Volvo no to Prius
July 2nd, 2009 by Richard Aucock
VOLVO will not be producing a small hybrid rival to the Toyota Prius – and instead develop a 94mpg C30.
The cost of hybrids means it not worth it; the maker will instead concentrate on improving the fuel efficiency of its more economically viable diesel engines.
Director of CO2, Peter Ewerstrand, questioned the expense of petrol-electric hybrids, given that Volvo has been able to produce a turbodiesel C30 which averaged 72mpg – for less.
‘How much better can you go?’ he said.
‘Hybrids will always be restricted by the extra weight they carry, while the cost is hard to economise in smaller, cheaper cars.
‘For large models such as SUVs, hybrid is the obvious route. But honing what we already have for smaller cars is a more realistic goal.’
Ewerstrand said big gains were still to be had in developing stop-start technology, making cars lighter and eking out yet further fuel efficiency gains from engines.
‘I’d expect we’ll be producing a 3l/100km C30 DRIVe in due course.’
That equates to 94mpg.
‘Any more than this, and it starts to become prohibitively expensive.’
Ewerstrand also said that customers must get past their obsession with horsepower. ‘It’s torque that makes cars feel fast.
‘Less power and more torque means a similar drive, but much less mpg.’
This is why the Swedish firm is promoting the new V70 1.6D DRIVe’s hefty 240Nm torque figure, for example. Rather than its weak-sounding 109bhp stat…
By Richard Aucock
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July 2nd, 2009 at 9:25 am
Mr. Ewerstrand needs to wake up and widen his portfolio.
Director of CO2….. Where’s the Director of NOx and the Director of Particulate Matter?
Focusing only on CO2 is a dangerous game to play, especially with the upcoming Euro 6 legislation.
The cost of diesel technology will increase significantly to meet the Euro 6 limits, and the clean-up systems to cut NOx and particulates require more fuel to be burned….
I’d say petrol-electric is the right technology, and ahead of its time.