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2012 Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid: What do You Want to Know?

 
1,936 views May 13, 2011
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2012 Volvo V60 PHEV

2012 Volvo V60 PHEV

2012 Volvo V60 PHEV

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Earlier this year were were granted exclusive access to Volvo’s Gothenburg headquarters where we were given a sneak peak of its 2012 V60 Plug-in Hybrid a full week before its official unveiling at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

Although we were given a chance to look at the V60 PHEV’s familiar styling and quiz both designers and engineers about its performance and technology, Volvo wasn’t ready for test-drives at that time.

Our disappointment must have been obvious, because a few weeks ago Volvo invited us to be among the first journalists to sit behind the wheel of its first production plug-in vehicle at the 2011 Michelin Challenge Bibendum. 


The event, which has taken place for the past four years, represents the ultimate in green car testing. Over the five days of the event, alternative fueled cars, electric vehicles and plug-in vehicles will be put through their paces with tests covering everything from fuel economy and speed to road holding, reliability and practicality. 

On paper the Volvo V60 PHEV looks well suited to the economy challenges, with an all-electric range of 32 miles per charge, a combined range of 746 miles using Diesel and electric power, and an estimated fuel economy of as much as 150 miles per gallon. 

Automakers take the event very seriously, so while professional test-drivers will be sitting behind the wheel for the majority of tests we’ll be given the opportunity to test-drive the V60 plug-in hybrid as part of the entrant parade held at the iconic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Thursday next week. 

Volvo won’t be just entering the V60 PHEV in the event though. It will be joined by the Volvo C30 Electric we drove earlier this year, as well as a 1.6 liter diesel-powered Volvo V50 DRIVe. 

You can be sure we’ll be bringing exclusive reports from the event, including a first-drive report. You can also follow our live tweets from the event by following us on twitter. 

But what do you want to know about the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid? Perhaps you'd like to know about the ride quality, or the load-carrying capabilities? Or perhaps you're curious to know how the through-the road hybrid drivetrain works? Let us know in the Comments below.


HI-RES GALLERY: 2012 Volvo V60 PHEV



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Comments (21)

  1. Cdspeed Posted: 5/13/2011 6:43am PDT

    I'd like to know why this article is on a site called All Cars Electric? Like the Volt it's a hybrid so shouldn't this article be on Green Car Reports? And don't give me that EREV excuse.
     
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  2. Jouni Pylvänäinen Posted: 5/13/2011 7:02am PDT

    Volvo V60 is a car in family car class. However, the prize has been not told and it would be interesting to know the approximate prize level.
     
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  3. David Noland Posted: 5/13/2011 7:04am PDT

    I want to know what the fuel mileage is in hybrid mode, after the battery has been depleted. That 150-mpg number can't possibly be true. (It probably includes some battery-powered driving, like the fabled Volt 230 mpg figure, or is derived from a CO2 emission number.) So drive it enough to drain the battery, then get an mpg number in hybrid mode--or at least get the Volvo people to give you an estimated number. But I'm not buying 150 mpg.
    Alternatively, find out what the fuel tank capacity is. Then take the range of 746 miles, subtract 32 miles electric range, for a gas range of 714 miles. Divide by the fuel tank capacity. If it's ten gallons, that's 71.4 mpg. That I could believe
     
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  4. mike meng Posted: 5/13/2011 7:57am PDT

    I would like to know what fuel tank capacity.
    thanks,
     
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  5. Greg Posted: 5/13/2011 9:12am PDT

    I would like to know the 0-60 mph acceleration time, the type of battery and kWh capacity, the battery charge voltage and charge time and the approximate price of the vehicle.
     
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  6. Alan Posted: 5/13/2011 9:45am PDT

    I'll be needing the interior dimensions - headroom, legroom, etc. (front and rear) and cargo capacity. And of course the all-important question: When will it be available in the USA?
     
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  7. Chris Long Posted: 5/13/2011 10:46am PDT

    Volvo was testing in-wheel motors by Protean electric.
    If they are not used on any of their hybrid or electrics would they be willing to explain why not? - Thanks
     
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  8. Don Posted: 5/13/2011 1:24pm PDT

    Will the ICE range-extender still be a diesel in the US model?
     
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  9. Gregory Lemieux Posted: 5/13/2011 4:36pm PDT

    I want to voice support for the question: when will it be coming to the US? Would it be a diesel PHEV or gasoline PHEV? Will it come here as the V60 or will the tech be transferred to the XC70 or V50 model?
     
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  10. Charlie Podvin Posted: 5/13/2011 5:01pm PDT

    1. What is the mpg when on only the ICE?
    2. What is the California emmission classification?
     
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  11. Charlie Podvin Posted: 5/13/2011 5:08pm PDT

    1. What is the mpg when driving using only the ICE?
    2. What is the California emission classification?
     
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  12. Anthony Posted: 5/13/2011 7:19pm PDT

    @ David Noland according to volvos offical release hybrid mode is 150mpg which considering that the electric part has its own drive train in the rear means a more seamless switch between the two which could use less energy. Its also possible that volvo uses a more efficent regen for breaking...heavier car= more energy to stop...based off that information I would assume it gets minimum 100mpg in hybrid mode but who knows it could end up being like the volt...but i doubt that would be the case
     
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  13. Doppler Quine Posted: 5/13/2011 9:37pm PDT

    What information does the dashboard display regarding battery / ICE status? What options does the driver have to prolong electric use (e.g. economy mode)?
     
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  14. Greg Posted: 5/14/2011 10:02am PDT

    I wonder why Volvo abandoned the diesel powered turbine idea that powered their 1992 Volvo ECC concept vehicle. I saw it at the L.A. Car Show. It was almost 20 years ahead of what Jaguar did for their concept vehicle this year. Turbines and generators are well matched, since both can be optimized to run at their highest efficiency RPM. They can often burn more fuel types than just diesel (algae oil, Swedish Vodka, etc.)!
    Check it out here:
    http://1992.forumotion.com/t21-volvo-ecc-1992
     
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  15. Steve Posted: 5/14/2011 12:39pm PDT

    1. Will it be capable of running on biodiesel?
    2. When can we get it in the U.S.?
    3. How much will it cost?
     
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  16. Steve Jacobs Posted: 5/15/2011 9:00am PDT

    Is the V60 able to operate as an all wheel drive vehicle, for better snow traction? Will owners be able to install a trailer hitch for towing a trailer, or to hold a bike rack?
     
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  17. Richard Posted: 5/15/2011 9:20am PDT

    I spoke to a Volvo rep at the Atlanta Car Show recently. He said this car would not be brought to the U.S., even in gas/electric form.
     
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  18. ASN Cheng Posted: 5/15/2011 11:08pm PDT

    1.Will it offer Petrol version? or just only Diesel version?
    2.Will it have Right Hand drive?
     
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  19. ASN Cheng Posted: 5/15/2011 11:09pm PDT

    1.Will it offer Petrol version? or just only Diesel version?
    2.Will it have Right Hand drive?
     
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  20. fb_100000005296979 avatar Kent Beuchert Posted: 5/16/2011 11:56am PDT

    Another crappy EREV Volt
     
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  21. Anduhrew Posted: 5/16/2011 11:00pm PDT

    When will this be available in CA? GOTTA have this car.
     
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