Volvo Car Corporation participates in development of inductive charging for electric cars
May 19, 2011

Volvo Car Corporation is participating in an inductive charging project. Together with Belgian technological and development specialists Flanders' Drive and others, Volvo Car Corporation is developing systems and methods that need neither power sockets nor charging cables. With inductive charging, energy is transferred wirelessly to the car's battery via a charging plate buried in the road surface.

"The aim is naturally that it should be as convenient as possible to own and use an electric car," explains Johan Konnberg, project manager from the Special Vehicles division of Volvo Car Corporation. A Volvo C30 Electric will be delivered to Flanders' Drive on May 19 to be modified for inductive charging. The handover also marks the formal starting signal for the project, which goes under the name of CED (Continuous Electric Drive). Other participants in addition to Volvo Car Corporation and Flanders' Drive, which is owned by the Belgian state, are bus manufacturer Van Hool and tram manufacturer Bombardier.

Wireless energy transfer
In inductive charging, a charging plate is buried in the ground, for instance in the driveway at home where the car is parked. The charging plate consists of a coil that generates a magnetic field. When the car is parked above the plate, energy from the plate is transferred without physical contact to the car's inductive pick-up. The energy that is transferred is alternating current. This is then converted into direct current in the car's built-in voltage converter, which in turn charges the car's battery pack. Charging a battery pack of the size fitted to the Volvo C30 Electric, 24 kWh, is expected to take about an hour and twenty minutes, if the battery is entirely discharged. The charging system to be evaluated is dimensioned for 20 kW.

Development and knowledge acquisition
Several car makers and technology companies are conducting research into this area but as yet there are no car manufacturers that can offer the market a finished product.
"There is not yet any common standard for inductive charging," says Johan Konnberg.
He emphasises the importance of being involved in development and learning about the technology in order to build up a solid bank of expertise in this area.


"One aspect of this project is to integrate this technology into the road surface and to take energy directly from there to power the car. This is a smart solution that is some way into the future," concludes Johan Konnberg.

Volvo XC90 Given "Best Bet" Distinction for the Fourth Consecutive Year by The Car Book 2011

ROCKLEIGH, N.J. (Feb. 28, 2011) -- The Volvo XC90 has been named a "Best Bet" by The Car Book for the fourth consecutive year. The "Best Bet" is just the latest accolade for the XC90, which received the highest possible marks in combined crash test scores, preventative maintenance, warranty, insurance costs and overall rating.

"We consider this award a true testament to Volvo's commitment to only delivering the highest quality vehicles to customers," said Doug Speck, president and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America. "To win the "Best Bet" for the fourth consecutive year for the XC90 is a prime example that we are not only meeting, but exceeding expectations for safety, value and performance."

Each year, the Center for Auto Safety and The Car Book analyze new cars and select The Car Book's Best Bets for potential buyers. The Car Book's "Best Bet" distinction is based on objective information collected from government and independent sources that evaluate the safety and performance needs of the American consumer. Only cars that have ratings in all of the key Car Book categories - safety features, fuel economy, rollover, front and side crash tests, maintenance and repair costs, warranties, insurance costs, and complaints, with the greatest emphasis placed on crash test performance - are considered as potential "Best Bets".

The XC90 is included in Volvo's Safe + Secure Coverage Plan. A complimentary program, Safe + Secure wraps a comprehensive list of benefits into one package. Volvo has combined additional time and mileage limits on warranty repairs and roadside assistance coverage, and has increased wear-item and factory scheduled maintenance coverage. Specifically, it provides:

• 5 years/60,000 miles of New Car Warranty
• 5 years/60,000 miles of Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance
• 5 years/60,000 miles of Wear and Tear Coverage
• 5 years/Unlimited miles of Volvo On Call Roadside Assistance.

The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid - another world-first from Volvo Car Corporation

At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Volvo Cars will be unveiling the V60 Plug-in Hybrid - a virtually production-ready car with carbon dioxide emissions below 50 g/km, which translates into fuel consumption at 1.9 l/100 km.

In 2012, Volvo Cars will be the first manufacturer on the market with this new breed of hybrid - which is the result of close cooperation with the Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall.

The V60 Plug-in Hybrid features the very best properties from three different car types in one, single attractive sports wagon. This includes a possibility for the driver to drive up to 50 kilometers on pure electricity.

"This second-generation hybrid is the perfect choice for the uncompromising buyer who wants a superbly carbon dioxide-lean car packed with driving pleasure," said Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Cars.

D5 engine and Electric Rear Axle Drive
The front wheels of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid will be driven by a five-cylinder 2.4-litre D5 turbodiesel, which produces 215 horsepower and maximum torque of 440 Nm. The rear axle features ERAD (Electric Rear Axle Drive) in the form of an electric motor producing 70 horsepower, which receives its power from a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The car features a six-speed automatic transmission.

"In order to get true car enthusiasts to think green, you have to offer them the opportunity to drive with low carbon dioxide emissions without taking away the adrenaline rush that promotes genuine driving pleasure. The V60 Plug-in Hybrid has all the traditional properties of a genuine sports wagon. What we've done is to spice it up with spearhead technology," said Stefan Jacoby.

The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid will be revealed at a press conference in Geneva on March 1st 2011.

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