Volvo Cars Introduces Three Efficient DRIVe Cars; Roadmap for Reducing CO2 Emissions
02 October 2008
Together with the introduction of three fuel-efficient diesel DRIVe cars (C30, S40 and V50 1.6D DRIVe) with CO2 emissions below 120 g/km at the Paris Motor Show (earlier post), Volvo Cars outlined its roadmap for cutting CO2 emissions.
The company plans DRIVe models with emissions of about 100 g/km (representing fuel consumption of about 3.8 L/100 km, or 62 mpg US) within a few years. Further steps include introducing a new generation of turbocharged gasoline direct injection engines in 2009; the introduction of a new micro-hybrid system in 2011; and a diesel hybrid in 2012 followed by a plug-in hybrid sometime after that.
In parallel with work on a diesel hybrid, we are conducting an intensive hunt to cut CO2 emissions throughout the driveline range. Within a couple of years we will have cars with emissions below 100 g/km.
—Volvo Cars CEO and President Stephen Odell
Delivering the DRIVe versions that achieve the 100 g/km target will rely on optimization of drivelines and components on the car itself, such as aerodynamics and rolling resistance.
In 2009, Volvo Cars will start introducing a new generation of four-cylinder turbocharged engines with gasoline direct injection—GTDi (Gas Turbo Direct injection).
GTDi technology makes it possible to step down one engine size from five to four cylinders with unaffected performance, but with 20-30 percent lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
—Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President, Research & Development at Volvo Cars
In 2011, Volvo plans to offer micro-hybrid versions of the Volvo S60 with CO2 emissions below 120 g/km (4.5 L/100 km, 52 mpg US); a Volvo S80 that produces less than 130 g/km (4.9 L/100 km, 48 mpg US); and a Volvo XC60 below 140 g/km (5.3 L/100 km, 44 mpg US). All these variants will be diesel-powered. Volvo Cars’s micro-hybrid start-stop system can be used in combination with both manual and automatic transmissions.
A micro-hybrid gives fuel savings of 4-5 percent in a mixed driving cycle. However, the actual effect is considerably greater when driving in the city with its frequent stop-go traffic. Our system also has the benefit of being able to be adapted to most of our drivelines.
—Magnus Jonsson
In the diesel hybrid that Volvo Cars is developing for 2012, the front wheels are driven by a further-developed variant of Volvo’s five-cylinder D5 turbodiesel, while the rear wheels have a separate electric motor—an approach similar to that of PSA Peugeot Citröen’s newly introduced HYmotion4 system, earlier post).
Cooperation between the two power sources and the distribution of power between the two pairs of wheels are electronically controlled to provide both effective four-wheel drive and the lowest possible fuel consumption in different driving scenarios.
The diesel hybrid is expected to cut what will by then already be a lower fuel consumption figure by an additional 10-15%.
The next step, according to Volvo, is a plug-in series hybrid, which is scheduled to come after 2012. To that end, Volvo highlighted its ReCharge PHEV concept, first introduced with a flex-fuel range extender at the Frankfurt show last year (earlier post), followed by a diesel-engined variant at the North American International Auto Show in January (earlier post).
The diesel ReCharge uses a four-cylinder, 1.6-liter turbodiesel engine (81 kW/109 hp) to drive a generator to power the four in-wheel motors when the 12 kWh lithium-polymer battery pack is depleted. The car has a battery-powered range of about 60 miles.
This is great stuff - 50 - 60 mpg (US) in real cars, not just concept cars for the show - real cars that you will be able to buy and drive.
It is not whizz bang PHEV stuff, just GDI, efficiency and micro hybridization.
I hope you will be able to buy them in the US - Diesel - I know we will be able to in Europe. (Assuming we still have an economy).
Posted by: mahonj | 02 October 2008 at 04:24 PM
Good stuff and since it is not GM we can welcome any improvement graciously, however modest. Don't get me wrong, Volvo fans have reason to be proud and the gains are more than modest but, even though it's election time we still want more than promises.
Posted by: ToppaTom | 02 October 2008 at 08:32 PM
Progress of a sort.
But these will still be toxic pollution pigs, since Europe seems determined to minimize a safe, necessary, plant food, trace gas but do nothing to catch up with America in reducing genuine toxic pollutants.
This is a case of misdirected non sense by the phony Euro Greens. It apparently alright to Kill your own EU citizens with toxic HVOCs, SOx, NOx, PMs 10 and PM 2.5 particulates.
All of these toxics which you know how to limit; and do so in the very same cars and drive trains that you export to America.
As an American, I can hardly object; its probably better for Americans that the EU poisons and kills its own citizens, rather than Americans.
But why do so?
The EU should catch up with the regulations that limit genuine toxics, by almost ten times, over the lax EU VI standards that are not even yet in force.
Why do Europeans citizens accept and put up with this ridiculous situation?
Posted by: stas peterson | 06 October 2008 at 12:47 PM