Detroit Auto Show Previews
With the Detroit Auto show less than a month away, news is trickling in about some of vehicles to be on display, including two highly anticipated, green concept cars.
GreenCarReports.com posted yesterday about the all-electric Volvo C30 three-door hatchback concept. The second car is the BMW Concept ActiveE electric car, based on the 1-Series Coupe, which was revealed last week.
The electric Volvo, based on the company's smallest model, was shown before at last autumn's Frankfurt Motor Show. The concept that is to be on display in Detroit is in fact, drivable, and has a full interior.
Like the BMW, the lithium-ion battery pack is split between the spaces that formerly housed the gas tank and the driveshaft for the rear wheels. Unlike the BMW, however, the electric motor is housed under the hood and drives the front wheels.
Volvo quotes a range of roughly 90 miles, with a top speed of 80 mph from a fully charged battery pack. Acceleration from 0 to 62 mph takes less than 11 seconds. It says a full recharge using European home electricity will take 8 hours.
Volvo plans to test 50 of the plug-in C30s for two years, starting in 2011, to get the same kinds of real-world data as BMW is seeking from the Concept ActiveE and, before that, its all-electric Mini E.
It joins a growing range of green Volvos planned for the next few years, including diesel and hybrid models that will be sold in the U.S. within a few years, although likely in small numbers at first.
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