1.8 l/100 km lie.

The plug-in hybrid technology includes two complete drive units and a powerful battery that allows up to 50 kilometers purely electric driving. "We are the first car manufacturer, which has managed the production of a plug-in hybrid to integrate into an existing production with other models," says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development. "The integration into the ongoing production process enables buyers of hybrid models to access all configuration options that are available for the conventional diesel and gasoline vehicles in the Volvo V60."

More than 300 additional parts

The extensive number of necessary equipment and system components in the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid necessitated the conversion and modification of various sections of the production line. This adjustment allows the compared to the conventional Volvo V60 integrate more than 300 additional parts in the plug-in hybrid in the production process.

The V60 develops 215 hp (158 kW) + 70 hp (51 kW). The maximum torque of 440 + 200 Nm. According to the manufacturer, the fuel consumption (combined) at 1.8 l/100 km lie

Examples of integrated production process:

• The electric motor and its drive shaft is mounted in the same production area as the final drive of the standard all-wheel models.
• The installation of the cooling system and high-voltage cable is made at the same assembly station, which is also used for the drive unit of the vehicle and part of the body.
• The battery is lifted with the narrow side forward through a hatch into the vehicle. Then it is rotated by 90 degrees in the interior. The process takes 60 seconds and is performed with a tolerance range of less than 20 millimeters.

Rising demand

The series production of the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the result of close cooperation between Volvo Car Corporation and which is also based in Sweden energy supplier Vattenfall. The companies have jointly funded the development. "The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is a unique vehicle - its series production is not only for Volvo, but for the entire automotive industry, a historic step. The first 1,000 units of Pure Limited Edition were sold before the car ever comes into the exhibition rooms of the Volvo dealer - and the order books for the next year are filling up steadily, "says Peter Mertens.

When it comes to alternative fuels, Volvo long time behaved rather quiet. For this, the Swedes now bringing an eco-version on the market. The middle class estate V60 combines three-saving technologies.

Diesel, electric or hybrid drive: So far these three fuel-saving techniques were more or less side by side. Volvo now unites them in a vehicle. The new V60 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) can drive solely on electricity and will be due to its fuel-efficient diesel engine based on the hybrid technology frugal way even with dead batteries. Premiere of the middle class combined with celebrating the new drive at the Geneva Motor Show (8th to 18th March 2012), the production expected to begin in fall 2012.

The first 50 kilometers of the Volvo electric drive alone. For the drive, a 70 bhp electric motor at the rear axle, to an 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery big power. The battery is charged at any normal household socket - depending on the current intensity to 3.5 to 7.5 hours for a full range cable storage.

Launch late 2012

If the electricity supply of power, it switches to a 158 kW/215 hp five-cylinder diesel on the front axle. The driver can choose via a switch the mode of cooperation and focus on either high or low power consumption. In the combined driving cycle should consume only 1.9 liters per 100 kilometers. Included in it is already the pure electric driving, the hybrid mode, consumption is projected to be considerably higher. Both engines work together, an electric four-wheel drive. This only works up to a speed of 120 km / h, then turns the electric motor as its power output sufficient would not challenge.

The first units are the end of 2012 in Germany on the market, pre-orders are already available in the spring. Very cheap eco-combi is not, requires 57,000 euros Volvo, but donated a host of facilities. The cost compared to a similar model with a conventional drive should be around 5,000 euros.

"A few hundred" for Germany

The high-tech Volvo will remain a rare sight at first. 2012, only 1,000 units were built before 2013, the emissions increase to about 6,000 units. About a third of the cars remain in Sweden, Germany, for a few hundred vehicles per year provided.

The Swedes are the first to introduce such a drive combination on the market. Toyota is offering next year to a principle similar technology, the Prius plug-in hybrid, but with a petrol instead of diesel. The Japanese comes in e-mode around 20 kilometers, the average fuel consumption is 2.2 liters. A diesel hybrid currently offer only to Peugeot and Citroen in different car models. Is a plug-in function is not there, however, the batteries can be charged while driving only by braking force recovery.

Volvo Cars is the data to its information, navigation and entertainment services in the future park in a data cloud of Ericsson. (Photo: Volvo)

Vehicle data or music need not always be stored in the car. Volvo and Ericsson now go into a partnership to secure the data externally.

The two Swedish entrepreneurs Volvo and Ericsson go future cooperation deal. Volvo cars to park the data of their information, navigation and entertainment services in a data cloud of Ericsson. This allows large data packets can easily save and always keep up to date. In addition, drivers can listen to their favorite music, not only in cars but also in their computer or on your smartphone.

Volvo is with a move to the cloud data alone. German manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes parked near future or already their data to external servers that can connect to the Internet via wifi to the vehicles. Although the current transmission speed is not very high. But at least with the Long Term Evolution technology (LTE), which has been around in some urban areas, can also compute-intensive features of the car will be outsourced.

Volvo is looking to refresh the sedan range in 2013.Volvo global head of sales and marketing Doug Speck told auto news that Volvo sedans will get a major refreshment next year.Volvo will refresh S60 mid size sedan and the Volvo S 80 sedan.Both the sedans will be launch in 2013.After the sedan launch Volvo will launch an all new XC90 in 2014.Volvo XC90 is oldest model in Volvo range which is launched in 2002.Volvo XC90 is the first model in Volvo range to use the Volvo scalable Platform Architecture.Volvo is downsizing engines to get maximum fuel efficiency.Volvo is developing a all new four cylinder engine which is high on power using the Forced induction technologies.We can expect the sedan range to hit India in 2014.

source:Auto news