Volvo Car Corporation announces series production of Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid

volvo-v60-plug-in

Volvo Car Corporation announces series production of Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid

Greentech Lead U.K: Volvo Car Corporation has announced
series production of the new Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid ahead of first
customer deliveries in early 2013. After the initial batch of 1,000 model year
2013 cars, production will increase to 4,000-6,000 cars from model year 2014.

The assembly of the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid
has been successfully integrated on the same production line as the regular
powered V60, V70, XC70, S80 and XC90 models at the Torslanda plant in
Gothenburg.

This is a remarkable achievement considering that the
sophisticated plug-in hybrid technology includes two complete drive trains and
a powerful battery that provides a range of up to 32 miles on pure electric
power.

“We are first in the industry to integrate a plug-in
hybrid in an established production flow together with other car models,”
said Peter Mertens, senior vice president research and development at
Volvo Car Corporation. “The integration in the standard production flow
gives the plug-in hybrid buyer the possibility to choose in principle all
options available for the standard V60.”

The electric motor along with its drive shafts is
fitted on the same station as the final drive on the standard all-wheel drive
models. The cooling system and the high voltage cables are assembled on the
Pallet, which is used to assemble the car’s drive train and chassis parts.

The battery pack is lifted in through the car’s tailgate
short side forward. It is then spun a quarter of a turn in the passenger
compartment – a maneuver that takes 60 seconds and carried out with less than
20 millimeters to spare.

“The 11.2 kWh lithium-type batteries is the single
most complex system in the car. The precision maneuver to get it in place is an
excellent example of the state-of-the-art assembly process,”
said Peter Mertens.

The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the synthesis of close
cooperation between Volvo Car Corporation and Swedish electricity supplier
Vattenfall. The two companies have financed the development project jointly.

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