Volvo is currently working with utilities and local
governments throughout Europe to test its C30 battery electric vehicle (BEV).
The automaker’s 250-vehicle test fleet will not only look at vehicle performance
but the interrelationship between EVs and local charging infrastructure. By
this fall, Volvo intends to deliver 10 C30 BEVs to Swedish utility
Goteborg Energi for road testing. This initial testing is supposed to give way
to a commercial release of the C30 BEV by summer 2013.
The three-door, four-passenger Volvo C30 BEV is powered by a
24kWh lithium-ion battery pack developed by EnerDel. This battery can be fully recharged
using a standard outlet in eight hours. Volvo placed the battery pack in the
traditional location of the gas tank to keep plenty of space for cargo and
passengers. The maximum range of the Volvo C30 BEV is 93 miles with a maximum
speed of 81 miles per hour. Volvo notes that the C30 BEV can reach 60 miles per
hour from a dead stop in just over 10 seconds. These performance statistics
make this first-generation BEV sufficient for Swedish commuting habits. Each
C30 BEV is equipped with monitoring equipment that tracks battery life, electric
motor performance and driving habits.
Volvo representatives spoke about the burgeoning European market
for EVs when announcing its agreement with Goteborg Energi. The company notes
that up to 10% of cars in Sweden are projected to be all-electric vehicles by
2020. Volvo also projects that between 3% and 10% of all cars in the European
Union will be EVs by 2025. To make headway in European markets, Volvo is not
simply dropping the C30 BEV and other models in showrooms. The Swedish
automaker is working with utilities like Goteborg Energi to develop proper
infrastructure while demonstrating its EVs.
Goteborg Energi represents a great partner for Volvo in breaking
into the emerging EV market. This utility is a leader in electric power in
western Sweden, offering power to 90% of Goteborg’s rental complexes. As Volvo
C30 BEVs hit the streets of Goteborg, the automaker will be able to sell its
technology on consumers as well as fleet buyers. Volvo and Goteborg Energi are
also demonstrating the necessity of developing infrastructure in parallel to EV
technology.
