Volvo has come up with another technological concept car that aims to promote the preservation of the environment. Perhaps following in the footsteps of one Japanese automaker, Volvo has created the Volvo ReCharge Concept, a plug-in hybrid with Volvo auto parts like individual electric wheel motors and batteries. These could be recharged through a regular electric outlet to attain maximum environmental benefit.

If the vehicle is recharged, it could run for about 100 kilometers just using the battery power before it would need the four-cylinder Flexifuel engine to power it up and recharge the battery.

+ The battery pack integrated into the luggage compartment uses lithium-polymer battery technology. The batteries are intended to have a useful life beyond that of the car itself.
+ Four electric motors, one at each wheel, provide independent traction power.
+ Four-cylinder 1.6-litre Flexifuel engine drives an advanced generator that efficiently powers the wheel motors when the battery is depleted.

This electric car is till backed up by a combustion engine, the Flexifuel engine mentioned earlier. In principle is a battery electric car that has an efficient generator, an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). This generator steps in when the battery charge becomes insufficient for driving performance.

The APU is designed to disseminate electrical power to each of the motors located in the wheels. The combustion engine is only powered by the APU and so it can operate in an optimal fashion, both for the regulated emissions and CO2. APU is powerful enough to power an entire village with electricity.

The driver has the control on which power source to use through a button in the instrument panel. However, the vehicle’s combustion engine will automatically start up once 70 percent of the battery power has already been used.

The significance of controlling which power source to use is that the driver can opt to start the engine earlier to be able to maximize the battery power.

This Volvo Recharge Concept will be debuting in the Frankfurt Motor Show and it will be in a specially-designed Volvo C30.