Volvo is to launch a plug-in hybrid vehicle next year, the company announced October 17. The V60 plug-in hybrid, originally unveiled as a concept earlier this year, will hit the roads in 2012 to give new models such as the Toyota Prius Plug-in a run for their money.
The V60 Plug-in Hybrid is based on the company’s popular V60 model, with the addition of a hybrid drivetrain, a hefty battery and a charging port which increases the efficiency of the vehicle when driven over short distances.
By charging the V60 Plug-in Hybrid at home, Volvo says that drivers will be able to reach around 50 kilometers on all-electric operation, a range designed to cater for city drivers.
With a full range (using gasoline power too), the V60 Plug-in Hybrid will be able to manage up to 1,200 km, with average emissions of 46g/km and a fuel consumption of 1.9l/100km.
Although no prices were announced for the forthcoming model, Volvo warned would-be buyers that the cost of the battery pack means the plug-in hybrid will be more expensive to buy than a Volvo V60 with a conventional combustion engine.
However, it believes that the cost will be offset by fuel costs approximately a third of a traditional vehicle, working out at around €3 per 100km in Sweden.
