For a couple of years now, Volvo has been teasing several eco-friendly technologies, and it looks as though the Ford-owned Swedish automaker is finally getting ready to roll some of it out. The biggest news is a report that Volvo is preparing to launch a diesel hybrid powertrain in several of its models by 2012 and will export them to the U.S., according Automotive News. The hybrids will augment Volvo's existing plans to bring to market its fuel-saving DRIVe models and its all-new start-stop systems next year on select vehicles.
Initially, the diesel hybrid powertrains will be available on the brand's large SUVs, crossovers and sedans. Unique to the Volvo system is a layout allowing the front wheels to be driven by a revised five-cylinder turbodiesel motor, with the rear wheels being powered by dedicated electric motor. According to Magnus Jonsson, Volvo senior vice president of research and development, the hybrids will be able to operate on battery power alone at low speeds. Jonsson further mentioned that a plug-in version will follow "very quickly" after the introduction of the standard hybrid models.Although diesels and electric motors feature more than enough low-end torque, they usually lack high-end horsepower. Even with such so-called shortcomings, Volvo senior VP of brand, business and product strategy Lex Kerssemakers stated engineers chose such a hybrid combination based on its ideal carbon-dioxide reduction capabilities. Kerssemakers further stated Volvo is seriously considering the replacement of its bigger V-8 engines with smaller, more efficient turbocharged six-cylinders. Volvo's latest start-stop technology is initially expected to arrive next year on its C30, S40 and V50 models, with the rest of the Volvo lineup receiving the technology soon after. Source: Volvo