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The Volvo C30 Electric has been exposed
to rough winter conditions in order to ensure that the battery-powered
car runs smoothly in temperatures as low as -20° Celsius.
Volvo Cars' requirements on the C30
Electric are just as stringent as on all other Volvo models and the
battery-powered car is exposed to the same test regime. On top of this,
several new test methods have been developed for the electric vehicles.
All in all, over 200 different tests have been performed.
"We must ensure that the C30 Electric
performs as intended when driving, parking and charging in a variety of
conditions, from normal to very cold or hot. Northern Sweden is the
perfect place to do sub-zero temperature testing," says Lennart Stegland,
director of Volvo Cars' Special Vehicles.
The Volvo C30 Electric is equipped with
three climate systems:
- One supplies the passengers with
heating or cooling.
- One cools or warms the battery
pack as necessary.
- The electric motor and power
electronics are water-cooled.
Bio-ethanol powered
heater
The C30 Electric has a innovative solution that makes it possible to get
comfortable heating in cold winter conditions without compromising the
battery driving range.
Climate control in the passenger
compartment takes place via a bio-ethanol powered heater fitted in all
cars. The car's ethanol tank can carry 14.5 litres of bio-ethanol.
It is also possible to run the climate
unit on electricity from the batteries. In electric mode an immersion
heater warms up the coolant in the climate unit.
"The driver can program and control the
climate unit to suit the trip. Ethanol is the default mode that is used
when the battery capacity is needed for driving, extending mobility to
its maximum. However, on shorter distances electricity can be used to
power the climate system," explains Lennart Stegland. |
