Volvo: New XC60 plug-in hybrid aims to “psychologically prepare drivers for electric vehicles”
Image: Volvo
The focus of the future for the popular mid-size SUV Volvo XC60 is a new plug-in hybrid with an electric range of up to 200 kilometers. To achieve this, the battery capacity has been increased from 18.8 to 41.2 kWh.
"We want to become a fully electric automaker, which is why we have heavily invested in new models like the EX60," said manager Akhil Krishnan in an interview with Automobilwoche. "But if the market isn’t ready for that yet, we also want to offer a plug-in hybrid that prepares customers psychologically for an electric vehicle. If someone, for whatever reason, can’t drive fully electric yet, we want to provide them with a car that comes very close to an electric vehicle."
A plug-in hybrid already available in China with a range of 200 kilometers is not intended for introduction into Europe. According to Krishnan, the model named XC70 was developed specifically to meet the demands of the Asian market. Adjusting it to European requirements, such as the 2000-kilogram trailer towing capacity important for this segment, would be too costly.
Volvo has also opted against a range extender system. In this approach, a compact internal combustion engine acts as an electric generator for the electric drive when needed. According to Krishnan, such a system does not provide sufficient power to pull heavy trailers with an empty battery pack. Volvo’s new “Long-Range Plug-in Hybrid,” on the other hand, can handle this task. The internal combustion engine and electric motor can operate together or separately. The battery for extended all-electric driving can be charged by the internal combustion engine or externally via cable. The latter method is said to take about four hours to charge from 0 to 100 percent.
The XC60 is available as a new Long-Range plug-in hybrid, exclusively with all-wheel drive. The power of the electric motor has increased from 115 kW/156 hp with significantly shorter electric range in the previous model to 130 kW/177 hp. Depending on the internal combustion engine, the system power for the two available versions ranges from 262 kW/357 hp to 339 kW/461 hp. The 0-100 km/h acceleration time varies by model, ranging from 5.7 to 4.8 seconds. The top speed remains at 180 km/h, as is standard with Volvo.
The price for the new Long-Range plug-in hybrid of the XC60 series starts at 69,990 euros. The purely electric Volvo counterpart, the EX60, is cheaper at a starting price of 62,990 euros compared to the new plug-in hybrids.
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Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.
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