Volvo V70 plug-in hybrid

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Introduction

Volvo is a small player in the car world, but it has big plans for an electric future. All its cars from 2012 will be designed with plug-in hybrid capacity, and it intends to offer a production plug-in hybrid - using a combination of diesel and electric power - within three years.

What is it?

Stickers and two extra filler flaps aside this V70 looks just like every other. It's not, as powering the rear wheels is an electric motor, which gives about 30 miles of range - or around the same as an average European commute - from its battery pack. Combined with a conventional 205bhp 2.5-litre diesel engine powering the front wheels this V70 plug-in hybrid is effectively four-wheel drive, with both the powertrains able to work together or independently of each other.

How does it drive?

This early drive is in a prototype and it's fixed to run exclusively on electric power. We've driven enough diesel V70s here to understand what they feel like though, so the electric part is more relevant. In the production version, fully charged from the plug, it would run on electricity to start with. It pulls away silently, the additional weight of the battery and motors not resulting in tardy acceleration. If it were in hybrid mode pushing the accelerator to the floor should result in the diesel engine firing to assist the electric motor, but at typical town speeds the electric motor shifts the V70 convincingly enough. It'll cover the 0-62mph sprint in about 15 seconds when driving in fully electric mode, or around nine seconds as a hybrid.

The fact that the V70 plug-in can achieve the 0-62mph sprint on electric power alone underlines how Volvo's hybrid offering differs from those currently available; which typically can only run very short distances and at low speeds on electricity alone. Unlike cars like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, the Volvo's diesel engine won't be used to power the battery pack, though it will kick in if required to provide electricity to a large alternator to provide power to the electric air conditioning system.

Planet hugger or planet mugger?

The Volvo V70 is a hugger, of that there's no doubt. Environmental friendliness runs to the core of the company with all the firm's production facilities using green energy to power them. Plug the V70 into the mains and use certified carbon-neutral electricity and you can drive your commute to work emitting nothing - assuming that it's less than 30 miles. Over the official combined cycle Volvo is claiming a figure of around 148mpg, that obviously thanks to a good portion of the test cycle being achieved under electric power alone. Sub 50g/km of CO₂ is so low it could be considered planet cooling.

Verdict

More than merely a halfway-house between conventionally powered cars and electric machines, the V70 diesel hybrid offers the best of both worlds. Electric power for commuting and around town work and the diesel engine for longer trips. It's a compelling solution to the shortcomings of both types of propulsion, all wrapped up in a conventional estate car package. Pricing will be an issue though, a plug-in diesel hybrid heavy on expensive technology, but when it's introduced in a few years time many buyers will find the environmental benefits it brings (and cost savings) will outweigh the additional cost.

Kyle Fortune

Monday September 28