Volvo's new V60 Plug-in will pair two extremely efficient - but costly - technologies.
Volvo Car Corp., the Chinese-owned maker of prestige Euro cars, is starting up limited production of what it describes as the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid.
The new Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid can run for long periods on batteries or utilize the onboard diesel engine for power during extended driving.
The combined diesel and electric drive system produces about 285 horsepower and Volvo says it expects an average 124 miles per gallon equivalent fuel economy, a number calculated around using the battery propulsion for much of one’s daily driving.
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According to Volvo, the V60 Plug-in uses an 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery that should yield 50 kilometers – or about 32 miles — per charge. It does not appear there are near-term plans to bring the V60 Plug-in to the U.S., nor is it clear what the EPA range rating would be. The government agency – which oversees fuel economy and related testing – typically comes up with a far less generous number than manufacturers quote for themselves.
